Page 51 of Edge of Wonder

Something wrapped around my arm as I prepared to deliver another blow. I thought it was a vine, but it was Alice. My gaze clashed with hers, and she jerked her head back toward the game.

“Stop, Sebastian! It’s your turn and your last wicket. End this.”

“Get to the platform,” I urged, as she helped me to my feet. She shook her head, stamping her foot onto a swishing vine.

“I’ll watch your back.”

“Go! Don’t make me push you,” I threatened, casting her a promising look when she hesitated.

“You’d do it, too,” she said, sprinting toward the platform. Once she was safe, I grabbed my mallet and ran to the last hoop. The vines slithered toward Scarface, leaving me time to focus on the shot. Medium force, slightly to the left. I’d made the same play a hundred times before. Had even scored a small fortune from the kid I’d hustled.

I tapped the ball, and it rolled through.

Chapter 18

Sebastian

Cheers rang out as I joined Alice on the platform. There was water in canteens and a basket of medical supplies. Even a pedestal laden with fruit and a few other delicacies. An arched canopy shielded us from the sun, providing a brief respite from the oppressive heat. I reached for a canteen and twisted the top.

“Take a drink, Alice.” I handed her the water, then reached for another. She guzzled the cool liquid so quickly that some of it overflowed around her mouth and dripped to the floor. “Go, slow,” I said, trying not to grin at her eagerness.

But I didn’t blame her. I was parched and dizzy from dehydration. I took deep gulps of water, but I watched her over the rim. For a moment, I’d thought she was dead. This woman was a bloody phoenix. And also remarkable at croquet.

“You were great out there,” I said after I’d drained the canteen.

Alice twisted her hair up and splashed water onto the back of her neck. “You weren’t so bad yourself. Though your drive shot needs a little work.”

“Well, I was a little distracted by the killer vines and the bloodthirsty players.”

She set aside her drink and reached for my arm, wincing at the blood soaking through my sleeve.

I waved her away and knelt to examine her side. “My wound’s superficial, but I need to check you for broken bones. That was a rough hit.” My fingers pressed gently under her rib cage. Air sucked through her teeth when I found the spot. But thankfully, it was only bruised. “You got lucky,” I said, my gaze roaming over the rest of her body, making sure I hadn’t missed any other injuries. “But we’re not done.”

“I know.” She grimaced and looked to the other side of the platform where the obstacle course waited. “Am I going to have to carry you?” she asked with a dry chuckle.

“You might.” I climbed to my feet. “How much can you lift?”

“Sebastian…” Her voice wavered, humor fading as she buried her head against my chest. My arms wrapped around her, anchoring her against me. We ignored the packed arena, the announcer, and the vines snapping a few feet away, and just breathed.

“I can’t believe you volunteered for this. What were you thinking?”

That you weren’t doing this alone…

“I thought the view would be better than in the stands.”

“And how was it?”

“I think I prefer the nosebleed section.”

Her laugh rumbled against my chest, and I tightened my hold. We were going to get through this. One more round to go. My gaze shifted over her shoulder, back toward the obstacle course. A deep pit separated us from the starting platform, and the passage of jagged stone gave nothing away. But at least there weren’t any vines.

“Well, isn’t this sweet?”

I tensed, hearing Scarface’s taunting sneer, and placed Alice behind me. He limped up onto the platform. His face and arms were cut open, blood oozing from the wounds. But he’d kept his evil grin, except now he was missing a tooth. Which made it worse.

“Thought you had me there, didn’t you? Well, I’m not dead, yet.”

“There’s still time,” I said, earning me a wider glimpse of the gaping hole in his mouth, courtesy of my fist.

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