Page 31 of Their Wicked Dare

Silas and Ronan both cursed under their breath, sounding distinctly disgruntled at having me stolen.

Thorne molded me to him. “You just had her. It’s my turn.”

Being the cause of jealousy growing between them settled like a pit in my stomach.

But it eased when they grunted in agreement.

Silas took my free hand as Ronan led us around the back to where there were stairs leading onto the stage.

My heart pounded harder as each step brought me closer to the split in the curtain. The murmurs of the crowd grew louder and even less controlled than when I’d first exited the tent.

Silas squeezed, and his breath brushed my ear, his tone filled with warmth and reassurance. “You’re not alone anymore, my brave girl. We’re right here beside you.”

Ronan split the curtain and held it open for us to walk through.

Silas stepped out first, and I followed him, with Thorne close behind me. I inhaled sharply when I stepped fully onto the stage. Three men knelt near the front, their hands cuffed behind their backs, and black cloth covered their eyes.

Blood had dried beneath Dylan’s nose, and one side of his face was swollen. Owen knelt beside him, his bottom lip split, dark stains down the front of his shirt. They hadn’t looked nearly as beat up when I’d seen them last.

It took me a second longer to recognize him.

Mason.

Acid burned at my throat, and my steps faltered, then locked into place like they were stuck by an invisible magnet. I hadn’t seen him since I left home. Owen’s question from earlier came back to me. He’d thought I had something to do with the invitations.

Ronan’s apology for letting Owen get that close to me hadn’t made sense earlier… Owen, Dylan, and Mason didn’t go to our school, so why would they be invited? Thorne’s misplaced apology, the cuts on their knuckles…

An ache twisted beneath my ribs as the pieces clicked together.

“You invited them?” I wanted him to say no. I wanted to be wrong.

Ronan looked at me. “Yes.”

“Why—” My voice cracked.

The screens at the back of the stage lit up.

I flinched, blinking against the sudden glare. For a moment, all I could see were pale blocks of light. My eyes watered as I tried to make out what was on them.