Page 47 of Rejected Mate

When I whirled, I saw that Laurel had joined me. She’d clearly spent much more time on her appearance than I had. Her blond hair was down and curled, her makeup was flawless, and the most impressive fake eyelashes yet were glued to her lids. They were so big she looked like she would take off flying if she fluttered them fast enough.

I turned back to the course. “I’m deciding where to celebrate my win. I think over there where the cameras can get the best view.” I pointed at the far end of the field.

“Oh, Wren,” Laurel said smugly, “you talk a big game, but, honestly, what are you even doing here? You couldn’t win yesterday. You lost your play to get Ares to fall for you. Even your only friend betrayed you because you don’t know how to be a leader. You should just go home and save yourself the embarrassment.”

Anger boiled under my skin. It took everything I had not to turn and punch her in the throat. “The only one who will be embarrassed today, Laurel, isyou.”

A nasty smile turned up the corners of her red lips. She leaned in close and whispered conspiratorially. “Do you know what Ares said to me last night during ourdate?”

“'Why does your breath smell like dead cats?'?” I made air quotes.

“Haha,” she said, ignoring my bait. “He said, ‘What a relief to be with someone who isn’t angry all the time.’ I guess he enjoys my pleasant demeanor.” She giggled and fluffed her hair.

“Give me a break.” I rolled my eyes. “Your pleasant demeanor is about as real as those eyelashes. By the way, stop blinking so much. You’re starting to hover.”

She gave me a cold smile. “Your childish insults don’t hurt me, Wren. Not when I am still basking in the glow of my date with Ares.”

I gritted my teeth. She knew just where to hit me. “Just shut up. I don’t have time for your insipid conversation. I need to focus.”

When I started to walk away, she called after me. “I’ll be happy to invite you to the wedding, though I’m not sure Ares will want you there. What were his words? ‘That loathsome bitch.'”

I tried not to let her get to me, focusing instead on tracing the course with my eyes, butdammit, she had riled me up. Did Ares really say that? Or was she lying to upset me? Ihadlet my anger get the best of me more than once in the beginning, so it could be true. But whatever! It didn’t matter. Even if he hated me, he was the best match. I knew he was pissed at me, but I’d had my reasons to throw the game.

If only I could talk to him…

No. Stop it. Getting stuck in these thought loops won’t help. She’s just trying to shake you so she can beat you.

Gritting my teeth, I decided to circle the course a few times. It would allow me to see everything better and blow off steam at the same time. By the time I’d made four rounds, the others were starting to show up. I skidded to a stop, feeling ready.

Then I spotted him.

Ares stood on the terrace, looking down on the garden. In the moonlight, his haunted expression was nearly luminous as he gazed down. His intense eyes were fixed on me, but when I met his gaze, they darted away. Yet, they left a fire burning along my skin, a sensation I couldn’t ignore.

How the hell was I supposed to focus again?

The other girls began to filter in, as did the other vampire suitors. William was the last to make his appearance, wearing another bespoke suit, his hair slicked back and his eyes taking in everything all at once.

“Ladies, welcome to your next challenge,” William said, stepping onto the field. His voice boomed preternaturally loud, making me cringe inwardly. He gave a false smile. “Thank you for coming this evening and looking so splendid. Don’t they look beautiful, gentlemen?”

The other vampire suitors had gathered at the far end of the yard near the finish line. They were all there. Callan, Henri, Elon, and others whose names I couldn’t remember. Ares had left his perch on the balcony and joined them. While he stood silent, the others whistled and catcalled the girls, who seemed to enjoy the attention. There seemed to be a fun banter between some of the couples, the ones who were focusing on enjoying their time here more than anything else. But not all of us had the luxury of simply relaxing and going with the flow. Some of us had duty and the Grimhowls breathing down our necks.

Doggedly, I straightened my spine and set my eyes on the course.

Get to the rules, I thought.

“Tonight is about more than beauty. Tonight, you will be able to showcase other talents. Mainly strength, agility, and cunning.”

Hmm. Interesting.Cunning?

“All ten ladies will race from one end to the other. The first two contestants to complete the obstacle course will then compete in another challenge to determine the final winner. That person will be allowed to choose one male for a private date. The rest will again be paired up randomly.”

The other girls murmured to each other, but I didn’t meet anyone’s gaze. I knew if I made eye contact with Violet or Laurel, it would be far too distracting.

“The other incentive to do well in this competition is that three females will be asked to leave the competition.”

If I really wanted to go home, should I just flub the game and get kicked out? But what did they mean we would be sent home? I imagined if we lost, our options would be the lesser vampires, which was not what my grandfather had instructed. The rules of this game were growing more confusing by the second, but I suspected that was William’s doing. If he kept us in the dark, no one could complain about the shady things he did. One thing I did know was I couldn’t let Laurel win and claim Ares. The consequences of that would ripple beyond this castle.

Either way, I couldn’t lose.

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