Page 106 of Creatures of Chaos

“Freckles,” Talon says with a frown. “I know I goaded you into it, but we don’t have to do this. I didn’t actually think you’d want to go through with it when I suggested it.”

I lick my lips and his gaze flicks to my mouth before returning to my eyes.

“We do,” I say. “You were right before. It won’t be convincing otherwise.”

His gaze searches mine. “You do this and it can’t be undone,” he says quietly, giving me another chance to change my mind. “Your princeling won’t forgive this. There’s no going back.”

The box I shoved my heart into starts to rattle, so I slap a padlock on it so it doesn’t burst open and ignore it the best I can.

“Kiss me,” I command. “And make it convincing.”

Thirty-Five

Talon only hesitatesa second before dipping his head. My eyes slide closed, and I wait to feel the press of his mouth against mine, but it doesn’t come. His breath brushes against my lips, making them tingle.

I crack my lids to find his face lined up with mine, his mouth a hair’s breadth away. “Talon, what are you doing?” I whisper, and my lower lip brushes against his, sending a shock through my body.

He shifts his head, his nose gliding over my cheek. My eyes slide closed again of their own accord, and I go lightheaded. His lips graze the shell of my ear, making a shiver run down my spine.

“The first time we kiss, Freckles, it won’t be to make another guy jealous. It’ll be because we can’t live another second without tasting each other’s lips. I’m a patient creature. I can wait.”

Wait. What?

“Lock?”

Becks’ voice breaks me out of my daze, and I rear back from Talon so quickly I almost trip over my own feet. Only Talon’s arms still locked around me keep me from falling. I try to pullaway from him, but he holds tight and gives me a look, which is the only thing that keeps me from blowing our lie before we’ve even had a chance to spin it.

Still within the cage of Talon’s arms, I glance at Becks, and what I read on his face almost breaks me.

Disbelief. Hurt. Betrayal.

“What’s going on here?” he asks, and I know he’s hoping that his eyes are playing tricks on him, that there’s some reasonable explanation for why I’m in Talon’s arms. And I know that because if the situation were reversed, that’s what I’d be hoping for too.

Talon chuckles, and Becks visibly bristles. “I didn’t think I’d need to spell this out to you. I wouldn’t have had a chance with her if you didn’t pass. Thanks for that.”

I smother a gasp and Becks clenches one fist, the dragon tattoo on his left arm rippling when his muscles bunch. His gaze tracks back and forth between the both of us, and he shakes his head. “No. I don’t believe it.”

He looks so angry yet so broken that I can’t stay silent anymore.

“Becks,” I say, tugging free from Talon. When I take a step toward Becks, he takes one back and a sharp pain shoots through my chest. “It’s—” I can’t say it’s not true, because he has to believe it is. There’s nothing I can offer Becks in this moment. “I’m so sorry.”

Becks makes a strangled noise that I think’s supposed to be a laugh, but just sounds like bitterness.

“No. I’m the one that’s sorry,” he spits at me before turning to stride out of the courtyard.

A pit opens up in my stomach.

It’s done. I’ve lost him.

But he’s free.

I’m still staring at the swinging doors when Ensley runs into view. She glances over her shoulder, shooting me a wounded look right before she disappears after her brother.

When I look back at Talon, he’s holding his Chaos tracker and wearing a somber expression.

“It’s time,” he says. “This ends tonight.”

The last trialis just outside of town in the ruins of the original settlement. Everton was founded over three hundred years ago and was becoming a bustling village when most of it burned down. When they rebuilt the town, they decided to go to higher ground, but the ruins of the original settlement still exist. They’re open to the public during the day, and at night it’s a notorious spot for secret parties or couple hook-ups. We went there on a class field trip in middle school, but since I’m not a partier and have never had a boyfriend, I haven’t been back since.

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