Page 45 of Beautiful Liar

I glowered at Fox and Wren. I hadn’t told River so one of them must have.

“You know you got this guy dick whipped,” River said to Tomás because he could not read the fucking room. “And fuck you for thinking it’d change anything, but I heard you already got chewed out,” he added to me.

“Yeah, whatever,” I said. “Let’s get this thing over with. We need to get everyone up to speed.”

Ignoring Tomás, I greeted Tor, Rumor, and even Graham. John wasn’t a bastard and had never been a student at Arcadia, the reason we used him as the face of Arcas International. He wasn’t linked to us, so he was absent from the group. The addition of Dasher, Charity, and Micah complicated things. Morgan was branded. I took the floor as River took a spot away from Wren while Tomás took a seat next to Dasher.

Tor gave me a tight nod. Rumor remained the solid pillar beside him.

“First things first. Dasher, Charity, Micah, Morgan, Tomás, meet Tor, Rumor, and Graham. They’re former students of Arcadia.” I gave the group a moment to measure each other before I went on. “And unless you’ve been branded, you don’t belong here.”

Charity narrowed her eyes at me. “The other groups are a bunch of morons, one of which is being led by Ashton who wants you dead. I don’t want to be there.”

“Commendable, but you’re not branded.”

“Then brand me.”

My traitorous eyes met Tomás’s and I wanted to see something more than indifference in them. I wanted to see that jealous spark he had when I had branded Morgan. The fuckerjust looked at me as if he could see right through me. Fuck, I needed my head straight. I glanced at the other two. “Micah and Dasher must be branded too.”

Dasher got to his feet. “Fuck you,” he snapped which I knew he would. “I’d rather fucking do this alone.”

He started to leave, but stopped when Tomás blocked his path. “Can someone tell me what the fuck is going on first?” He glared at me. “Just the good parts.”

Wren chuckled.

“Amir’s death was ruled an accidental drowning most likely caused by the drugs in his system. As such, the Four have called for funeral games. We were all given five selections. Declan waived his right to select, so I selected for the Brennans. I added Wren, Fox, River, Morgan, and a fourth year by the name of Matthew. I don’t even know the guy. Constance added Henry, Charity, Micah and the Martinelli sisters.”

“No shit,” Charity chimed in. “They run with the Brazilian House of Pain. You want to stay away from them.”

“And how would you know that?” Wren asked with a smirk on his lips.

Charity motioned zipping her lip. “I shall speak no evil.”

“Moving on,” I interrupted. “Edward put in Ashton, Zarek, Beck, Kennedy and—” I turned to Fox. “Dasher.” Fox remained unmoved. Anyone who didn’t know him would think he hadn’t cared that his uncle just made a play for Dasher. Every muscle in his body tensed and his eyes remained on the floor in front of him. Dasher said nothing but he no longer tried to run. “Luca added Tomás, Annika, and two first year newbies and Blake.” Dasher opened his mouth, but I cut him off. “We’re not taking any more strays. Your roommate’s going to have to find his own way.” Dasher closed his mouth. “Those selected will be released along the woods surrounding the castle. You’ll have twenty-four hours to reach the castle, alive preferably.”

“What are the rules?” Tomás asked.

Henry took over the explanation, having the laptop open. “We are only allowed blunt instruments like bats, training swords, those sorts of weapons. No guns, no explosives, poisons, knives. The objective is to spill blood, not kill. But the rules of Arcadia Law will be waved for twenty-four hours. There will be no consequences if some should die. Those who have been chosen will meet at the great hall for dinner this evening to meet the Four.”

“That means they’re going to assess us. See who they want to fuck over, that kind of thing,” Fox said.

Fuck over or just fuck. I didn’t add that part. Tomás looked like a rabbit about to bolt already.

Henry went on. “At noon tomorrow we meet at the bell tower. They’ll release us inside the property. Our objective is to get to the castle. At the twenty-four-hour mark, they’ll sound the end of the game and bring in the medics. Each heir will be allowed one collar for one person to do as they will.”

“What does that mean?” Tomás asked. “The collar?”

“Well, a collared will remain with his owner,” Henry answered. “They can’t kill you, but they can do other things.” Henry cleared his throat. “Constance has offered me a collar.”

Tor glared at him. Micah cupped his face and leaned over, breathing deep. I curled my hands into fists. We all knew that Constance was a fucking psychopath and she had hurt Henry when she found out he was alive. Tor had gotten him out of the cage she had kept him in and brought him to Arcadia.

“She’s my sister. She won’t do anything in public. She just wants to make sure no one else does either.”

“I don’t trust her,” Tor said, his voice deep and menacing. Micah lifted his head to look at Tor, then back at Henry. They were both having a staring contest.

“But … but that’s a good thing, right? I mean, you’ll besafe,” Micah said.

Henry nodded. Tor turned his glare to Micah. “Kieran’s right. You should be branded to be here.”

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