Page 43 of Rejected Mate

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Isabotagedmyself.Wewere going to win, and I knocked the barrels over. Why?

Back in the room, I crawled straight into bed. Sure, I’d already spent a lot of time there, but, as miserable as I felt right now, it seemed like the only place I could feel some comfort.

Why did I do that? Why?

I replayed the moment in my head again and again. The timer was counting down. We had four barrels stacked, then I pushed them over.

I’d lost on purpose, and the only reason I could come up with was I was chickenshit.

There. I said it. I was afraid to spend a night alone with Ares.

I was afraid of the feelings that bubbled up every time I was near him. Despite my grandfather’s order to do my best, all I wanted to do was leave this game, and yet, I kept thinking of ways to get near him. It didn’t make sense. How could I have such a strong attraction to someone who wasn’t even a member of my species? He was insufferable most of the time, but then I remembered how he’d made sure to move out the way, calling my name as if my safety was his number one concern. Or was it more lust? Did he simply want to finish what he’d started in his room last night?

Get this through your head. You are mine. If anyone else touches you, especially Callan, I can’t be blamed for what happens next. Understand?His words rang in my ears, making me wonder why he’d claimed me like that. But I was wasting my time. He’d been drunk, talking nonsense, which made it clear I couldn’t be alone with Ares Raith. Nothing about that would be good for me, no matter how I spun it.

Sighing, I pulled the blankets over my head. A moment later, footsteps sounded in my room and delicate hands came to drag the covers back.

“You can’t mope in your bed cave forever,” Violet said, blinking her doe eyes at me. “So you lost. So what? It’s fine. I didn’t even get to compete.”

I pulled the covers back over my head. “You don’t understand.”

“I don’t understand?” She yanked the covers back. “I didn’t get picked. How do you think that feels?”

“Bad I’m sure,” I admitted.

“Hell yeah, bad. I might get sent home.”

I knew Violet was hurting, but I couldn’t stop my own pathetic thoughts from running through my head. It felt like if I didn’t tell someone what I’d done, I would explode.

“Violet, I need to tell you something. Promise you won’t tell.”

“Sure.” Violet held out her pinky.

I stuck mine in hers, and we pinky promised. I sucked in a deep breath and unburdened myself. “I… I lost… on purpose.”

“What?!” Her eyes grew wide. “Wren, what the hell? Why?”

I nodded. “It’s so, so stupid. I was scared, so… I pushed the barrels over. Ugh.”

“Wow,” she said, letting the covers sag. “That’s crazy. You could’ve won.”

“I know.” I put my head in my hands and groaned into them.

“You could have had a night alone with Ares. Vampire or not, that male is hot!”

“I know.”

“I can’t believe you did that.” Violet shook her head, staring at me like I was looney.

“I know!” I threw my head back against the pillow and stared up at the ceiling.

My grandfather would put me on guard duty at our compound for an entire year if he found out I’d sabotaged myself.

Violet lay in the bed beside me and stared up at me for a bit before patting my hand. “Look, we both can’t stay here and mope all night. That’s pathetic even for us. We should go out. The girls are having a little mini spa party in the parlor for anyone who doesn’t get to go to the real spa. Let’s go. It’ll be fun. We can try to make friends with Nanette and the others.”

“Make friends?” I sat up and raised an eyebrow. Did she really want to be friends with those Laurel Wannabees?

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