Page 31 of Lust & Lollipops

“There’s one final advantage up for grabs,” Rhett added. “Somewhere in the maze, there’s a box that holds Molly’s luxury item. Whoever finds it gets to give it to her, regardless of what place they take in the challenge.”

A few eyes gleamed.

Rhett had them all line up at a few different entrances, and then, they began.

He took a seat beside me as everyone disappeared into the maze.

“What’s my luxury item?” I asked. “No one told me to pack anything.”

“I don’t know. It wasn’t on any information I received. How are you doing?” He changed the subject, but I didn’t mind that.

I was a little surprised he wanted to chat, though. He rarely said a word.

“About as well as I was doing when you threw me out of that airplane.”

He chuckled. “Have you felt any mental magic being used against you? If you do, you need to report it to me right away. We have a mated telepath without connections to anyone in the group who will find the truth if you suspect anyone.”

I shook my head. “I don’t think so. I’ll keep that in mind, though.”

Rhett nodded.

“You’re coming to the private island with me tonight, right?” I asked.

“Of course.”

The admission eased my tension just a little.

“And I won’t get to return for the voting?”

He shook his head. “The Society wants it to be clear that you’re not a part of the game. You’re just the final judge.”

“I’m just the prize, you mean?” I tossed back.

He didn’t answer that one. “This game wasn’t my idea, for the record.”

“Somehow, that doesn’t make my position any better.”

He fell silent, so I did too.

We heard curses and shouts a few times as the maze went on. My eyes followed the cameras in the sky above it, all of which followed a different man. They were made in a way that they were hidden for the most part, but when I looked closely, I could see their outlines despite the magic hiding them.

It must’ve been a complicated maze, because thirty minutes had gone by when the first guy finally burst through.

My stomach clenched when I saw Kyle.

The bastard whooped and did a victory dance before he jogged over and lifted me off the bench. I grabbed him by the hair before he could toss me in the air, and when I hissed at him to put me down, he reluctantly obliged.

I tugged my bikini’s tiny strip of fabric back into place (luckily it had only moved a little, so my boob hadn’t fallen out or anything) and waited for the next guy to come through.

A few more minutes went by before he emerged.

Oren.

My throat swelled.

He didn’t do a victory dance, but high-fived Kyle and grinned at me when he made it out.

My stomach shriveled a little.

---