Page 94 of Ghost
“Okay…” I took my turn, not really feeling the competitive nature as much as the others. I just wanted the crown. I could steal it from whoever won, if necessary.
The game continued, with Miles and Maria becoming louder at each turn, until finally, Miles won an earring.
“You’re not sticking that thing in me.” Miles leaned away from Maria, who hovered over the table, demanding that he play by the rules.
“Aren’t you supposed to be dedicated to the cause?” Maria waved the dangling earring in his face. “How badly do you need to win? A needle and some ice will take care of that problem.”
Miles continued to push back into his seat. “I don’t need to win that badly. I’m not piercing my ears for a game.”
I glanced between them, wondering if I should interject. It really wasn’t that big of a deal. Finally, after Maria appeared ready to launch into a rant, I spoke, “He doesn’t need to wear it. He can hold it or something.”
“That’s not how any of this works! He’s ruining everything.” She stood up quickly. “I’m angry, and it’s time for a piss break.”
“Maria!” Damen frowned at her. “You can’t talk like that.”
She ignored him, tugging me to my feet. “And we’ll change into our pajamas. You two change as well. And Miles, figure out what your plan is going to be.”
“Not everyone has to go one hundred percent constantly.” He crossed his arms.
I glanced down at my lounge pants and tank, confused. “But I’m already in my pajamas. And I don’t want Miles to pierce his ears for a game.”
“Nope,” Maria stated in response to my first statement, grabbing her bag as she pulled me after her. She paused at the doorway, glancing back at the boys. “I remember your pieces, no cheating.”
Damen frowned, almost pouting. “Do you honestly think that I would—”
“Absolutely,” she cut him off. “You’ve always been one to break the rules. That’s why no one will playMonopolywith you. Come along, buttercup.”
She was so forceful I could only follow, swept up in her whirlwind of motion.
“Why am I wearing this?” I had changed into a black long sleeved, lace top, paired with pajama shorts. “Isn’t the back of this see-through? And leg… Weren’t you changing into your pajamas too?”
“Men,” Maria said, not answering my question as she glanced over me with an appraising eye. “They don’t do great at protection, do they?”
I released the outside seam of my shorts and glanced at her. But she had already moved on, circling me as I stood in front of the full-length mirror.
This was the umpteenth comment she had made toward the boys. It almost seemed as though she hated men. But I found that hard to believe—she was so beautiful and graceful. Surely men fell at her feet, trying to impress her.
So why the hostility?
Unless…My mind raced through explanations as she continued to circle me. Like a predator evaluating its prey. It was a bit disconcerting, but even though women weren’t usually kind to me, I generally was at ease with them more than men. So I ignored the prickling at the base of my neck in order to focus on Maria instead.
A horrible man must have broken her heart. It must have been another lion shifter, leaving her for another lioness. Such things sometimes happened in the wild. I could definitely see how such a thing would make a were-lioness angry.
Poor Maria.
I would have to teach her what I’ve learned, that all men weren’t bad. For example, the boys were good people. Surely she knew that though. “Maria—”
“No,” Maria stopped behind me and began to braid a ribbon into my hair, “it’s not entirely see through. And I’m already in my pajamas.”
I glanced at her plaid pants and spaghetti top. It was similar to what I wore earlier, which she told me was not appropriate.
Maria continued before I could ask. “And don’t worry, no one can see anything. You look elegant. And the dark green against black will look amazing when you win this game.”
“I—”
“I hadn’t planned on taking it this far.” Maria tied off my braid. “But we must distract them. Desperate times.”
“What do you mean ‘distract’?” I asked. “That isn’t a strategy game. Besides, you’d look better in this than me.”
