72

Wyatt hung his head. “They wouldn’t have let me on the show if I didn’t fit the bill somehow. The rules aren’t that strict, but you can’t simply walk on. And some of the people who run the show…they know my history.”

I wanted to ask more questions, but the analog clock on the wall caught my eye. It was getting late. I checked my bracelet. Thankfully, it was still glowing white. No cameras on the way. Yet.

“Shit. We need to hurry. People are going to start wondering why we aren’t back in our rooms,” I said, grabbing my clothes.

“Why do you care?” Wyatt asked. “Doesn’t this, like, cause more drama or something?”

I froze where I was, suddenly realizing my nakedness, but I refused to cover myself as I turned to look at him.

“Wyatt, you need to go find an employee shower or something. You have to wash my, you know, sex scent off yourself. If you get back in that bunk room with my scent all over you, the other guys might turn on you. Do you really want all of them gunning for you tomorrow? Seriously? You’re good, but you can’t fight odds like that. I don’t…” I paused and blew out a breath. “I don’t want you dead, okay?”

Wyatt’s shoulders sagged, but he nodded. “All right. Fine.”

He quickly dressed as I shimmied into my dress and thong. Once we were fully clothed again, I pressed my ear to the door in the door to listen for footsteps. When I didn’t hear anything, I unlocked the door and opened it a crack. The coast seemed clear.

“Okay. You’re good,” I said, nudging Wyatt toward the door.

“Kira, I wanted to say–”

“No time, Wyatt. You need to hurry. I think there’s a staff breakroom one hallway down. I passed it last night. There’s probably a shower there.” I checked my bracelet one last time to make sure it hadn’t changed color. Seeing it was still white, I pushed him out the door. “Go. Hurry.”

“Fine. I, uh, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He left without saying anything else. It was all I could do to wait five minutes to leave the room myself. I didn’t want to risk us being seen too close to each other. I hurried down the hall to the stairs that led up to my room on the third floor, my shoes in my hand—I didn’t want any noise from my heels. Every few feet, I checked that I wasn’t being followed. Anyone could be out and about—the show staff, Von, those damned magical cameras, or even one of the other contestants.

Had I spent more time looking forward than looking back, I might have seen him. Instead, I rounded the corner and almost ran right over Leif. I slammed into his chest and stumbled, almost falling backward. He shot out a hand and grabbed my wrist to keep me from falling onto my ass.

“Leif? What the hell?” I said as I righted myself.

“Kira?” Leif looked confused.

He took me in, a smile stretching his lips. I’d done all I could to straighten my hair and smooth the wrinkles out of my dress, but I must have looked exactly like what I was: a woman who was minutes out from a sexual tryst. I ran my hand through my hair again, feeling my face going red.

“Uh…listen, Leif. I’m not sure what you think happened, but–”

He snorted, then tugged on my hand. “Come on. We need to get you back to your room. Hurry.”

His nonchalance surprised me. I followed him as he rushed me down the hall to the last set of steps that led to my suite. Despite my worry about the other guys’ reaction at finding out I’d had sex with Wyatt, Leif seemed genuinely amused. Maybe I’d gotten lucky, and he was one of the only guys who didn’t care.

Leif spun the doorknob and pulled me inside. We sank against the door, both of us breathing heavily.

“What the hell is this?”

I nearly jumped at Zoe’s voice. Glancing up, I saw her staring at us, arms crossed and an incredulous look on her face. She stepped forward and looked me up and down, her eyes stopping at my hair and then shooting down to my shoes. Shit, I forgot I’d tucked my thong inside a shoe.

Zoe looked at the two of us, eyes darting back and forth. “Did you guys do the dirty?”

Leif laughed out loud—a genuine laugh. Zoe and I stared at him as he brought himself under control.

He waved a hand. “No, no, no. Not me. I wasn’t that lucky.”

How could he be this blasé? It was like Leif was enjoying my and Zoe’s confusion. He wasn’t acting like someone who’d almost died mere hours before.

“Are you all right?” I asked. “From earlier?”

His smile dimmed, but he nodded. “Yeah. I’m good. The fae healers did a great job on me. I’m a hundred percent. I guess I should be thanking you.”

“Anyone would have done that,” I said.

He gave me an approving stare. “No, they wouldn’t. Not here. You could have left me for dead, but you didn’t. The same goes for Wyatt. I’m more surprised that he helped. I’m an obstacle for him.”

Waving that comment away, I said, “He’s not the typical…well…what I mean is, from what I’ve noticed this far, he isn’t one of those big-headed asshole alphas. He probably had his own reasons for helping me save you.”

Leif sat down in an armchair near the door. “This place is way more stressful than I thought it would be.”

Zoe raised an eyebrow and studied him. “What’s your story, Leif? Something doesn’t track.”

Leif glanced up at her, not a trace of his smile remaining. “Is it that obvious?”

“Sweetie…come on now.”

“What the hell are you guys talking about?” I asked.