Page 15 of These Dangerous Fates

Flashlights? None of them have any bags. Where are these flashlights coming from? I don’t ask, content to keep silent, and follow Sterling and Malakai blindly. Literally. Malakai’s hand around mine is the only thing I know of the vast, empty darkness. Sounds echo strangely, and my imagination conjures cave monsters into existence, waiting to devour us whole. I think I hear Sterling shuffling ahead of us, but I can’t be sure. Maybe it’s one of those monsters. The air is marginally cooler, but I’m still dying to take off this hoodie.

When Malakai comes to a stop some time later, I’m momentarily blinded as a bright light pierces the darkness. I squeeze my eyes shut and wait until they adjust to slowly crack them open again. Lined up along the wall are three bags, one of which Malakai is digging through and pulling out supplies. Flashlights, water bottles, protein bars. Cade joins him and pulls blankets from another bag. Sterling sniffs the air then turns around and heads back to the mouth of the cave, disappearing outside.

Cade spreads the blankets on the ground and sinks gracefully onto one. The light from the flashlights cast harsh shadows on his face, and his violet eyes almost seem to glow. He glances at me and his smile is sweet and tugs at my heart. I sit next to him and accept a bottle of water and protein bar.

“We’ll hang out here for the day, since Mr. Sensitive over there doesn’t like the sun,” Cade jokes and nods toward Malakai. “When the sun sets again, we’ll make our way to the beach. We have a boat waiting for us. I placed wards along the path and at the entrance to the cave. We’ll know if anyone approaches.”

I nod and take off the hoodie, sighing at the bit of relief the cooler air gives me as it hits my skin. “Then what?” I ask timidly. Normally, I’m not a timid person, but this situation has me thrown off my game and all kinds of confused. Also, I’m scared another verbal tirade will come spilling out of my mouth if I let myself speak.

“We’ll head to my place,” Malakai answers as he sits on a blanket across the cave. “We’ll hang out there until your dad announces the first challenge.”

I glance down at the bottle in my lap and pick at the label. I want to ask why they’re participating. The whole reason for this stupid contest is to win my hand in marriage. Which one of them wants to marry me? And why?

“Did you know about this contest?” Cade gently asks me.

Everything about this man seems gentle. A contrast to Malakai’s constant edge of violence, and Sterling’s aloofness. I find myself inching closer to him.

“Yeah.” My answer is barely audible, even in the quiet of the cave.

“You didn’t want to do it?” Malakai’s brows furrowed over his gray eyes. Thankfully, his fangs are not visible at the moment.

“Who would want to willingly take part in something like this?” I shake my head, my bun sliding slightly to the side with the movement. “I didn’t have a choice, but it was better than the alternative.”

“What was the alternative?” Cade asks, studying me.

I press my lips together, not willing to go into every sordid detail of my past with complete strangers. The guys catch my hint and fall into soft conversation with each other. Unable to sit still as my nerves continue to flow through me, I stand and make my way around the slight bend to the mouth of the cave. Malakai and Cade are just visible, sitting in the light from the flashlights. The sight of the ocean, although painful, is a balm in the craziness that has become my life. I wish I had my phone. I really need to hear my bestie's voice—something normal in this highly abnormal circumstance.

A soft sound outside the cave puts me on high alert. I glance behind me, but neither Cade nor Malakai seem to have heard. On instinct, I fall into a fighting stance. Feet spread, knees bent, and fists protecting my face. I inch forward just as a man enters the cave. Tightening my core, I rotate at my hips, and my right hand flies forward. My fist connects with the nose of an incredibly naked man.

“Fuck!” he growls, clapping his hands to his nose.

His silver hair is wild about his shoulders and I know instantly who it is. I cover my mouth with my hands and my eyes widen in shock. Somehow, Sterling still manages to glare at me with icy blue eyes while he tips his head back and pinches the bridge of his nose.

“Oh shit,” I breathe. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t know it was you!”

“Fucking hell, woman. I think you broke my nose.” His words are muffled but I can still hear the nasally tone to them.

Blood leaks from his nostrils and down his lips, dripping off his chin and landing on his chest. His very bare chest. I watch in fascination, unable to tear my gaze away, as the drop of blood slides down between the grooves of his pecks and over a tattoo I don’t have time to look at. The drop of blood slides lower over his rippled abs. Lower, toward the V pointing my eyes to a truly impressive specimen hanging between his legs.

Holy shit. I don’t notice my mouth hanging open until Sterling clears his throat.

“You’re drooling.” The faint humor in his rumbly voice snaps my mouth shut.

I whirl around with my eyes squeezed shut, a strange fluttering in my stomach. However, the image is imprinted in my memory, and it flashes behind my closed eyelids. Are all shifters blessed like that? Or is it just him? Heat suffuses my cheeks and I mentally scold myself. Get your mind out of the gutter, Ellis.

Sterling prowls around me, head still tipped back. I can’t keep my gaze from sliding down his muscled back to his tight ass. When he enters the circle of light, Cade and Malakai look at him with identical quizzical expressions.

“Why are you bleeding?” Cade asks with a frown.

Malakai glances at me, a slight grin tugging his lips. “And why is Ellis blushing?”

This only makes me blush harder, of course. I wish my hair was down so I could hide my cheeks behind the curls.

“It would appear the kitten has claws,” Sterling growls.

Cade

I glance from Sterling to Ellis, and back to Sterling.

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