Page 28 of Lust & Lollipops

I smoothed a hand over her mostly-bare back, needing to touch more of her skin. Knowing that she’d be going to the shelter and lying beside some other fae bastard was enough to make my temper rise.

“Those with dream magic can sway your dreams. You’ll wake up feeling like the dreams you experienced were not yours if their magic has touched you. Oren is the only one here with dream magic.”

“There’s something creepy about that guy,” she admitted.

“He’s not known for stability. If he ever makes you feel uncomfortable, go to Rhett’s side and stay there. I’ll deal with him however I have to, should the need arise.”

She nodded against me.

“Illusionists can alter how things smell, look, or feel. You’d be able to see through their magic if it was used against you. Knowing it’s a possibility prevents you from truly being affected by it.”

“Are there any illusionists here?”

“Reid and Colt,” I confirmed.

“Alright. Is that the last kind?”

“There’s one more. Compulsives. Their magic is the hardest to fight,” I admitted. “Even for a compatible mate. Travis is the only compulsive here, other than Rhett. If you find yourself drawn to him in any way, let me and Rhett know immediately.”

“If he’s that much of a threat, why aren’t we going after him?”

“Because I trust him for the most part. He’s also not the brightest crayon in the box. And he’s close allies with Kyle, who I’m currently working with.”

She jerked her body away from mine, though she remained on my lap. “You’re allied with Kyle? What the hell, Cam?”

“He suggested an alliance between men you clearly don’t like. I was at the top of his list, and turning him down would be a terrible idea. He’ll take the heat for decisions about who to vote out, while I’m making the calls. Travis is a number for us.”

“So you’re working with the biggest assholes in the game,” she said flatly.

“The biggest assholes in the game consider me one of them,” I tossed back. “You made me out to be the bad guy on day one, remember?”

She huffed. “I was pissed at you, for good reason.”

“I didn’t say you weren’t. And that was the plan. Right now, no one sees me or Kyle as threats. That makes them want to work with us. I have to take advantage of that, and of him, for as long as possible.”

She didn’t look happy about it, but she finally nodded. “Fine, I get it. I really don’t like him, though. He makes me uncomfortable.”

“If he ever does something inappropriate, he’ll be gone in a heartbeat,” I said, my voice even.

It was the truth.

If the bastard did something to my girl, he’d be lucky if I let him live at all. Until then, he was my best shot at winning the game.

“Okay,” she agreed. “We should probably go back before anyone gets suspicious.”

“I’ll head out first and do my best to make it seem like I’ve been there all along. Stay here another fifteen minutes, and I’ll make sure someone gets the idea that we need to send someone to invite you back to camp.”

“How are you going to do that without mind magic?” she asked, skeptical.

I winked. “I’ve got my ways.”

She rolled her eyes, but looked much more confident in our plan when I burned my scent off her skin and set her back down on the sand.

I erased my scent from the sand too, just to be safe.

Then, though it was last thing I wanted to do, I slipped back into the jungle and headed toward the lions’ den.

six

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