The Game Of Quadruplet Mates
(Bk 2) Chapter 37

Panic chokes me and just as I'm about to s cre a m and cry, the last of my sanity gone-

"I'm right here." My guard stepped out of the shadows and I immediately jumped to hug him, nearly twisting my ankle to do so.

My arms were tight around his neck but I didn't care. I didn't care for any of it as my erratically beating heart demanded to be as close as possible. "Don't scare me like that. Goddess, I thought they took you or assigned you to someone else." "No one is taking me away from you and I would rather burn the Games down than be assigned to someone else."

He didn't hesitate to wrap me in an embrace, his arms holding my back tightly and it might just be my imagination, but he rests his chin on top of my head, breathing heavily. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."

I could hear his heartbeat on my cheek and it was as erratic as mine.

There was a different level of comfort with being in his arms. It was a feeling of warmth, of content and I never wanted to leave.

But he was a guard.

And he is not part of the Games.

At least not in the way I want him to.

Despite the battle it took to step away from him, I managed to do it and tried to cover my flushed cheeks by coughing.

"Am I late?"

"Surpassingly, you're on time." His hand went to my chin and I found my gaze drawn up into his when he gently tilted my head up. His eyes were soft but serious as he searched mine.

I wasn't sure what he was looking for, but I wanted him to replace it, whatever it was. Whatever it took. I just wanted him to keep looking at me like that. "How do I look?"

He hesitates this time, his neck contracting as he swallows. "Ravishing. Absolutely ravishing."

I couldn't see his expression well because of the cap but I could see a hint of... deep longing in his eyes. I smiled at him anyway, squeezing his hand before letting go to walk down the hallway. I make my way to the grand ballroom where the final party will be held, staring at the mansion and feeling a little sad to know that, soon, this will all be over.

And I will be back home, far away from this place.

A new sort of peacefulness comes over me as I think about this.

0 and T were right.

I should enjoy this while I still can.

Making it to the grand ballroom where beautiful people in even more beautiful clothes come rushing in, I feel excitement pushing away the pressure of the week.

Everyone was in their best dresses and suits as always, their hair bejeweled and their eyes sparkling. The staff are handing out drinks of every color and as I enter the ballroom it is pitch black with the only lights coming from the golden ceiling and the neon strobe lights that flickered.

The floor was trembling as everyone danced and jumped and laughed

1 took a drink from the tray offered, standing at the side to watch as everyone seemed to be having fun... making the most out of it like I should be.

My eyes unintentionally glanced behind me to look at my guard, who nodded to me appreciatively, and to my surprise gave me a sly wink.

His hand lightly brushed against mine, and I knew it was intentional - a secret message of sorts that only we would know the true meaning of.

Something hot and hotter came over me and I diverted my gaze, pretending to be very interested in the crowd in front of me.

There was no sign of Mister Wor 0 but Miss A and E were here, dancing with their partners and looking a bit drunk.

I was just about to approach them when a man stepped in front of me.

It took me a few seconds to remember who he was.

Mister Z or whatever his letter is, smiles at me. He was the man that O saved me from on the first day. "Hello, Miss X.

I was not confident enough to say his letter, lest I get it wrong, but I did my best to smile.

"Hi"

Truly, he is handsome and tall and dressed incredibly well.

He carried himself like he came from generations of wealth and spoke like he had the best education. By all means, he had it all and I should be drawn to him... but I'm not and I do not know why. "I heard it did not work out for you and the man you wanted to choose originally." My heart stops for a moment, the air around us still.

He leans on the wall, staring up and down at me. He liked what he was seeing, licking his lips and making me watch as he did.

I hadn't had enough to drink, but I still felt like I wanted to vomit.

Try as I may, I could not see myself leaving with him and even if on paper he was perfect, I still cannot replace the will to like him.

This only further frustrates me.

"Have you thought about my offer?" He asks, taking a tentative drink from his glass. "You could have all this and more. You could be a Queen. I could make you a Queen."

I highly doubt he could.

Seeing my lack of interest in that, he wisely changes course. "I can make you very happy, Miss X. I can give you what you want, what you need. Whatever you desire." How could he know what I needed?

What I wanted?

A frown that I fought hard not to come, appears, but before I can say anything, a hand is suddenly on my shoulder and I'm pulled back into a strong chest.

The warmth that came from the contact made me instantly aware of who it was.

No words were said but the man with the letter Z or something takes a step back and then he actually runs away.

My guard leans down to whisper in my ear, his tone ever so low.

"You don't need him."

1 turn to face him and in the darkness of the party, I replace myself leaning closer than I ever would in the light. "Are you jealous?"

When our gazes met and there was a heat that pulled deep within me and when he spoke, his cool minty breath fanned my face. "No. I just suddenly felt very violent." Something stirred in me at the sight of him like this. He looked ready to break for me like I was for him. "So you are jealous."

His eyes were bright with emotion as he looked down and raked my body with something hot and possessive hiding behind them. "Violent. Not jealous."

I rolled my eyes at his stubbornness. "Goddess above, you drive me crazy."

"Now you know what you do to me." His voice had turned gruff and husky, breathing so heavily through every word." Because you drive me absolutely crazy."

I should step away

I should let us breathe.

I should give us space

But in the darkness where no one could see us, I found myself coming even closer... and closer until I could feel his lips on mine despite how they weren't touching. We were merely a breath away from doing so.

So close that I could taste him.

A growl leaves his lips, vibrating his chest and it makes me dizzy.

I felt my mouth go dry, followed by a warm and fluttery feeling in my stomach, and my knees felt oddly weak. It was not a feeling I was familiar with. Not even with 0. The mere thought of my guard having this effect on me was terrifying and exhilarating.

My breath caught in my throat all the same as I looked at his handsome face. My hands replace themselves on him, trailing my fingers over the contours of his face, mapping his jaw, his lips, his temple and brow. I was like a blind woman wanting to know my lover's beauty.

We were not lovers though, and if anyone saw us, my guard would no doubt be sent away.

Guards aren't supposed to meddle.

They're supposed to be invisible.

And what were doing is going to ruin it all for us.

I stopped short, scared of losing him, but I was barely holding myself together at the seams, my will breaking for him as every fiber of my being begged to have him. Thankfully, I'm pulled out of this heated moment by the feeling of eyes on me. Taking a much needed step backwards, I'm surprised to replace W making his way towards us

Shoving people out of the way, he shakes his head in disappointment when he makes it to me, looking between my guard and I. "I see how it is."

"Wait, I attempted to get an explanation out, but I didn't feel like I needed to.

I do not owe him anything

Not after the way he's been treating me.

But he was too busy glaring at my guard, that drunken anger on his face so clear even in the dark. "You wanted her all along. All this time you wanted her. I should report you to the organizers. You shouldn't be at the Games. The panic of losing my guard almost overwhelmed me again. "Enough, W."

He cringed away from me like I disgusted him. "Leave me alone, Miss X. I want nothing to do with you."

My lips parted in surprise, his sudden outburst making me take a step back.

"I don't want you, X." He pressed, glowering, but his eyes were brimming with tears. "Do you understand? I don't want you and I will never choose you, so let's stop this right now."

I do not have time to feel hurt by this as my guard suddenly surges forward, grabbing W's collar with his large hands.

"T! Are you insane?" W's guard rushes forward as well, trying to protect his attendee, but T does not budge, gripping W tight

"Say another word." My guard's words were slow, clear and sharp, a threat, like he was holding himself back from shifting right at that moment and killing Won the spot.

"I've been killing longer than you have been breathing. It would be so easy."

I was glad for the loud music and the darkness in the room because no one else seemed to see the chaos that ensued in our little corner.

My guard wouldn't budge while W drunkenly fumbled in his hold.

The other guards in the area were starting to panic, moving close to pull T and W apart, but before they could come close,

I reached over to T and tugged at the end of his shirt.

"Shhh..." As if with a spell, the sound of me calmed him.

He turned to face me, his eyes soft but never apologetic.

He would never apologize for standing up for me.

I do not know what I was saying, letting my instincts take over. "Let's get out of here, okay? Let's leave."

My guard nods but not before shooting W and his guard one last glare.

I didn't wait for him to follow me, knowing he would.

Grabbing another drink from a tray and watching from my peripheral as I see him drink one as well, we walk through the halls in silence with only the sound coming from my heels clicking on the marble floors.

I had already accepted my defeat for this week, for the Games, so when I turned to face him right as we made it to my bedroom, I knew this was all or nothing.

"I'm here for you. You know that, don't you?" He says, eyes dark and saying words that had a completely different meaning.

"I do." And I knew I was agreeing to something else, something that made my skin prickle and for everything else to hum with electric shocks.

The hallway was empty.

It was only us.

And that was a dangerous thing.

Because something took over me and I was closing the distance, standing on my tiptoes to press a kiss to his lips.

It felt inevitable.

It felt right.