Page 69 of Cerulean Truth
He frowned but kept silent for a moment. Not too long, obviously.
"You know what could take your mind off today?" He grinned.
I should have been uninterested. I knew he was going to try to get us into some trouble we would be hard-pressed to get out of. But honestly, I really did want to take my mind off of everything.
"What?"
"A dare."
I rolled my eyes at him again. "Really? A dare? So what, if I back out, I owe you a truth?" He could be so juvenile.
"No." He laughed. "I mean, it's been a while since we last played a dare game—nothing that would hurt your newfound position, obviously," he said with great theatrics, "but something small, like a race or something?"
I had to admit it did sound like fun.
"What did you have in mind?" I asked, more intrigued than I wanted to appear.
“I love how I can still count on your competitive side; you could become Director and still feel compelled to show off you’re better than me.”
"So what you're saying is, my need for validation is actually part of my charm, and you love me for it?" I raised a brow.
"Well, I wouldn't getthatemotional about it, but yeah, sort of." He smirked. He could be an ass, but it had to be said; he really could get my mind off things when needed.
I felt a sense of anticipation and got up even before him. "Okay, what's the dare?"
Matthew stood and portaled us to the roof of the Summer Palace, where we had spent a lot of time as kids, creating every dare we ever played. It had the best overview of the entireCollective and provided, as such, the much-needed inspiration for juvenile games.
"Okay, let's talk dares, then stakes," he ordered. He always got so serious about this shit. "Since your reputation needs to stay intact, I'd propose a lighter dare and a higher stake."
I would've been touched by his concern, but I knew my friend well, and I was growing seriously suspicious of the stakes. It started to sound like he had orchestrated it all to get something from me that he had wanted all along.
"Then I suggest you start off with the stakes," I replied swiftly. He grinned; he knew I was onto him.
"Fine, you win, you name whatever you want. I win, you take over my Friday morning Scola class for a month," he answered way too quickly. There it was; he wanted out of his Friday class.
"Let me guess, you're trying to get lucky on Thursdays, and that class is screwing up your love life?" I jabbed with a smirk.
“The Cube is organizing a party every Thursday this month!" he exclaimed. "It's like an orgy palooza in there, and I have to go home every time at midnight so I can teach those godsdamn seven-year-olds in the morning. I mean, how can a respectable man be expected to fulfill such expectations?" He really never failed his dramatics.
I almost laughed. "Fine, I'll take over the class if you win. However, if I win, I get your Skindo signed by Julian."
Matthew eyed me incredulously. "You, as my best friend, are asking me to give up my signed Skindo?" he gasped.
I shook my head. "No, my dear friend, I ask you to wager it. You are, of course, at liberty to decline," I smirked. I had him by the balls; it was the one thing he would never want to give up.
"Fine," he answered begrudgingly, "but I call the terms of the dare."
"Fine by me."
I was surprised he agreed to those stakes. He must've really wanted to go to those Thursdays at the Cube. His Skindo, given to him by his father, was signed by the oldest magus alive, aka Julian, aka the Elder. The guy was a legend; he had fought in every major war, human and magi. I had always been a little put off by Matthew having that Skindo, not being an Offensive himself like Julian and myself.
"So, what is it going to be, maestro?" I asked impatiently.
"Easy," he answered. "A simple race. The first one to arrive at the east side of the Third Layer, by chosen transportation—no portals or personal flying allowed—wins."
There was no way I was going to lose this bet; I had been racing Matthew since we were kids, and he had yet to beat me.
He instantly translated a heavy motorcycle, but upon closer look, I noticed it was enhanced. Dammit, that's what he was up to; he had been dabbling in boosting. But even that wouldn’t throw me off my game.
