Page 84 of A Drop of Anguish
“Not used during a fight,” the girl claps back defensively.
I shrug one shoulder. “Well, now you have.”
She grunts. “We getting this game started or what?”
I take in a long breath to prepare myself for truth or dare among enemies.
There’s a fine line between friend and enemy.
It’s a good distraction, so even though it’s dangerous, I’m not going to be the coward tonight.
A large group settles in close to the fire. Lucille sits on Manuela’s lap on one of the smaller chairs. The large arrogant shifter Elliot, the blond girl, and a massive male I’m not familiar with are all on the couch across from us. There’s also the girl in the tiny red dress leaning into a vampire against the railing.
“How does this work exactly?” I ask, taking a small sip of my red liquid. My glass is becoming empty faster than I’d planned.
“You’ve never played truth or dare?” Manuela accuses, quirking one brow.
“I have. With humans. If there is one thing I know about supernaturals, it’s that they won’t share their secrets. Certainly not for some drinking game.”
Manuela smirks, her eyes gleaming in that predator way.
“Ask your questions, knowing we will lie,” the large shifter says. “But that’s part of the fun.”
I pick at the nail on my thumb. The hell does that mean?
“Even the lies can reveal truths,” Manuela says ominously. “Pay attention, little ones.”
“Or as I like to play—” Thompson leans forward, toward the flickering flames, “—use dares to reveal truths.”
I swallow. This may be a very, very bad idea.
“Let’s start simple, with the lady of the evening.” Manuela grins at me. I have to resist a shiver. “Candice, truth or dare?”
I bite the inside of my cheek not to react. “Truth.”
“Do you have feelings for Jarron?”
My stomach twists. My first instinct is to lie.No.It’s on the tip of my tongue.
But they’ll know it’s a lie. I know they will. That’s what they mean when they say lies reveal. If I say no, it’ll be clear I have feelings I’m hiding.
“She’s pale,” someone snickers.
“Yes,” I say definitively, keeping my head high and gaze set on Manuela.
It’s true. I do have feelings for Jarron. And it would remain true even if I wasn’t trying to force my mind not to imagine his hands on my thighs, sitting on his lap inside that dark and music-filled room.
Feelings could mean a million different things.
“He is my friend, and I care about him. Those are feelings.”
They don’t need to know that the thoughts swirling through my mind are anything but innocent. Although, with this game and these potions, I wonder how long I’ll be able to keep that secret to myself.
Manuela nods sharply, almost as if she approves of my answer. “Your turn.”
Well, this part could be just as difficult, but at least this time, I’m in control. I consider asking Thompson some of the things I’ve been wondering about his motives, but this isn’t the setting I’d even want those answers.
If I uncover his secrets, I want them to be mine. I don’t want to share them with already powerful schmucks.
