Page 90 of Fortune's Kiss
The door burst open, toppling over the chairs blocking it.
Mayté yelped, and Alejandro moved in front of her.
Time was up.
But it wasn’t a furious Misterioso that had come into the room.No.Dominic had stumbled inside.Maybe the house had led him to her.It was actually the only explanation.
Mayté felt herself relax, but only for a moment.
Dominic’s face was pale and his hair drenched in sweat.“Mayté.”He wheezed air.“I had to get to you.Something’s wrong with Lorena.”
“Where is she?”She rushed for the door, but Dominic grabbed her arms.“What happened?”Mayté demanded.
Dominic stared at her, eyes wide and full of terror.
If Lo got hurt, she would never forgive herself.She shouldn’t have stopped looking for her.Damn it.Damn it all.
“TELL ME!”
Dominic took a rasping breath.“I got lost and wandered onto an elevator.When the door opened, I saw Lorena and she … was on top of someone.”He choked, as if unsure if he wanted to cry or wretch.
Mayté’s stomach twisted.
“She was hurting them.M-maybe evenkillingthem.”
No.She shook out of his grip and backed away.
Dominic talked faster and faster.“There was blood.So much blood.That’s all I saw.I pressed the button as fast as I could.I had to get out of there.”
It had to be a mistake.Maybe another illusion.Maybe it was still punishing Dominic for giving the potion to Carlos.That was the only explanation.Because Lo would never—
“Attention, contestants.”Misterioso’s voice chimed through the room, an agitated growl evident in his words.
Mayté and Alejandro exchanged fearful glances.
“We are moving up the penultimate round.Please be in the gaming den within the next half hour.The wager for this round will be your souls.”
TWENTYLo
Lo finished washing up and climbed out of the pool.She had felt nothing but euphoria while in the warm, golden liquid, but as soon as she spotted her bloodied gown, the feeling faded.Brownish red spatters stained the delicate pink fabric.There was no way to hide it.People would see when she returned to the game.
Maytéwould see.Lo couldn’t bear the thought of her best friend screaming in horror like Sofia had, or staring accusingly like Sera.
Unsure of what to do, Lo turned away and gasped.Hanging from a rack was a towel and a black gown.
That definitely hadn’t been there when she got in here.
The house knew.And yet … instead of judging her, it was helping her hide her sins.Like an old friend in on the secret.With a smile, Lo dried off before slipping on the gown.
It was beautiful.The most beautiful thing she had ever worn.The long sleeves flared out like chiffon flowers at her forearms.The collar was made out of raven feathers, and the plunging bodice was gilded in gold.She admired her reflection in the pool.She looked like the queen of Fortune’s Kiss.
She turned to leave, but paused and dipped the letter openerin the pool, washing the blood off.She slipped it back down her bodice.
She was ready for the next round.
The house no longer felt like an impossible maze or an ever-changing labyrinth.Somehow, Lo knew exactly where to go.She strode the hallways with confidence, but paused when she heard voices.
Whispers leaked from a cracked door.Mayté’s whispers.Lo could recognize her best friend’s voice from anywhere.She grinned and moved closer to the door, just about to push it open.
