Page 29 of Lust & Lollipops

MOLLY

Sure enough, Kaden showed up ten minutes later to invite me back to our shelter.

“It’s getting cold out here,” he said, his hands in the pockets of his jeans.

It was getting cold out there.

I’d been freezing my tits off ever since Cam left with his delicious body heat.

“Fine,” I said, standing up and brushing sand off my ass. There was no getting rid of the sand entirely. It was going to be stuck to my skin until I finally got off the island.

“Voting Julian off wasn’t personal,” Kaden explained. “We know you were sticking with him, but he’s well-known in the Society for being quiet and strategic. None of us wanted to risk competing with him as the game progressed.”

“I don’t want to talk about that,” I said flatly.

We walked in silence for a minute before he finally said, “I can give you more information, if that would help you feel better.”

I eyed him.

He definitely had my attention.

When he started to walk slower, I did too.

“Cameron has the same reputation as Julian. I’m sure someone’s told you that.”

“No one tells me anything, actually.”

“Not even Cameron?”

“We didn’t talk about our personal lives when he was guarding me. We definitely haven’t since landing on the island.”

He studied me, as if trying to decide if I was telling the truth.

I was.

We didn’t talk about our lives while he was guarding me, and we still hadn’t talked about our pasts. Which was concerning, since I was working with him, but there was no real way around it at the moment.

“If you’re that worried about him scheming, just vote him off. I’d be more comfortable with Cameron gone anyway,” I said.

It wasn’t really a lie.

I would be more comfortable with Cameron gone… but not for the reasons he would think.

I’d be more comfortable because I wouldn’t have to overthink our hugs on the beach or the fact that I was helping him with his plan to win me like I was a damn prize.

“There are bigger threats,” Kaden finally said, still walking slowly. “Not to the game, but to you. Oren is a wildcard. He can be dangerous. And the only way to prove if he’s using magic against you is to have your mind read by a telepath, which could interrupt the whole game. Travis is almost as bad.”

“What could they do to me?” I wrapped my arms around my middle like I was hugging myself. Mostly because I was cold, but also because I wanted him to think I was clueless and shrinking.

“Oren could plant dreams in your mind. They could be anything from sex dreams to dreams of conversations between you two that make you feel like you can trust him. Travis could manipulate you, making you do things you wouldn’t otherwise do.”

“How do I protect myself from them?”

“You don’t.” Kaden’s words were apologetic.

“Can I…” I trailed off, like I was rethinking my question.

I really hoped he couldn’t tell that I was playing him a little. I didn’t have much experience lying. Cameron and I had spent years trading sarcastic responses, so I hoped that had somehow helped my lacking acting skills.

---