Page 32

12

Blair

My lungs burn as I crash through the woods behind Ashvale.

After we got back, apparently we’d been gone so long we missed the introduction to the fourth round. Good, because the evidence of his dick being so far down my throat would’ve clued everyone in.

Now I can pretend the chase is the reason for my dishevelment.

Speaking of chase, this fourth round consists of us running through the woods and graveyard that circles the house while the guards prowl behind us. They have weapons.

Knives. Chainsaws. Fucking bows and arrows.

And we have to evade them for a full sixty minutes.

My outfit is torn in multiple places, clinging to my sweat-slicked skin. Somewhere in the distance, I hear a scream cut short. A blood-curdling scream that makes my ears ring.

I refuse to be next. Run. Harder, Blair.

Just when my legs are ready to give out, a crunch echoes in the distance. Then another. Shit, they’re gaining on me. Shit, shit, shit.

I try to duck behind a tree, but a hand bursts out from the darkness and snatches me in the air like a rag doll.

A scream wants to come, but the sound barely leaves my throat before a large palm slaps over my mouth, yanking me back against a hard chest. Flight or fight kicks in, and boy do I put up a hell of a fight. Thrashing with everything I have, elbows flying, legs kicking.

No. No, I can’t die like this. Not gutted in the woods like some animal. Not before I say goodbye to my mother.

I sink my nails into the arm cinched around me and rake down hard.

“Son of a bitch!” the man hisses.

Wait… that voice.

I gasp against his palm as he spins me around. The second I see his face, confirming that it’s really him, I collapse into his chest and wrap my arms around him tight.

A broken whimper slips free because it’s all I have left to give right now.

“Parker,” I choke out. “I’m scared. I’m so fucking scared. I don’t want to die. Please. Why didn’t you tell me it’d be like this? Why?” My voice breaks, splintering into tiny little pieces.

His arms circle me, holding me against his chest. But something is wrong. His muscles are wound so tight, I can feel the tension under my hands. I’ve always known him to be steady, strong, my anchor in the chaos these past few months. It’s like he’s a completely different person tonight.

Swallowed whole by whatever beast lives inside the Legion.

“I know,” he mutters against my hair. “I’ve got you. Just stay quiet.”

I press my face into his shirt, sniffling.

“I’m glad I found you before he did.” Parker’s arms tighten around me until it almost hurts. His voice drops to a frantic whisper. “You have to lose your virginity. To me. Right now.”

I pull back just enough to search his face. “What?”

“If Cage knows you’re no longer a virgin, he’ll lose interest. That’s how these sick fucks work. You won’t be special anymore.”

I blink at him, my fear and exhaustion giving way to stunned disbelief. “I’ve been trying to get you to fuck me for the last month, Parker. You kept saying you wanted to wait, that—”

“I know.” He drags a shaky hand through his hair. “I know.”

His eyes dart into the darkness surrounding us before snapping back to mine. “Look, do you want him to leave you alone or not? This is your only real shot at surviving. He won’t care about you anymore—you’ll be safe from him. Then we can find a strategy for you to win. Only two more rounds after this, babe.”