Colton~~

My stomach turns to lead. Both my cousin and Vienna recoil in their seats.

"And I don't mean a kiss on the hand or cheek, I mean a kiss. One you'd give your great and true love."

            Pushing back his chair, Percy stands. "I'm not even a part of this game."

"Neither was the lake," the Delta says dryly.

            If Percy doesn't do this, Vienna and I still lose the game.

            I turn to my cousin.

            "I. Am. Not."

            "Percy . . ." I can't believe this is something I'm having to do.

            "She's a traitor. She was a rebel. Not to mention your germs are all over her."

            I narrow my eyes. "Iota."

            Vienna's chair scrapes against the pavers as she pushes it back, and walking behind me, she comes to stand in front of Percy.

            He rakes a hand through his hair. "The things I do for family." He and Vienna eye each other warily.

            "Remember to make it convincing," the Tresais drawls. Is being annoying a common trait among the third in commands?

            Percy lets loose a shudder, entirely overdramatic, and places a hand on Vienna's waist. I don't want to watch, but I can't look away.

            As Vienna closes her eyes, Percy tips his head down to hers until his lips touch hers.

            A hand tightens around my leaden stomach. Neither moves to deepen the kiss. In fact neither of them moves at all. They're as still as two statues.

            "This is boring," one of the Order says, but I don't see who, my focus on my cousin and the love of my life.

            "I said as if you were kissing your great and true love." Aries fakes a yawn I can hear. "If that's how you kiss the Beta, I'm not sure why he's going through so much trouble to marry you."

            My hands curl into fists, my nails digging into the cut across my palm. I focus on the biting pain to keep from strangling him.

            Vienna's hands tighten in Percy's shirt. And then her mouth moves against his and Percy's hands are sliding around her waist to her back, drawing her closer to him.

            First Bently falls for Iris and now I must contend with Percy for Vienna. Don't think like that. This is all for show, for the game, for sport.

            His hands press into the small of her back as he deepens the kiss.

            When will Aries call this?

            Vienna's hands slide up his chest and over his shoulders.

            "It's never a good kiss unless there's some neck involved." I recognize the voice as the Beta's.

            Percy pulls his lips from Vienna's and drops his head to her neck.

Vienna tilts her head back and bites her lip, I know trying to stifle a moan.

            "Aries . . ." I all but growl.

            "Oh very well. You may stop."

            Percy and Vienna jerk away from each other as if pulled by invisible chords, as if they really are repulsed by what they just did.

            And they better be.

            Aries doesn't say a word, just examines me, and I realize that in this game there isn't one grand winner or loser. If you can play Tela and walk away with your pride intact and manage to humiliate someone else, it doesn't matter how many rounds you always grabbed a knife, you've won.

*****

I leave the gathering a few minutes before Vienna and Percy to call Rydersin on the number Aries provided, sequestering myself in the room where Vienna dropped her belongings and flicking on only the lamp for light.

            Rydersin answers right away, but when I ask for Erik, she says she doesn't know where he is.

            "My brother and his fiancée, what happened to them?"

            "They were taken somewhere during the ball. The Order said they freed them. Other than that, I don't know."

            I grip the phone, tension still coiled tight in me. "Thank you."

            "Do you want me to let Erik know you called?"

"No, it's all right."

            I end the call and sink onto the edge of the bed.

            They have to be all right.

            I hearONLYONWATTPADBENDERthe door open downstairs. That would be Percy and Vienna. I wonder if they even uttered a word to each other on their walk back.

            Try as I might, I can't get the image of them kissing out of my head.

            I move from the bed to set my phone on the dresser. Seconds later the bedroom door opens, letting in the light from the hall.

"Colton?" Vienna asks.

            I move from the dresser to step out in front of her and shut the door behind her. "You're back."

"I know you probably want—"

            I bring my mouth down on hers, pushing her until her back hits the door. Her hands slide up my chest, but I grab them by her wrists and press them into the door.

            In this moment I don't care what her reasons were for kissing my cousin. All that matters is that they did.

            And she's mine.

            I press against her, deepening the kiss. Nothing outside this door matters. All that does is

that I have her. She's not in France. Not on Earth even. But here with me.

            There's a knock on my door, and we freeze.

            "Colton, are you in there?"

            I roll my eyes and press my lips against Vienna's neck. Her fingers twitch against the door.

            "Colton, please. I figured you'd be in here."

I continue to kiss Vienna's neck.

            "Could we talk?"

            I stifle an annoyed groan and sag forward, leaning my forehead against the door beside Vienna's head and release her arms.

            She steps to the side, and I open the door. My cousin drops his raised hand and moves it to the back of his neck.

"Hey."

            "Percy." I keep my tone cordial.

            "Could we, you know, talk?"

            With a sigh, I nod and walk past him and into the room to the left where I left my own bags.

            He follows me inside, and I shut the door.

"I wanted to make sure there weren't any hard feelings. I mean, if there were any, I think they should be coming from me considering I did it for you."

            I cross my arms. "You kissed my girlfriend and you want an apology from me?" My cousin has guts. I'll give him that.

            He shrugs. "Or a thank you would suffice."

"You're joking. You got to kiss my girlfriend."

            "You say that as if she's some sort of catch."

            I blink. "So you don't desire to ever do it again?"

            He snorts, running a hand over the top of his head. "Definitely not."

            I remember Vienna in the next room and hope the walls aren't thin.

            Still, I wouldn't put it past Percy to use kissing Vienna as some sort of payback for me trying to keep him from Elisana.

            PercyONLYONWATTPADBENDERgestures to the door. "If we're good here, I'm going to go."

            I wave him off. "Please."

            Once he's gone, I head toward Vienna's room but pause outside the door. For the entirety of our relationship, we've never been allowed much time alone together. The only time I've even fully slept in the same room as her was on the ship from Elleany to Amoria and in France at Andrew's. Jonas and Iris were present all of those times except once Iris was taken, and then in Saclay, it wasn't just my brother but my cousins who were with us as well. They were chaperones whether they were thinking it or not.

            In Borilia we were in separate rooms, and it was clear the Order was watching our every move.

            But now there's only Percy. And unless he does decide to take revenge for Elisana, then he won't care where I sleep.

            I could fall asleep beside her. I could hold her and wake with her. I could sleep knowing she's not going anywhere.

            When I enter the room, Vienna's already changed into shorts and a silk tank for bed, ideal for the warmer and humid conditions in this part of Surielius.

            "Everything good?"

            I nod. "Yeah."

            She wraps her arms around me, leaning her head against my shoulder. "I love you. No matter what happens, I love you."

            I run my hand over her hair. "We'll get through this."

She yawns burrowing deeper into my shoulder. "Will you stay?"

I reach back and grab one of her hands and place a kiss on her knuckles. "I'm not leaving you."

Vienna pushes back the covers of the bed and slips underneath them. I follow her, sliding between the soft sheets and drape an arm over her waist.

She lets out a contented sigh, and I burrow my face in her hair. I could stay right here forever and be happy.

She places a hand over mine that rests against her stomach. "Goodnight, Colton."

I place a kiss on the back of her head. "Goodnight."

I've been thinking about the Spotify playlist and starting to make a list of songs to include. Any song suggestions that remind you of the series?