“Guys-my lords, that’s-”
“Maybe we should do the kisses again, too? Just for consistency’s sake.”
“That’s enough!” I push to a stand hands fisted at my sides, making their conversations stall out as they all look at me in surprise. Even Piers who had been halfway out of the cabana pauses, looking back over at me. “We aren’t redoing the scores, or the kisses or anything. If we do, they’ll just use this as another way to say I manipulated you.”
“How would anyone know?”
I motion at the surrounding area, the production staff, the other omegas, the staff of the resort. “It’s not exactly a secret. If you think for one second that Isadora wouldn’t leak that I threw an omega hissy fit and made you give me better scores, then you really have no idea who you’re going to bond with.”
All of them slump, bodies caving in defeat.
“You just-” I glance out to the pool and then back. “You just shouldn’t have done it in the first place. Learn from this. Do better. Be fucking better.”
“We will,” Forsythe says softly. “We’ll do better with you,cor mea. For you.”
I shake my head. “Don’t do it for me. In the long run it won’t matter, will it? Do better for you. For your pack. For your country. The people who are going to watch this show and see the way you treat us and take their cues from you.”
The prince nods slowly. “You’re right.”
I scoff. “Of course, I’m right. You should know by now that’s always the case.”
Court barks out a relieved breath, like this is some kind of sign that I’ve forgiven them. Thayer and Grieves’ shoulders relax. The corners of Forsythe's mouth tip up.
“We’ll strive to remember that in the future, killer.”
I try to hide the flicker of hurt that statement causes. There is no future. Not for us. Not beyond the next few days.
Forsythe’s brows drop and he scrubs a hand over his perfectly manicured beard. “I know you just finished a yoga session, but would you be willing to do another with a group of beginners?”
He’s staring at me intently. They all are, and I can see this for what it is. A peace offering. A signal to the rest of the world that they might have been harsh in their rating of my kisses, but that doesn’t mean they don’t like me, they don’t want to still spend time with me.
“Speak for yourself,” Court sniffs. “I’m practically an intermediate now.”
I giggle at that. I can’t help it. Despite joining me for practice nearly every day, Court is still just as inflexible as ever and his poses seem to be getting worse. Though I suspect that might have to do with how much he likes having me touch him to help correct his posture.
The giggle melts into a sigh, and I shake my head. “Fine. But this doesn’t mean I forgive you. It's more like I… tolerate you.”
The prince’s mouth curls into a smile, small, but it reflects in his eyes. Like he’s actually happy I’m willing to give them even this much.
“We’ll take it,cor mea. Anything you’re willing to give us.”
I shiver as I lead the way back to the little section of the pool deck I’ve all but claimed as mine, his declaration striking a chord deep within me. Not so much because of the words, but because I think he means them.
Confessional Transcript
-Petal and Tristan
PRODUCER:So… thoughts on the kissing challenge?
TRISTAN:(laugh.s Oh, I hated it.
PETAL:Idespisedit.
PRODUCER:Why?
TRISTAN:Because it was bullshit.
PETAL:Because it wasmean.
