Page 88 of Heir of the Beast

Apollo grins down at me. “Alone.”

Chapter 19

Tarren whistles, looking like a wolf with his wide grin. “A competition to the end?”

I glance at Tarren, who looks thrilled, but I get unsettled. Something about Apollo seems off to me.

Laura is frowning like always, and Apollo leans against the carriage, seemingly deep in thought. ~What is going on in that mind of his?~

He is now staring at me with a heavy-lidded expression. I feel like he is always undressing me with those predatory eyes. Sinful eyes.

A true crime to nature, for no one should wield such power with one glance.

Being completely honest here.

But really though, I need to stop blushing every time our eyes meet, for the love of all that is holy.

It’s hard because it always seems like he is thinking very naughty thoughts—the dark glimmer and grin are not innocent, trust me. And it’s the way he tilts his head and slightly licks his lower lip.

I mean, ~come on~.

Maybe if I picture him with a beer belly and a double chin.

Nope. Still hot.

“Ladies against men,” Apollo says suddenly, gaining everyone’s attention.

I take a shaky breath and fan my face. He needs to stop staring at me like I’m his next meal. Laura might stab me in my sleep tonight—one-hundred-plus wounds in a crazy stabbing frenzy. Bad blood.

She is trying hard not to look pissed, but her cheeks are flushed.

“Do we have to get split up?” Laura groans out, making Apollo break his stare on me. Apollo smiles at her and she falters, hands tying knots in her skirts.

~Uhhhh.~

I hate when he grins like that. I actually feel bad for Laura. Innocent victim. Laura looks like he just told her he loved her and wants her to have his babies.

“Are you not up for a little game, ~Laura~?” he asks and holds her prisoner with that dark stare.

I have to bite my lip and look the other way. Oh, he is ~good~. Apollo knows what he is doing, and she is absolute putty in his hands.

All he has to do is show her a little attention and she will jump as high as he says. It’s like a bug flying toward the blinding light only to get brutally shocked to death.

She looks flustered. “Oh, well, I am actually very competitive.”

Apollo stares at her. “Are you really?”

She laughs and places an awkward hand on her hip, probably not used to this much attention from Apollo. “Oh yes, by nature.”

Tarren saves her by stepping forward, and the look on her face is pure relief. “Perfect, Apollo. What are the rules to this devious little competition?”

“Simple.” He shrugs. “We give the women a head start.”

“Seems easy enough,” Tarren says with a wicked smile. “If we catch the girls, do we get a kiss?”

Laura giggles. “I like the sound of that.”

Meanwhile, Apollo’s gaze is locked with Tarren’s, and it does not look good from where I’m standing.

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