Page 98 of Ice Princess

“Well, mostly my dad,” Benji says. “But I’m the one who convinced him to do it.”

Gunner adjusts his head on my shoulder, nuzzling against my neck. Prickles of awareness skitter over my skin when his breath hits my throat.

I whisper tersely, “Why would youdothat?”

“I’m offering you a way out, Rebel. You can help peopleandget into the Society without tying yourself to someone you don’t like or respect.”

“I had everything under control. You shouldn’t have bothered your dad over something like this!”

There’s a beat of quiet and then Benji says, “Are you… angry with me?”

“No,” I snap. “It’s just… I…”

I swallow hard, unable to explain myself.

He’s right. I’m angry. But why?Whyam I annoyed that he intervened?

Benji’s voice cuts through the pounding of my heart. “Do youwantto keep dating Kinsey?”

My eyes slide down to Gunner’s face and my throat clamps tight.

I don’t know how to answer that question.

CHAPTER

THIRTY

GUNNER

Soft fingers runthrough my hair and I blink my eyes open. I’m leaning sideways, my head resting on Rebel’s shoulders.

At first, my heart expands happily and I smile to myself.

Then I freeze.

What if I drooled on her? I was dead-tired and I wouldn’t be surprised if I did.

The potential for embarrassment wakens all my senses. I sit up so quickly that my head spins.

“Hey,” a voice that isnotRebel’s purrs, “slow down. You shouldn’t move that fast when you just woke up.”

I lurch backward, stunned to see Victoria occupying the seat where Rebel had been a few minutes ago.

Was it a few minutes ago?

I lift a hand to check my watch and grimace. It’s been an hour.

“Where’s Rebel?” I demand, my voice hoarse.

“I don’t know. She wasn’t here when I arrived.” Victoria folds her arms over her chest, seeming annoyed that I mentioned Rebel’s name.

I fumble around for my phone. “You should have woken me.”

“You were sleeping so peacefully.”

I clamor to my feet and pull my phone out of my pocket.

There’s a message from Rebel.

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