Page 52 of A Sky of Storms
“Nope.” I shook my head. “I refuse to accept that answer. Try again.”
He sighed, his eyes glimmering in the glow of the morning sunlight creeping through the wooden slats of the cabin. “Truth is, I entered because I don’t want to be the heir to House Neptune. I’ll always be standing in my dad’s shadow, never really knowing whether people respected me or the man behind me. Besides, I want an adventure. I love Tritosa City, but there’s so much more to explore in the world, ya know? Sometimes I feel a bit trapped back home.”
I leaned back into his chest and smiled, feeling pleasantly surprised about how easy it would be to open up to him despite knowing him for such a short time. “I get it. I feel the same in Stormcrest. My family is … well you’ve heard what people say about them. The sad part is most of it is true. My parents are monsters. All they care about is money and power, and they don’t care who they abuse or use to get it. I can’t go back to that house once the trials are done. I won’t.”
He ran his fingers through my long hair and nuzzled my cheek. “You won’t have to, because if I don’t win this thing, you will. You’re strong, your parents should be proud to have you as their daughter.”
Tears sprang to my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Zane was right. I’d give my all to win this competition and if I didn’t win then I’d just have to think of a different way to stop my parents from destroying the city. I’d try again and again to make things right. I would free the exploited workers and restore order, or I’d die trying.
I peeked at him over my shoulder. “You know, you’re oddly wise for someone who comes across so flippant and carefree.”
“It’s all part of my charm, Starfish. Once people get tangled up in my net, it’s a done deal. The trick is to get deep inside them, like all the way in, so they open up and I can thrust my trust upon them.”
My nose scrunched up. “I take back what I said earlier.”
“Too late. You want me, I want you, and I think Noah might want a piece of the Fallon pie friendship too.”
“Oh? Friends, huh? Well that’s a shame, I thought maybe we were heating up a little. Guess I’ll have to set my eyes somewhere else. Maybe that Kayden guy…”
I smirked, trying to ease out of his grip, but he growled, clamping one hand on my thigh, the other snaking beneath my jumpsuit and over my bra, his fingers circling my nipple.
“My Starfish,” he said.
I groaned, arching my back and feeling his length hardening against my ass. “I don’t want to be caged, Zane. I’m not yours. I don’t belong to anyone.”
Not to mention I shouldn’t want anyone at all, even if a small voice deep inside me wanted to play with fire with more than one Potential during these trials…
He pinched my tweaked nipple, then slid his other hand between my legs, rubbing me through the material. “Who said anything about that?” he whispered in my ear. “I’m not a possessive guy. You can have me and others too. Even at the same time, if that floats your boat.”
I moaned, rocking my hips and pressing into his hand as he kissed my neck, biting softly at the sensitive flesh. His hand found the zipper of my jumpsuit, unravelling it slowly as he shifted his hand and placed it down my panties.
“You’re so wet,” he rumbled against my throat. “Does the idea of being shared turn you on?”
“Yes,” I panted as his thumb circled my clit and he shifted me to face him. His other hand peeled back my bra to sit under my tits and push them up where he bit my nipple, causing me to cry out. Zane licked and sucked to lessen the hurt, scraping a finger up my centre as he did so. My pussy throbbed and I had to clench my legs together.
“You’re so fucking beautiful,” he rasped, his eyes glinting as he surveyed me. “I want to see those pretty eyes staring up at me when you’re on your knees.”
He began to unzip his jumpsuit, and I stared at him hungrily as his golden muscles peeked out. The zipper went down agonisingly slowly. I bit my lip, jumping into his lap and was just about to take charge when something crashed through the trees outside.
We both flinched, and I stared at Zane with wide eyes as a large shadow blocked out what little sunlight filled the room.
Zane groaned. “Come back to eat us later.”
I raised a finger to his lips, shoving him towards the window on the far side. He grumbled, crouching low and crawling beneath the pane.
I zipped myself up, grabbing a sword and tying it to my hips with a sash, then slipped a knife into my boot. I tossed Zane another sword, because apparently the Overseer thought it would be fun to make us fight like freaking knights in one of her stupid tales, and then crammed as many of the meds supplies into my jumpsuit as I could.
Zane gestured at me frantically as something outside clicked menacingly. My eyes darted between him and the window frantically. At the last second, I threw my back against the wall, freezing in place as one giant eye peered in through the window.
Oh gods, it looked like—like—
It roared, the sound making me grit my teeth as fear blossomed in my stomach. It had stone stretched over its long legs, the tough texture transforming into a root-like system of pulsing veins over its chest. I’d never seen anything like it. My heart thudded in my chest, and just as I was about to bolt to Zane’s side, the roof of the hut was torn off, exposing us to the giant beast outside.
“Run!”
I sprinted for the door, Zane hot on my heels as we scrambled through the threshold and out into the marsh beyond. I looked over my shoulder and yelped, shoving Zane again and diving the other way, narrowly escaping being torn in two by razor sharp teeth.
The creature turned, locking Zane in its sights. It lunged forward and I didn’t hesitate to slash at its thigh. It hissed, swivelling towards me and gnashing its teeth. I darted back, staying just out of its reach as its yellow eyes gleamed dangerously. The damn thing kept coming. I backed up until my spine slammed into a tree and I realised it had me cornered.
