“Fine,” I conceded. “But you need to be careful. Don’t wander off on your own, and if Ezra or I say it’s time to go, no arguing. You go.”
“Deal,” she smiled, but I couldn’t enjoy the view.
I had a feeling about tonight…that everything was going to change.
The clearing for the base of tonight’s party was as secured as it would ever be. Ezra and I laid a few traps around the perimeter—nothing deadly to humans—that should deter any wandering djinn from trying an illusion. There was nothing we could do about the rest of the checkpoints though, and that put me in a mood.
Well, that and not getting my pizza.
I watched a group of Greek Life staff set up the drink tables. It was sodas and water, but I knew for a fact there were a few kegs hidden deeper in the woods for when faculty wasn’t looking. Team tents were erected and decorated with their corresponding colors, and I frowned at the purple bandana I was forced to tie around my arm.
Ez had one too, but he was far more excited about it than I was.
“This is the most juvenile thing I’ve ever taken part in,” I grumbled as my cousin swaggered over from somewhere to my right.
“Let her have her fun,” he said with a wide grin. “The Zombie Run is actually pretty great.”
I sent him a strong side-eye. He would say that. This shit was perfect for him; capture the flag with screaming, half-naked girls, and plenty of dark corners on campus to get lost in. The wide surface area of this game was what concerned me the most. A party in the woods was easily defendable. A party across the entire college campus was a recipe for disaster. We had to be on our game tonight. No mistakes. Nothing and no one got close enough to my bond to hurt her.
“Are you sure this is the best plan?” I asked for what felt like the hundredth time in the past two hours.
He nodded at his matching bandana. “Being a hunter will allow us to follow her and stay close without suspicion. A zombie or spectator would have no reason to always be around.”
This stupid-ass game.
“And the tasks? Won’t we be split up for those?”
I didn’t like the idea of playing, but if it was the only way to protect her, I’d do it. Eryn had been through a lot this past week, and she’d put up with me and my rules better than I thought, considering how it all started. She deserved some freedom.
“I flirted a little with the blonde in charge of assignments,” Ez grinned. “She knows to put us in your girl’s group.”
That was that. We would shadow Eryn for the night. Going where she went and keeping an eye out for another attack. I was confident this clearing was safe, and hopefully, she wouldn’t have to leave it more than once. Perhaps this bit of freedom would soften her toward me as well. A man could only hope.
twelve
Eryn
The moon was already high in the sky and shining through our window when Rani finished with me. I had to admit, we looked kinda hot in our purple biker shorts and tank tops. We both pulled hunter cards, so purple bandanas were artfully folded and tied around our biceps. From what I’d heard, zombies wore white bandanas on their heads. If either of us got “bitten,” we had to return to our team tent, register as infected, and trade in our bandanas. The last team with their hunters alive won.
“Wait!” Rani called and pulled me back into the chair. “I forgot your eye makeup.”
I obediently sat, but my knee tapped in anticipation of finally getting out of this room and away from my permanent shadow.
“So, what’s up with you and Kai?”
I jerked at the unexpected question, and Rani scolded me for moving.
“No idea,” I grumbled. Wascomplicatedan answer?
“Lies,” she scoffed. “You obviously like him.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to deny it…but I didn’t. Denial wasn’t a land I wanted to be accused of living in. Besides, liking Kaiden wasn’t the problem.
“Okay, I do like him,” I admitted. “I’m just not sure I should get involved with him. It won’t work out.”
“Open.” I blinked up at Rani and then closed my eyes again when she dipped her brush in more eyeshadow. “Why wouldn’t it work?”
I wished there was an easy answer to that.
