Page 64 of Lost Paradise

“I don’t think this is how their mind works. They see prey, and they go for it.”

“Why are we able to passthrough?”

“It’s got to be some kind of trigger mechanism that stops just them,” Byron replies as his mind races for a logical explanation.

“Maybe our side is cursed.” A chill runs down my spine at the thought.

“It could be if you believe that kind of malarkey, but that would mean they’ve witnessed stuff happening on our side. We’ve been here for a few days. Have you witnessed anything odd?” His gaze searches mine for answers.

“Other than me lusting after a bunch of men?” I quip, attempting to lighten the mood, but the seriousness in Byron's expression makes me realize he isn't joking. I simply shrug in response.

“Come,” he says, extending his hand towards me. “Whatever it is, they aren’t coming past it. That’s why we haven’t seen them until now. They don’t venture to our side of the island. Let’s go get the others.”

I take his hand, feeling the strength of his grip as he holds onto me tightly.

“You alright, darling?” he asks, his deep blue eyes filling with concern as he looks straight at me.

“Yeah, a bit thrown off balance,” I admit, meeting his gaze with a mixture of fear and determination. “One minute, I’m having the best time waking up in your arms and feeling on top of the world, and the next, I’m running naked through a jungle in fear for my life. It’s a little too much for one morning.”

He squeezes my hand reassuringly, “I promise to make it up to you,” he vows, his words a comforting anchor in the storm of uncertainty that surrounds us.

Chapter 20

After listening to Eveand Byron’s adventures with the cannibals, I decided to fuck off to the beach, using the excuse that I would be catching today's dinner with Astro. But I just needed to get away from them four. The way the three address Eve like some loved-up imbeciles makes me want to hurl.

There’s nothing wrong with Eve; she’s a lovely girl who is interesting to observe. When her lovers aren’t suffocating her, I’ll stare at her from afar.

Some might call it stalking.

I call it admiring.

Now, with Byron, they’re having a lovely foursome, although I doubt they’d tolerate any kind of menage with her because of the type of possessiveness those three blokes have. I bet Byron’s already planning a rota about who gets to sleep with Eve.

I, on the other hand, am comfortable in my own skin. I like to watch as much as be watched.

Enough said on that topic.

I search the beach and there’s so sign of Astro. Bastard’s running on thin ice with everyone here, and now that theFantastic Fourhas become a force, I expectThe Teacherwill give him some ultimatum to sort his attitude out or send him packing to his own side of the island.

Astro isn’t as bad as he comes off. They haven’t yet seen his worth. He pulled his weight in muscle to get the sleeping hut ready for us. Didn’t complain once. He does his tasks with due diligence and delivers what is expected.

His fault is his bloodymouth and confident as fuck attitude.

And he fancies Eve so much that he can’t stand her. He would never admit it to anyone, so he fights it to subdue his attraction and ends up the arsehole he comes out as to everyone.

They should just fuck and get this tension over and done with because I’m pretty sure Eve is capable of taking my knife and stabbing Astro with it if he keeps taunting her as he does.

I brush my hand through my hair and search the empty beach area void of that arrogant chav.

“Oi! Astro!” I bellow out, my voice carried out to the ocean by the light sea breeze.

He is not at the tide pools, and I swear if this geezer is trying any more of his games, they’ll kick him off camp for sure this time.

And I’ll be the only one who’ll care enough to visit the bastard.

I rub my hand against my cheek. Damn it, I’ve got several days of hair growth, and it itches like hell. I heard the other blokes saying the same thing. Except for Byron, but he’s part Asian, and his genetics are too perfect for a human.

As I head back to camp, I look down and find a cowrie shell. Picking it up, I inspect its perfect shape and color, decide it’s a keeper, and pocket it inside my leather jacket.

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