Page 68 of Fortune's Kiss
El Perrito yapped and joyfully play-bowed before vanishing.
Dominic’s cherry lips quivered, and he nodded.“Thank you, Mayté.”
“Well, then, that was certainly a turn of events.”For once, Misterioso didn’t sound so enthused.
Lo fumed.She turned to Mayté, but stopped herself from saying anything.She was the one who had told Mayté that whoever made it to the final round would survive.Of course she would help Dominic.
But there were more important people to worry about.
“You’re welcome,” Mayté whispered.The gentleness in her eyes was like a burning acid to Lo.What if Dominic was the one who would break Mayté’s heart?She’d always had her little crush on him, no matter how much she tried to deny it.
“That’s five turns, I suppose,” Misterioso said with a shrug.His nonchalance was a bit surprising.Lo imagined he would have been agitated at the lack of death.
Everyone at the table let out a breath of relief.
“I’m starving.”Rodrigo shot up from his chair and headed for the elevator.
“Wait a moment, if you please,” Misterioso said, sounding quite gratified with himself.“This round may be over, but we’re going straight to the next one.”
The other contestants gasped.Lo shot a worried glance at Mayté.There would be no time to rest or strategize.
“This is hardly fair!”the shopkeeper yelled.“You can’t keep stringing us along like this.”
“Fair?”Misterioso tilted his head to the side, and his eyes narrowed.His toothy smile vanished.He stalked across the room, taking big strides.“As a Gamemaker,Ican make the rules as I see fit, señor.”He turned to the group.“You have unlocked sudden death.In this round, each player’s wager will be the same.Everyone will wager their lives.The round will continue indefinitely until two players have been eliminated.”He stopped behind Lo and Mayté, placing his hands on the backs of their chairs.“This time, using anything except yourownwits and skills”—he locked eyes with Lo, then flicked his sharp gaze to Mayté—“won’t help.”
FIFTEENMayté
Everything comes at a price.
Alejandro’s words pounded through Mayté’s aching head.This is what he had meant.The bigger the magic, the steeper the cost.How could she have been so foolish?
And now, when they needed a magical advantage the most, she and Lo couldn’t use it.How were they going to survive?
“Sudden death?”The Banker raised an eyebrow at Misterioso.His eyes narrowed into slits; the only thing sharper was his razor-like grin.He carelessly shuffled his deck.“What brought this about?”
Misterioso’s jaw ticked, yet his smile remained.“I have caught wind that there has been meddling.Someone has been feeding a player information.”
Mayté’s heart stopped.He knew about her and Alejandro.Could the house have somehow told him?What would that mean—
But Misterioso’s gaze landed on Lo and the Banker.
“Oh, my.”The Banker’s smirk became shameless.“I wonder who could have possibly done that.”
“I have my suspicions,” Misterioso said.
“Do you?”The Banker leaned against the table.“Regardless, I wonder what our other Gamemaker will think of this new change.Guess we will have to find out.”
Misterioso ground his teeth, but, as if catching himself, he turned away.“I am simply trying to keep balance within the house!”
“I see,” the Banker sighed, unconvinced.
Lo watched the men in fascination.
Such an odd exchange—
“There will be six left,” Carlos murmured, tearing Mayté from her thoughts.“We each have a twenty-five percent chance of getting eliminated.”
Right.There were more frightening things to focus on.
