The Game Of Quadruplet Mates
(Bk 2) Chapter 23

I did not sleep a wink that night.

My guard's voice echoed through my mind over and over.

Don't trust him.'

Is Mister W a criminal?

A delinquent of some sort?

Judging by his actions... he didn't seem like one.

1 think.

Ive never actually met a criminal before. I don't know exactly what to look for, but I don't think Mister W is one.

So why shouldn't I trust him?

What was so bad that my guard had to break the rules and tell me this?

He was meddling, something he told me they shouldn't do, so why did he do it if not to warn me of something terrible?

After my guard left my room uttering this warning, I tossed and turned and before I knew it, the sun was rising in the sky and the smell of food was already wafting in from the kitchens below.

With a sigh, I rolled again, my eyes on the ceiling. I did not even want to begin to think about O

If I was being honest with myself, it wasn't the excessive amount of alconol that made me vomit so harshly- at least not entirely. It was partially because of my talk with o that just shook me from the inside

Obviously, it's my fault... for even hoping for something with him. With his history, it was already to be expected that this would happen, yet I pushed and daydreamed and let him in like a little girl forgetting that shes playing with fire. And then getting hurt in the process.

I just needed to be slapped with the harsh truth.

Which he did.

Not dwelling on the other words he said that made my heart prickle with pain all over again, I pushed myself out of bed and got ready for the day.

This wasn't a vacation for me. I have a duty to my family, who are heavily relying on me for this to go well.

With O out of the picture, I had to try this time. Really try.

To look, to meet... to possibly choose and hope they choose me back. The new Games are all about mutual choice. A match can only be made if both choose each other.

Foolishly, as if I haven't learned my lesson, I think about Mister W. But I shake my head quickly as if to remove that thought from my head.

He is the most handsome man in all the Games. He has women throwing themselves at him, his options endless.

The idea of him choosing me is laughable and, much like 0, 1 shouldn't get my hopes up. It is only his first year as well. Most men wait until their fifth year to choose, to make the most of the girls and the partying and the splendor. But he told me that he just wanted the Games over with. He wasn't like most men that wanted to take advantage, though he did want an escape.

I was so confused

Men are so confusing.

How they expect me to choose one of them before the week ends is just absurd. No wonder Miss A and Miss E are still here. It's a hard decision and the men in the Games

- at least the ones I know, don't make it easy.

With another shake of my head, I focused on getting ready.

From what I remember from the schedule posted, today was going to be more relaxed with more time to ourselves and to meet more potentials.

The morning will be spent in the gardens for a picnic and the afternoon will be spent in the woods for a few more contests.

To keep with the theme of picnics, I chose a floral dress and some flats- to give my feet a rest and put my hair up in a simple ponytail using a ribbon.

When I was done, I waited by the door, my eyes on the doorknob but my mind on the man that was behind it, the man I know was standing guard as always, waiting for me.

He looked so angry last night. It was scary, but if I was completely and utterly honest with myself... a little thrilling at the same time.

My eyes flickered at the clock on my wall. It was ten in the morning. I had taken my time getting ready and if I wanted a chance to actually end up with someone at the end of the week, I had to leave my room. I had to meet other attendees. 1 did a little shake, blowing out a breath and straightening my back. Before I could chicken out, I opened the door.

He was there.

As always.

But my heart still did a little leap at the sight of him.

He was back in his dark uniform, the leather that latched onto his body well and that cap that hid the majority of his face. Although he was standing as still as could be- a statue as per usual, somehow, I know he is not mad anymore.

To prove this, he looked up, a hint of his eyes and lips peeking out from the shadows that kept his face hidden away. His lips pulled upwards, the smallest of movements, a show of peace from our otherwise chilling night.

I gave him my own smile, showing him that I accepted his quiet peace offering.

Right as I take a step out in the hallway, he pulls something out from behind him. It was a thermos, complete with a top that could be used for a cup.

"Coffee," He says, the da mn ed cap on his head covering the expression that I so badly wanted to see- wanted to read. "I figured you might need it after how much you drank."

"And expelled." I murmured back, holding my stomach.

Still, I smiled, taking the thermos from his hands, my fingers grazing along his strong and long ones. I had to fight the warmth that went through my body at the contact.

"Thank you."

He doesn't acknowledge my thanks, looking like he was going to do these kinds of things whether I liked it or not.

"Where were you last night?" I asked, wondering where he could have been when I was walking back to my room. Not that I expect him to be with me for every waking minute, but it's so unlike him not to be that ever present shadow. And as shameful as it was to say, I'm not used to him being away from me.

His eyes zeroed on me and a shiver went down my spine almost instantly. "I had to... step out for a while."

I do not know what he meant but he did look like he could kill. "Okay,"

My guard takes the thermos from my hands, our fingers momentarily touching yet again. He opens it and presses the top before pouring the pipping hot coffee into the cup. " Careful. It's hot. I just made it."

"You made it?" I asked with a lifted eyebrow. My heart thumped and thumped. The treacherous thing.

He nods, waiting for me to take a sip, and I do. The nearly scalding hot liquid burned down my throat in the most satisfying way, the mere taste of the coffee energizing me immediately. It was a little too bitter for me, but it was made by him, so I like it all the same. "I love it." I tell him happily, but he takes the cup from me again and pulls out a packet of creamer and sugar from his coat.

"It's too bitter for you." It wasn't a question as he fixed it for me.

"There. Try it now and don't lie to me."

I rolled my eyes, the smile on my lips showing that I wasn't really annoyed but rather endeared!

"You're so

demanding."

He doesn't respond, only waiting for me to take another sip and this time when I do, a sigh leaves my lips because it's exactly how I liked it. He looked proud of himself, returning to his position by the wall. Instead of leaving for breakfast, I found myself standing beside him in the quiet hallway, my back pressed against the cool marble as I silently drank the coffee he made for me.

I offer him a cup which he takes after staring at me for a long time and drinks from it before pouring more and handing it back to me.

The morning is beautiful, bright and sunny. Birds were chirping and I could hear some of the attendees swimming in the lake, their laughter infectious as they splashed around.

Everyone was in a good mood because it was the third day, almost half way through.

"Do you miss the Games?" I asked him, staring down at my cup.

He turns his head to look at me. "The Games were very different for me."

I turned my head as well, having to tilt my head a little to look at him fully. "How so?"

We were so close.

Not touching.

But so close.

He was warm, his heat seeping into my skin.

It was getting hard to breathe, getting hard to think.

"It just was." He says without looking away.

We stood like that, our backs against the wall, our bodies inches apart while our eyes gazed at each other.

He is handsome.

It still surprises me sometimes to see it.

He's almost always covered by all this dark clothing, the leather and the cap, but on the rare times that I do see him ... it makes me stop and stare.

We look like lovers right now. The way attendees should be together and not the way a guard and his attendee should.

Because guards are invisible and should never interact, while attendees must mate with other attendees.

It can be seen in our clothes as well. My colorful dress, the ribbons on my hair and my wrist with the bright bracelet that masked my scent. To his dark ones that he wore, the one that was supposed to make him invisible. Only, he wasn't invisible to me.

And he didn't look like he wanted to be.

"You need some bread in you. Something to help soak up all that alcohol." He pats his coat, the sound of his hand clapping against the tight leather the only sound in the quiet hallway. "Unfortunately, I don't have that on me at the moment." "You disappoint me." I said with a playful pout of my lips."

I expect you to have everything ready for me."

He bowed his head but his eyes were solely on my lips. "It won't happen again."

"It shouldn't." I agreed, poking him on the arm to feel how solid it was underneath the coat he wore. One touch and I could already see how well built he was. Sturdy and strong.

"Well,"

My throat tightens but I can't let myself be distracted any longer.

It was the third day.

Time was ticking.

"Thank you for the coffee." I smiled, pushing off the wall and brushing down my dress. "But I have to go replace myself a mate now."

His eyes flashed.

But it was gone before I properly saw it.

"Of course. 'll be right here behind you."