I pause at a small stream and listen. There’s the water, and some shouting in the distance.
I also hear another set of feet approaching.
Pandora won’t get the drop on me again.
I spin around and shine the light in her direction.
Except it isn’t Pandora. It’s Blaze, and he covers his eyes with his arm to shield them from the light.
“River?” Blaze shakes his head. “Where’s the girl you’re chasing? Or did you lose her?”
“Up a fucking tree,” I say, bemused. “But I’m chasing more interesting prey. Did you loseyours?”
Blaze shines his light around. “I figure I’d claim whatever girl you caught. Since you’ll be Asch’s little brother, and I have to make sure you’re up to the task.”
That’s bullshit.
“Where is Asch, anyway?” I ask, before starting again in the direction I think Pandora must’ve bolted in. “Or is he too much of a pussy to get involved in something like this?”
“There were only twelve pledges left,” Blaze points out. “We figured it would be unfair if there were more frat brothers than pledges. He got the short end of the stick and didn’t get to participate.”
Something about that sounds off, but I’m more focused on finding Pandora.
I shine my light on a small boot print, and Blaze nods.
We split up, Blaze taking a wider path while I follow Pandora’s trail. She has to be leading me somewhere on purpose.
I spot her familiar black zip-up hoodie a few feet ahead of me. She’s walking more carefully now, stomping her feet into the ground to leave clear marks.
I don’t know why, other than that she wants to be caught. I don’t know why she’d want to be, unless she’s that into being tackled to the ground and fucked senseless.
I almost laugh. Yeah. That probably is it.
“She’s mine,” I say fiercely before taking off after her. I’m determined to catch her before Blaze does.
Pandora looks over her shoulder and grins before she sprints on ahead again. “I thought you got lost,” she remarks with amusement.
I don’t bother answering. I’m on her within seconds, and I grab for her arm. I almost lose my balance, but I manage to wrap my fingers around it and yank her back. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” I demand. “You’re not part of this game.”
Pandora presses her body against mine. “But you are,” she answers, leaning up to kiss my jaw. “What were you going to do with that poor girl? Throw her down onto the ground? Rip her shorts off? Bite her nipples?”
I grit my teeth. “It’s none of your business what I was going to do with her,” I snap. “You need to get out of here before someone else mistakes you for one of them.”
“Biting nipples?” Blaze asks, stepping out from a side path. “Is that what you’re into, Pandora? Have I been tooniceto you?”
Pandora flips him off. “You’ve made it clear what kind of guy you are. Go away. I’m busy with River right now.”
I frown. She has to know that telling him to go away will only make him do the exact opposite.
Blaze gets closer to us, and I can see his sneer now. “You’re not the one in charge, Pandora. What are you even doing here?”
“Getting in the way,” I snap. “And wasting my time and yours. Come on. Let’s find someone else. If another pledge gets their hands on her, they can have her.”
Not that I think she’d go down without a fight.
Not that I really want any of them to touch her.
“Huh. Which pledge should I let catch me?” Pandora asks. She sways away from me, closer to Blaze. The movement is just subtle enough that I don’t know if it’s on purpose or not.
