“Is that so?” he asked, clearly enjoying this exchange. “What could I possibly want from you?”
“I’m not sure,” I admitted, my heart racing. “But I know something you don’t. And you know I know. And this information…” I met his eyes, “Is something you want desperately.”
He tutted, then looked out to the horizon again.
I wanted his eyes back on me; I felt cold in their absence.
“I was just trying to make conversation.”
“This is what you call a conversation?” I asked, daring myself to go a step further. “Calling me out and demanding my secrets?”
“It was an exchange of secrets,” Mason said, rolling his eyes.
I smirked. He felt like he needed to defend himself for some reason.
“What could you possibly know that I don’t? I’m gay and shady, and I eat secrets for breakfast,” I said, plucking a donut hole off the table and popping it into my mouth.
Mason watched me, stunned. I’d never seen him look lost for words before. But there was something else there in that expression of his: want.
He wanted something from me. Something that I knew.
Then the stunned look on his face was gone in an instant, and that arrogant, cocky facade was back. He took a step toward me, looking down at me with an expression of pure haughtiness.
“I know lots of things you don’t, Charlie,” he said.
I jumped a little, surprised that he remembered my name.
He gave a quick glance around and lowered his voice. “I know everything about these people. I know there’s a marriage about to go sideways. I know who has a crush on whom, the rejections, the wooing, the betrayals and secret relationships that are going on all around you.”
I was stunned, rooted to the spot as he bore down on me.
“This place is a rat’s nest of drama, and shit is about to hit. The. Fan,” he said, taking three small steps towards me.
I could feel his body heat coming off of him like an electric charge, sending a buzzing through my skin.
“But what I don’t know,” he said, biting his lip, “is anything about her.”
Mason jerked his gaze over to Alina, who was laughing. Her white hair was shining in the morning sunlight like she was an angel.
“What, do you have a crush on her or something?” I asked with a faltering smile, trying to keep my voice from shaking.
He chuckled, flashing those perfect white teeth at me again. “Hardly. She’s the last piece of the puzzle. The one part of this whole thing that, if I knew, I could stop all of this drama from happening.”
I blinked and looked aloof, mentally shoving all of Alina’s secrets into a safe and locking it. “I don’t know what you mean. Surely someone like you could use other sources to… what was it? Keep shit from hitting the fan,” I said victoriously. “Honestly, I think you have a crush on her, that’s why you’re—”
He cut me off as he kissed me, long and deep.
Everything in my body felt numb with surprise, and it felt like an explosion of lust was happening within me. If being in proximity to a star like Mason was overwhelming, it was nothing compared to kissing him.
He pulled away as suddenly as it happened, his blue eyes flickering to mine.
Then he smirked and said, “I don’t have a crush on her. I don’t swing that way.”
I was speechless, my false bravado stolen from me with that kiss.
“Mason! You’re up!” Cried Reese from the background somewhere.
Mason smirked at me one last time, confident that he had all the power now. “All I want to know is who Alina is seeing,” he said.
And just like that, he turned and left me at the breakfast table.
It took everything in me not to collapse to my knees.
“What?!” Alina hissed, her eyes going wide with disbelief.
“He kissed me,” I repeated, still unable to believe it myself.
Nearby, Mason was locked in a fierce sword fight with some other character, the golden morning light glinting on the blades as they clattered together.
“No way,” Alina said breathlessly, pulling me into a dark corner near the base of the castle.
“Well, he did!” I said, willing her to believe me. I could tell from her eyes that she did, but the doubt in her voice threw me off guard.
She put her hand on my shoulder and all was right in the world again. Warmth and friendship flooded through me.
“I believe you,” she said, her eyes open and earnest, “I need details. When did it happen?”
“Just now, over there!” I shout-whispered as I pointed to the breakfast table.
She glanced over to it. “But that’s out in the open…”
“Apparently he is, too,” I said grumpily, crossing my arms over my chest. “I… I may have accused him of having a crush on you.”
She smiled, her eyes glittering like emeralds. “And what did he say to that?”
“He denied it,” I said carefully. “Said something about wanting to know who you’re dating.”
Her face froze up and there was a clear look of panic there, but it was gone in an instant. It was as if this calm, collected veil that she was wearing at all times was pulled away, revealing something glittering and far more human underneath.
Fear.
“I’m not dating anybody, I already told you that,” she said shyly.
I examined her closely, then said, “Okay, you don’t have to tell me. Just know that Mason’s sniffing around for your secrets. You probably shouldn’t tell anyone in case you are…” I said, glancing out towards the sword fight.
“Charlie, I trust you,” she said, squeezing my hand. “It’s just… ugh, it’s a complicated situation, and I want to wait until everything blows over before I can tell you the story.”
I gazed at her with wide eyes. “So there is something going on,” I said, turning to face her. “I knew it!”
“Look, boo,” she said with finality, grinding my accusation to a halt. “A lot is going on here that I don’t even understand yet. And
