“Xavier? What is the Touch of a Kiss competition?” My voice sounded shaky as I spoke to him.

“It’s the first step of the games.” Xavier’s voice was bleak. “It’s where you decide whose touch turns you on the most.”

“What?” My eyes bulged as I gazed at him. “What?”

“It’s the first game to reach the inner circle.” Xavier’s eyes stared into mine. “And you won’t be touched by any hands.”

“What do you mean?” I said, frowning, not understanding.

“He means that Xavier’s fate is in your hands, Lola.” Stephan smiled and walked toward the door. “What you decide tonight will determine how far Xavier gets in the Society of Brothers.”

“Xavier?” I asked him softly. “What is he talking about?”

“Tonight we find out if it is really me you want, or if you crave another.” Xavier’s eyes looked at my lips and he turned away from me and sighed. “We see if you pass the test.”

“What is the test?”

“Let’s go now, and you’ll find out,” Stephan said from his spot by the door. “Unless you want to back out now, Xavier?”

“No,” Xavier said firmly as he looked back at me. “I want to know exactly who Lola wants and who she’s going to choose.” He looked at me again and then walked to the door. I followed behind both of them, my heart racing. I didn’t know what was going to happen next and for some strange reason that didn’t scare me. For once in my life, I was going to ride out the wave and let it take me where it wanted to. I didn’t even feel guilty. Xavier was the one who had put me in this position. Xavier was the one who wanted us to continue. At this point, it was out of my hands. He’d taken me into his world and I was about to find out just how deep and dark it could get.

Chapter Nine

Xavier

I could still see Lola’s lipstick on Stephan’s lips. Bright red and smudged. My blood was boiling and I was mad at Lola and myself for what had happened. I should have known that Stephan would want to take part this year. He always had something to prove. He always needed to be number one. He always had to prove that he was the man. He wanted to be the King of kings. The Prince of princes. The one we all looked up to. He wanted to prove that he was capable of taking over the society. He wanted to be in the inner circle as badly as I did. And I knew he was willing to do everything that he could to end up as the final winner. I’d known that Stephan would want it badly, but I hadn’t thought he’d seen me as his biggest competition. I had known as soon as he’d focused on Lola, though, that I was the one to beat. I was the target. This wasn’t between Casper and me. This was between Stephan and me. And that made me uncomfortable. I knew that Stephan had charms that Casper couldn’t even dream about. And I knew that he had a way of luring women into his web. He was the pied piper of women and I needed to make sure that he didn’t have Lola following behind him. I needed to make sure that I was the one she chose. Not only because that was what I needed to make it to the inner circle, but also because my heart would never be the same if she chose someone else.

Chapter Ten

Lola

Xavier, Stephan and I walked in silence down the long corridor and down a flight of steps. The walls were adorned with paintings and as I looked at them I realized they were likely portraits of Stephan's ancestors.

"That's my great-great grandfather, Wilhelm, and next to him is his father, Frederick." Stephan smiled at me as he caught me staring at the paintings.

"They look so serious," I said simply and then paused. "Is there a reason why they all had those beards?"

"You don't like the unkempt look?" Stephan winked at me as he teased me and I could see Xavier tensing as he walked beside us.

"I've just never seen any royals look so..." I paused as I tried to find the way to voice my thoughts diplomatically.

"Common?" Stephan asked and his blue eyes laughed as I nodded, feeling embarrassed. I'd been about to say that they reminded me of hillbillies that I'd seen on Duck Dynasty, but I was glad I'd kept my mouth shut. He most probably didn't even know what Duck Dynasty was and it was likely that he and Xavier would just think I was some American hick; which, to be quite honest, I was. And proud to be. Kinda.

"Are you feeling okay, Lola?" Xavier abruptly changed the subject and looked at me.

"I'm fine." I nodded, but in reality I was far from fine. In reality I was over my head. "I don't suppose I can make a quick phone call, can I?"

"Phone call?" Xavier looked perplexed and I could understand why. This was neither the time nor place for me to be asking to make a call.

"Is there some sort of emergency?" Stephan looked concerned and it struck me that it was odd that he was the one who cared more about me or was at least acting like he did.

"No." I shook my head. "I'm just worried that my best friend, Anna, has wondered what happened to me as I haven't spoken to her in a while."

"Then you must call her now." Stephan stopped. "It will have to be quick because they are waiting for us in the main room downstairs."

"Oh, I don't have to call if people are waiting for us." I looked at Xavier then, to figure out what he wanted me to do.

"Call." His eyes pierced into mine and he nodded slightly. "Nothing is so important that you can't call your best friend to let her know you're okay."




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