Me: I gave him the microphone thingy. And your switchblade.
Savage: Good. We can hear him. R U safe?
A knock on the bathroom door makes me jump, almost dropping my only lifeline out of this hellhole.
Me: For now. G2G. Love You.
“Yes?” I call out.
“Sabrina, darling, we’re just about to begin the second game. Are you bathing?”
I swallow my groan and I feel it settle in my stomach that’s already roiling just at the sound of Kane’s fucking voice. “Yes! I’ll be right out! Finishing up now!”
“Be sure to wear something…proper, will you? Not the… comfortable leisure wear.”
I almost throw my phone at the door but settle for throwing my middle finger instead. “Of course! See you in about… ten minutes?”
“That will be fine, darling. I need my good luck kiss.” He raps softly twice on the door, and I hear the bedroom close just in time for me to retch. God, I've got to get a grip on myself. I’ve vomited so much I don’t think I have any more lining in my esophagus. I need to be able to deep-throat my men.
My very sore pink parts tingle.
Get it together, you slut.
Fuck. Okay. With a shaky breath I wash down the bile, then go to the sink and brush my teeth, mentally choosing what‘proper’outfit I can wear that will allow me to hide my gun and my phone. If they’re coming at nightfall, I need to be good and ready.
For now I choose black, high-waisted pleated pants that flare enough; a loose, white button-up shirt and ankle boots I can run in if needed. The entire wardrobe I've chosen is easy access. As in, easily accessible to commit murder. Murder-chic. Could be a new thing, right? I’ll speak to Raven about possibly creating a new line. Oh my god. The line could be called Murder & Co. Oh my God, Sabrina,focus. I throw on the light coat Kane purchased for me. Immediately upon opening my bedroom door, Kane is already dressed in his hunting gear. He gives me his elbow and I take it. “You look ravishing as always.”
I plaster on The Smile. The one my husband hates and makes Parker frown and the one Kane seems to love.
“I have a gift for you.” Kane nudges.
“Oh?”
He stops us in our tracks and pulls out a maroon velvet box from his pocket and opens it. I let my jaw drop as if the fucking pearl earrings he got me are wondrous. And they would be… but they’re not… Well, they aren’t pink. They’re… white. “Oh, Kane, how lovely.” I take them and make a show of putting them on instantly.
“More where that came from,princess.”
I think about my gun for a second before leaning in to kiss his cheek, but he grabs my face and forces a kiss on my lips. Kane tastes of disappointment, early-onset erectile dysfunction, and a bit like lemonade. I break away. “You are too good to me, Kane.”
“I told you, nothing but the best for my future wife. Those are an heirloom, you know? The great Prince Arnelson Ainsworth IV,thirteenthin line, gave those to my great, great grandmother on the day of their wedding.”
I pause atArnelsonand inwardly shake my head at the curious name of his… whatever Arnelson was and smile demurely—“I love them, thank you.” I’m going to thrust them into his eyes later. Hmm. The thought makes me miss Sasha.
We resume walking with my hand tucked into the crease of his elbow, and soon we’re in the dining room to rub elbows with the elite of the elite. There’s so many of them. Knowing they’ll all be dead soon helps me keep my appetite. I eat as much as I can knowing I’ll need the energy for later.
Kane nudges me with his knee. “I’m glad you’re feeling better, but could you… slow down? You’re eating like a piglet.”
I peer up to see they’re all staring at me. “Of course.” I put my fork down and grace them with a smile. Was I eating like a pig?
Mr. Ainsworth chuckles from the left of me, where he’s sitting at the head of the table, reaching over to shake Kane’s shoulder. “Ah, you’re training her well to be an Ainsworth, son. Although little happy humming sounds wouldn’t constitute asswine, but it is rather... distracting, isn’t it? Right, so, where were we? Ah yes. The traps have been removed. It is now kill or be killed. We’ll give them a twenty-minute headstart. As you all know, this is the portion of the games where it is to each their own." He stands up like he’s about to give a presentation to a board room. “There are now forty-nine of you. Miles Davies’ corpse was found in a tree. All of his belongings are on him and none in his room. Seems someone was very smart, as their footprints showed they must’ve used the trees to hide. So, please be wary of that once the sun goes down. They always become the animals they are after the first hunt. It’s quite entertaining to watch. Now—”
The elder cockwomble continues on and I go back to my food, eating as delicately as I can whilst making no noise whatsoever, not even letting my fork scrape my plate. It’s then I notice the house manager, Weeple, has stepped into the room, bending low to speak into Mr. Ainsworth’s ear. His eyes dart to mine. Though I feel the color draining from my face and down to my toes, I do my best to not shake as I reach for my glass of water. I break eye contact just as Kane leans over and pats my knee under the table. “I think you’ve had enough breakfast, darling. Wouldn’t want you to get sick again.”
I thumb the handle of the butter knife at my disposal.
He catches the movement. “Maybe not so much bread or butter?”
Miserable.
