Page 69 of Hateful Games

The corridor seems to go on, piquing my curiosity to where it leads. Thank God, I have the whole night to explore it. Like me, Miya is studying the caverns of the mansion with her mesmerized gaze.

A soft giggle, followed by a manly chuckle, makes us jump slightly. The snickering couple goes past us, paying us no mind as they take the flight of stairs.

“The party must be upstairs,” says Miya, while her eyes skirt to the mirrored hallway.

Glad I’m not alone in my curiosity, I intertwine our hands and tug her in the opposite direction to the stairs. I don’t want us to get separated since she’s my ride back home. I have no clue when Nova will be returning to his place but I sure as fuck need to be there sound asleep when he does.

“We shouldn’t,” Miya protests. “We don’t know what’s there.”

“Don’t be a scared mouse, Miya,” I tease. “Sneaking in here was your idea.”

“I just don’t want to get caught because we decided to play the thieves in the night and ruin said night before it’s even begun.”

“Oh shush,” I murmur. “That’s what our pretty masks are for.”

On my right, I see my reflection staring back at me as I tug a not-so-reluctant Miya after me.

The black full-length dress I’m wearing reveals more skin than it hides. One-shoulder neckline with a diagonal cut in the center exposing the sides of my breasts and another cut bares my midriff, revealing my pierced belly button. While the skirt of my dress cinches on the top of my right thigh with a slit before flowing to the floor.

With each step, my garter belt plays hide-and-seek teasingly.

I feel like the heroine from a James Bond movie.

My attention is snagged by my glittering butterfly mask, only hiding the upper half of my face. The dark red painted lips complementing my dress.

Behind me, Miya is the light to my dark in a stunning red ball gown. Her big and flowy skirt trailing behind her. She could make a runaway princess, out to search for her knight in shining armor. Or being stolen by a villain.

With the wickedness swimming in the air, the latter is a more likely possibility.

The hallway seems to go on and on, with sharp turns until we’re walking up another spiral staircase. This one narrow, like that of a haunted lighthouse. The vibration of the music from behind us disappearing until only the clicks of our heels remain.

“Are you sure we’re not going to get lost?” murmurs Miya.

As soon as she says it, a hulking figure, dressed head to toe in black, appears at the landing. His black metallic mask feels like staring into an abyss. We stop short two steps below him. There better not be another freaking passcode.

Crossing his arms, he informs, “Party’s in the right wing.”

“So wh—” My words trail into a low squeak when Miya squeezes my hand too hard.

“Why are you here then?” she asks mockingly, so I shut my mouth. “Having a lame party of one?”

I hold back my laughter. Miya is hilarious in her response when she wants to be.

“Let’s just say, this side isn’t safe for little girls like you.”

“Aww, did I hurt someone’s feelings?”

Is she forgetting we need him on our side to pass through? Taunting him will accomplish the opposite.

“Turn around and go.”

“No. We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t know what was going to happen.”

“Then you know only couples are allowed.”

My humor evaporates into utter shock when Miya slips her hand from mine to wrap around my waist and presses herself against me before sultry whispering, “And who told you we aren’t together?”

“Fuck,” he curses.

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