But the vow rang hollow now. Because this wasn’t pride. It wasn’t recklessness.
It was a choice. Or was it the tether that was binding them together?
“I told myself I would not care,” he said quietly, surprising himself with the confession. “That I would see you only as my partner in the Games.”
Mara looked up at him, eyes searching his face. “And now?”
“And now,” he admitted, voice low, “I am lying to myself.”
Her breath caught. “Vaelor…”
He released her hand before he could do something worse, like pulling her close again. Like kissing her. Like forgetting where they were.
“I will still win,” he said firmly. “I will still protect you. But I will no longer pretend your safety is merely a strategy.”
Silence stretched between them, thick with everything unsaid.
Finally, Mara smiled—not teasing, not shy. Something softer. Something real. “Good,” she said. “Because I was starting to think I imagined it.”
“Tonight, I want you to stay in my tent. I don’t trust the others and the tent would keep you warmer.”
“Okay.”
He let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.
They resumed walking, closer now, their shoulders nearly touching. The cold seemed less biting. The ice is less threatening. Dangerous thoughts, he knew.
But as Vaelor guided her carefully down the slope, his awareness locked on her presence beside him, he understood something with sudden clarity.
He hadn’t just broken a vow.
He had chosen her.
And whatever the Games demanded next, he would face it knowing that choice could cost him everything—or give him a reason to survive.
Chapter 15
Mara
Today was the day of their second challenge. But Mara’s mind was on last night. They made it to camp right before the sun set. They set up Vaelor’s tent quickly. It was a tight squeeze getting both of their beds set up since the tent was designed for mostly one bed. Afterwards they ate dinner by the campfire.
The two Bestials were at it again. By request, the male set his tent further away from the others so that their… activities did not keep the rest of the players up.
Blaine was flirty as ever.
“Have you visited New York?” he asked.
“Once. Have you?”
“A few times. But I prefer Las Vegas.”
“My father and I have visited Nevada. We went camping in the desert.”
“I would have taken you to one of the big suites in a casino and showed you the time of your life.”
“I enjoyed the trip with my dad.”
Blaine started into another story about a trip he went on, the games he played, the women he slept with. Mara kind of tuned him out a bit. Her eyes were on Vaelor. He was sitting on the other side of the fire. It looked like he was talking with the Lythos and the Sorian. What were their names? Estos and Vor? The Cyborg, Blaine’s partner, was zoning out or recharging, whatever he did. The Rasilian and Slurchan, once again, were nowhere to be seen.
