"We're going in circles."
"No, we aren't."
"Considering I'm seeing that stick for the sixth time now. I'd like to say, yes the fuck we are."
"Oh, well maybe that's the stick that's been shoved up your,"
"Boys!" I yelled.
Ben and Dante turned to me, they had been bickering for ages. My feet were aching and we weren't any closer to finding the stone cup. Rent stepped forward.
"Dante, if you don't know what you're doing my alpha is going to blow you up."
Dante turned to Rent, his fists clenched.
"What do you want from me Rent? It's not like there's a handbook on how to be a fucking Valderian. I have no idea what I'm doing."
The boys continued to bicker, Bonolo watched them, looking tired and I glanced about our surroundings.
A heavy stone ledge rose to our left. The surface widened and narrowed unevenly, creating
I sat on the edge of my bed, trying hard to focus my mind. While both boys were barely on speaking terms, they were both in firm agreement that they would find a way for me to back out of the tournament. I wasn't optimistic.My mind was still racing, it made no sense, what was the queen gaining with me as a competitor? I had a feeling, a gut feeling, this Tornment would end up being a lot more than just a competition. Something darker, deeper and far more important was going on. And I intended to find out what.
For the next half hour, we were too busy sorting through what's been happening, for Ben to yell at Dante and me for making contact. I knew it would come later though. Right now, both boys were furious at mefor keeping the recent attacks on me a secret.Ben called for a handmaiden, and under his orders she got off every scrap of makeup on my body, revealing dozens of nasty wounds, scrapes, and bruises.
I woke up in the bedroom Ben had offered me the day he put the crest on my palm."Bet you never thought you'd sleep in that bed."My eyes snap to my left, Ben is watching rain patter onto the balcony through the glass window in the french doors.
BEN'S POV!!!!!!"This is ridiculous.""I don't care.""Ben!"
I fell onto my bed, gripping my bleeding side. Goblins. They had attacked the house, and they weren't the first. Someone had leaked my location, all kinds of creatures were attacking throughout the week, trying to recapture the "Future Valderian Queen."Rent had called, he still hadn't gotten a confession from his guards. The mole on our team was still unknown.
The alpha gave me the prophecy, but I knew the others were waiting. So I stuffed it into my pocket, and stumbled out to the car, knowing my face was as white as a sheet. Everyone bustled, saying goodbye, and getting into the right cars. I came face to face with Rent, and immediately my eyes welled with tears."Oh Carrie," he breathed fondly, pulling me warmly into his arms, "