Page 20 of The Hallows Boys

The person pressed to my back whispers next. “The darkness can be about pleasure, Sage. Submit to us.”

He leans forward, capturing my earlobe with his lips before his tongue comes out and licks at my skin. I flinch, moving in the opposite direction, but jump when I slam into the mouth of whoever is at my other side.

The hands holding my waist flex, gripping me hard one more time before releasing me completely. The body at my back moves away, then the person at my side does the same, leaving me feeling bare and lonely now in the cold air without the heat of their bodies. I go lax, falling onto the tree with relief as I take a deep breath in.

A tear slips down my cheek as the feeling of being unsatisfied and alone washes over me.

“Who are you in the dark, Sage?” Kaiden asks, a growl lacing his tone.

I don’t answer him, but I do spin around to press my back to the tree as my body goes on defense.

“Do you want pleasure in the dark, or pain?” Kaiden sounds leashed, almost as if he’s holding himself back from giving in to his desires. He’s like a rubber band that’s about to snap, and I’m not sure if I want to be here when he does.

A sliver of a thrill runs through me, but slowly dissipates and becomes fear again.

I don’t answer Kaiden’s question, unsure if I want to admit that I can feel moisture dampening my panties from the risk of my current predicament. I don’t want to show my hand to them, just in case.

“Do you want to be mine in the dark?” Kaiden whispers, sounding closer.

I nod on instinct, thankful he can’t see me.

“Do you want to beoursin the dark?” one of the other two voices adds.

“I don’t even know who you are,” I snap, annoyed they haven’t revealed themselves.

A hand slams against my throat, making my head bounce on the trunk of the tree. I gargle on spit as my oxygen is cut off, a scream sitting just below the force of the hand that’s grabbing me. I try to fight, my hands connecting with the person in front of me, but on the third swing of my arms, someone is grabbing them and twisting them around the back of the tree. They secure my wrists together with a tight grip of their hands, making tears stream down my cheeks. I want to scream, to fight, hit, kick, but I can’t. I’m held in place, the only thing keeping me standing is the weight of my pride.

Bodies press against me from all sides, and a groan vibrates through my throat onto the hand that holds it.

I know Kaiden is the one gripping my throat when his mouth presses against mine, his deep voice spreading across my lips as he speaks. “Watch it, Sage.”

The lack of oxygen builds a pressure inside of me so tight that I feel like I may explode, so I nod vigorously as desperation washes over me. I’ll agree with anything he says right now, as long as he lets me breathe.

His hand loosens but doesn’t drop from my flesh, just gives me enough room to gulp down air. I gasp, the cold air sending little razor blades of shock through my lungs as I heave.

“We don’t normally do this, Sage,” Kaiden breathes against my mouth. “Play with our toys before the games, but we just couldn’t stay away from you.”

That in itself reveals that the other two are absolutely Vincent and Beckham, as I expected, giving me a tiny bit of relief now that I now know for sure. Kaiden’s words register a half second later –before the games.They picked me. I’m this year’s Hallows Girl.

A chill runs up my spine, even though I know nothing of the games yet, making a grin touch my lips. It’s quick to fall though, when fear creeps back in.

No –whywould they pick me? I don’t have an advantage. I don’t know anything about them or the games they play. That gives them the upper hand over me.

Everything starts to spin, and as my heart picks up again, so does my breathing, giving me away.

“What is it, Sage?” Kaiden inquires, a touch of amusement in his tone.“Are you scared?”

I gasp and gulp down air hurriedly, desperate to calm the panic that’s clawing its way through me. I try to get my wrists free, the hands grabbing me feeling more like embers that burn me now as a panic attack takes over my mind and body.

Kaiden kisses my lips softly, flicking his tongue against mine as he drags his hand up my throat to grip my jaw. “Pain or pleasure, Sage?”

My stomach goes tight, and I hate myself for the lick of fire that attacks my core at his words, lust fogging my head and making me press my thighs together.

Kaiden chuckles. “Pleasure, then.”

He’s gone in the next second, his hand leaving my skin finally as the heat of his body disappears. The grip the other two boys have on my wrists falls, and my body betrays me as I reach out to try and grab them. Kaiden’s malicious laughter fills the area once my limbs have fallen loose at my sides again.

Becks and Vinny step up against me, on either side, and the smell of them overwhelms me, mixing with the smell of pine and earth from the outdoors. They both smell so similar, like smoke and amber, and it has my mind racing to try and figure out who’s who.

---