Page 210 of Deviant

“Now you want to talk about sex?” I slap his chest in reprimand.

A low chuckle leaves him, but all of his amusement dies when we see a large table set up by the gate with various weapons on top.

“Please, arm yourselves for the hunt,” Henry instructs. “Only one weapon per chosen.”

“Oh!” Mackenzie jumps in glee. “I think I’ve seen this before,” she points at the hunting knife I used to take a slab of Elias’s arm. “I think I’ll keep this one. Seems like it’s fate that I should use it on your girlfriend, don’t you think…E.?”

She uses Nora and Andy’s nickname for him to provoke and rattle him, but thankfully, Elias doesn’t take the bait.

The sound of a chainsaw rings loudly in the stilled night’s silence, slicing through the quiet like a knife. It’s so loud that it stirs the shadows in the woods and sends whatever wood-like creatures it harbors to scuttle as far away as they can from the obnoxious and terrifying sound.

“Well, I think I just found my favorite toy,” David says excitedly, not really putting a great deal of thought into his choice. How is he supposed to protect himself with that, if he has to rely on his crutches to walk? It’s only when he kicks them to the ground that I see what his game is. He’s been acting all weak and vulnerable just in case any of us devised a plan to take him down.

Smart.

However, I still think his choice of weapon is a little over the top. He’ll need to be within arm’s length of his enemies if he intends to do any damage to them with that thing.

Like Mackenzie, I also choose a knife since it’s easier to throw at a distance. I don’t relish the thought of killing anyone, even a psycho like Mackenzie, but if it ever comes down to me or her, I know who I’m choosing.

“How good is your aim?” Elias asks, his chest pressed at my back as we peruse the table.

“You saw me play darts,” I remind. “I’m a decent shot.”

Sure, I wasn’t able to get the dart in the bullseye without even thinking about it like Elias, but I got damn near close, even under such tense conditions.

“That’s what I thought,” he murmurs, kissing the crook of my neck before sliding down my body to hide something in my Converse sneakers.

I don’t remind him that we’re only supposed to take one weapon when he picks up a knife and pockets it before Henry can see. He then pulls away, my back mourning his heat already, as I watch him pick up a machete as his weapon of choice. The blade is by far the most intimidating thing I’ve ever seen, but in Elias’s hand, it not only looks foreboding as hell… but far too sexy for my liking.

I blame him for these thoughts that have no business showing up at this dire hour.

I’m supposed to be concentrating on getting through this hunt alive, not imagining how many ways I would let Elias fuck me right now.

“It’s working, isn’t it?” he asks with a smirk, knowing exactly what is on my mind.

“Just shut up.” I scowl, hating that he can read me so well.

He lets out a low chuckle, pleased that his little plan to withhold sex as a way to motivate me to stay alive is actually working.

“Chosen,” Henry announces, his voice ringing with a commanding intensity, “the night has come when we unveil who among you deserves to emerge victorious from the games.” He gestures dramatically toward the looming gate before us, shadows dancing across its surface, amplifying the sudden tension in the air. “You have each selected weapons that reflect your resolve, and beyond this gate lies your battlefield—a canvas where bravery will be painted in blood.”

As the weight of his words sinks in, Henry strides purposefully toward us. One by one, he steps in front of each remaining chosen of the Harvest Dozen, attaching a small circular device to our chests. The cold metal sends a shiver down my spine. None of us dare to ask what the devices truly are, but Elias shoots me a knowing glance. After watching my mother’s highlights of when she wonThe Scourge,it’s a safe bet to assume that these gadgets are cameras, eager to document and capture our every move.

For what good is betting on a game, if they can’t see who won in real time?

Once Henry is sure that all the devices are securely fastened, he pauses momentarily in front of us as if selecting which words he can say and which are forbidden to him.

“Don’t let uncertainty cloud your minds tonight. Every moment you hesitate could be your last, while fortune always favors the bold. Remember, nothing is as dangerous as a desperate heart in this game. Nor an arrogant one.”

This time, it’s me who shoots Elias a look.

I can’t shake the feeling that Henry, in his own way, wants to help Elias and me.

He then pulls out four sticks and holds them in his grip.

Immediately, I’m brought back to the basement, the sticks setting a bad omen for the night.

“What’s that for?” Mackenzie asks. “There’s no doors for us to pick, old man.”

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