Page 14 of Lust

My astonishment must be palpable as my mouth hangs open in disbelief. “You've got to be kidding me. No wonder she looked so sour at the meeting. I bet she's fuming.”

With a secretive grin, Twila leans in closer, her voice hushed with excitement. “Don't tell anyone this either, I’m glad Noémi’s kicked her off the team. It’s way past time she got a taste of her own medicine.”

I chuckle softly. “Now that, my friend, is a promise I can keep.”

She lays back on the bed and folds her hands together before letting out a long breath. She looks so serene and happy.

I lay down next to her and prop my head on my hand. “I don’t suppose you’re going to let me in on what the first round will entail, will you?”

She turns her head and smiles. “Nope.”

Her Hell Cell beeps. She picks it up and reads the message. “It’s Hades. Apparently I’m needed.” She says it as though it’s an irritation, but I see the pinkness in her cheeks and the way her mouth quirked up at the edges as she read his messages. The girl’s got it bad for that hot demon of hers! She sits up and slides off the bed.

“For a kinky threesome with an incubus?” I enquire, giving her a cheeky grin.

She gives me a withering look in response.

“Foursome?” I shrug my shoulders. “Full on incubi, succubi orgy?”

“Wouldn’t that be telling?” she replies with a grin as she opens my door. I’m sure I detect a ghost of a wink as she steps through, closing the door behind her.

As I lay back, there is one thing I’m grateful for. If Twila’s right about Anthura, I’ll no longer be subjected to having to do her laundry and getting burns on my wrist every time she’s displeased. It also means that I no longer will have access to the basement. And even though I now know for sure that’s the way out of here, I’ll still have to go through the Inferno Games to get to Jenny.

HEART SHAPED MEATBALLS

ROWENA

“I’m not going to get through this.” My announcement to the girls barely raises an eyebrow from any of them. “The first trial. I can’t do it.”

We’re sitting in the restaurant eating dinner, although I can’t eat. Quinn hasn’t touched her food either. Even Juliette isn’t stuffing her face as she usually does. Only Twila, who appeared a couple of hours ago, seems to have her appetite.

Juliette finally looks up from her plate of spaghetti where she’s been chasing a heart-shaped meatball round her plate for the last five minutes. “He won’t dare hurt you. You’re his partner in the trial.”

“I’m not worried about him hurtingme. I’m worried I’m going to get disqualified when I murder him.”

Twila snorts. “I’d forgotten what an asshole Felix is. I’m so sorry you girls are going through this. I wish I could do something.”

“So,” Juliette turns to Twila. “You must have some intel? Please tell me I don’t have to go anywhere near Orlin Moss’s maggot.”

Twila raises her eyebrows.

“Just so we’re clear,” I say. “She’s talking about his dick.”

Twila stares down at her plate. “I can’t tell you. You know that.” She looks up again and casts her eyes at the three of us, one to the other. I see pity, and even though I love Twila, it irks me. She doesn’t have to worry about this. She just has to keep fucking her literal God and not worry about anything.

“But you know what our challenges are, right?” Juliette begs.

Twila shrugs. “I know a bit, but if anyone thought I was telling you, even hinting at what to expect, then you’ll lose your place in the games. Hades has made it very clear that I’m not to give you any assistance.”

Juliette groans. “I only want to know if I have to scoop my own eyes out with this fork, which I will if I have to, to fuck Orlin Moss. Can’t you flicker your eyelashes or something? Once for no, twice for yes?”

Twila brings her hand up to her face, hiding her black mascara coated eyelashes. “You’ll have me paranoid that I’m sending secret messages every time I blink.” She peeks out over her hand. “I can tell you that you should avoid certain people, and pleasure isn’t always what it might seem.”

Juliette stares at her. “Is that it? I’m already planning on avoiding certain people. Mainly Orlin.”

I narrow my eyes. “What do you mean about pleasure not being as it seems?”

I know I’m making Twila uncomfortable, but she’s not the same as us. Not anymore. She made herself different by giving up the games and taking the easy way out.

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