The feel of her beneath him was distracting as hell. The heat of her skin, the thud of her pulse, the challenge gleaming in her eyes all tangled with the scent of wild earth and leaves. It made his grip falter. Made his heart thunder. It made him want to lose himself in her, forget the damn game entirely and focus on that need. To hell with winning. But he wasn’t about to let his determination slip that easily. He wanted to win this round. A slow, wicked smile spread across his face as he cinched her wrists tighter.
Yet she never stopped trying to escape, that fire in her eyes daring him to keep up. He bit back a groan, feeling the entire world narrowing to nothing more than their struggle. Elora was a wild thing beneath him, and the thought of her giving in stirred some deeper, primal part of him.
And then, suddenly, she stopped struggling. With a smug little tilt of her head, she let herself sag against the dirt, like she’d just decided to give up. Like she was admitting he’d won. He squinted at her, suspicious.
“You’re not fooling me,” he warned, but his hold loosened just the slightest bit, a reflexive reaction to her abrupt stillness.
It was all she needed. Her arms slipped free, claws raking his shirt as she shoved him off with a surge of strength that startled even him. One second he was pinning her to the ground, the next he was flat on his back.
Rell gave a low whistle, straining for breath. “You’ve been holding out on me.”
Elora stood up, breathless and triumphant. The gold in her eyes glinted like a predator's, and this time, her grin was all feral victory. “Guess I just needed the right motivation.”
She turned to run. Her foot came down hard as she pushed off, but Rell reached out. His fingers closed around her ankle, snatching her up and dragging her to a knee. A twist of momentum sent her sprawling to the ground with an indignant yelp and a muttered curse that made him laugh.
“Don’t think I’m giving up,” he warned, dragging her back towards him.
She kicked and squirmed, but he was relentless. “Rell!” she snapped, but with a hint of laughter. She twisted herself around, grappling to get the upper hand again, but this time Rell was ready. He shifted his weight, pulling her under him until she was helplessly pinned against the forest floor once more.
“Say it,” he demanded, smirking down at her.
She glared up at him, defiance burning bright. “Never.”
“You’re the most stubborn person I’ve ever met,” he said, as if that was an accomplishment in itself. He trapped her arms above her head and held them there.
“Let go,” she growled, fangs bared.
“Not until you say it.” He adjusted his grip, leaning in closer, his breath warm against her cheek.
Her nostrils flared, eyes snapping away from his face. Toward something off in the trees.
Rell frowned, catching his breath at the sudden shift in her focus. “What?”
“Someone’s coming.” She was dead serious now, all playfulness gone. But Rell wasn’t buying it.
“I’m not falling for your tricks—”
“Shh… Listen.”
He really didn’t want to focus on anything besides her. She was so close beneath him, her breath warm against his cheek, every inch of her skin thrumming with adrenaline. And her eyes. Damn, she was gorgeous when they glazed with that fierce, determined spark. He was so caught up, all his attention narrowing down to her and only her.
But he listened. Stretched his senses out into the trees, past the moss and fallen leaves, past the pulse of her breath against his skin. He closed his eyes and listened.
And then he heard it.
Voices.
They were distant, hushed at first, just a whisper on the wind. But then they grew louder, cutting through the woods with unmistakable clarity. Those voices were more than just noise in the distance. They were a threat.
The game was over. Now it was real.
Shit. Rell released her, both of them scrambling to their feet and brushing off mud and leaves. She shot him a look, as if to say I told you so, but there was no time for gloating.
“This way.”
They sprinted together, cutting through the trees at a reckless speed. Her pace matched his perfectly; even without the chase’s adrenaline, she was fast as hell. Rell stole a glance over his shoulder, and that’s when he saw them. The Snatchers.
Rell's heart leaped with exhilaration, spurring him to quicken his pace. He swerved hard, pulling Elora with him, and they pushed deeper into the woods. The Snatchers were relentless, but he knew this terrain better than anyone.
