Page 68 of Fated

Next it was Ash’s turn. He stepped forward, his posture shifting effortlessly into a shooting stance as if it were second nature, clearly no stranger to handling a gun. My pulse quickened, and I could feel a flush creeping up my neck as I watched him. His broad shoulders flexed as he lifted the gun to his eye, muscles rippling under his shirt. Confidence radiated off him in waves, and I found myself gripping the wall beside me to keep from swaying.

His first shot—bullseye. Without missing a beat, he smoothly tracked the next moving target, another bullseye. He glanced over at me and winked, making my knees weaken as I gripped the wall harder. His third and fourth shots were bullseyes too.

Keo and Fin stared at him in awe.

“Not bad,” I said, attempting to sound unimpressed.

Ash only snorted.

Finally, it was my turn. My heart pounded, adrenaline surging through me as I stepped up to the line.Standing in frontof the targets, I took a steadying breath, letting my eyes track their movements. Each one shifted with a distinct rhythm, a pattern I quickly committed to memory.

The moment the pattern reset, I raised my gun. Four shots rang out in rapid succession—precise, seamless, and unhesitating. Bullseye. Bullseye. Bullseye. Bullseye. My focus was absolute, my actions fluid, and by the time the last target fell, a quiet satisfaction settled over me.

A slow grin stretched across my face as I lowered my gun.

“What the fuck, Areya?” Keo’s voice broke through my haze of concentration.

“That’s impossible,” came Fin’s voice.

I glanced over at Ash leaning casually against the wall I’d just used to steady myself.

His arms were crossed over his chest, and his eyes were locked on mine, a glint of amusement dancing within them. I held his gaze for a moment, a burst of confidence surging through me. Without breaking eye contact, I shot him a wink before turning back to Keo and Fin.

My grin was still firmly in place.

“Game 842 will begin in five minutes.Players, choose your teams and prepare to enter the arena through the corresponding doors.”

A female robotic voice spoke over the speakers.

“That’s us,” Fin said, adjusting his gear.

“I call Areya!” Keo shouted.

Before I could respond, Ash walked up behind me, his arm wrapping possessively around my waist. “Areya’s mine.”

The sensation of his touch sent a frisson of electricity through me, my heart exploding into a thousand tiny, flutteringbutterflies. Every point of contact between us tingled, making it nearly impossible to focus on anything else.

“So, uh, how exactly do we play?” I asked, stumbling over my words, trying to push past the overwhelming awareness of Ash’s presence beside me.

Keo launched into an explanation. “We’ll enter a dark arena. Half of it will glow blue and the other half red. Inside, it’s like a maze with twists, turns, ramps, and levels. Ash and Areya, you two will enter through a door on your side that leads you to a glowing pedestal with a small hole in the top. Fin and I will do the same on our side. Each team has to find the other team’s glowing orb, hidden somewhere in enemy territory, and bring it back to their pedestal. If you shoot the opposing team, their side flashes, and their guns are deactivated for sixty seconds, giving you time to search for the orb.”

“So, like laser tag meets capture the flag,” I mumbled.

Keo gave me another confused look.

“Never mind!”

“What color do you guys want?” Fin asked.

I turned my gaze up at Ash, who didn’t break eye contact when he said, “Blue.”

The warmth of his breath danced across my face, and I quickly turned away.

Keo and Fin headed off to the red entrance of the arena, leaving Ash and me standing in front of the closed doors to the blue side.

My pulse thrummed loudly in my ears as the moments ticked by.

I nervously fiddled with my gun, desperately trying to keep my thoughts from spiraling into the chaos stirred inside me byAsh’s closeness. Slowly, I felt him lean in, his breath hot against my ear, sending shivers down my spine.

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