Chasing fireflies

They headed back to the room. Chloe spun abruptly toward him, his arms instinctively wrapping around her. He pressed his lips to hers gently, and she reciprocated, his hands drifting down her spine. She broke the kiss, her cheeks flushed. "Hunter, I'm going to change," she said, slipping into the bathroom. The door didn't quite latch shut. He perched on the bed, catching a glimpse of her in the mirror, her dress falling away, leaving her in nothing but black lace panties. He stiffened, unable to tear his eyes away. Did she do that on purpose?

She slipped into fresh clothes, and he quickly looked away.

"How much time do we have left?"

"Half an hour," he replied. "Come here."

She leaped onto the bed, and he kissed her neck, then lower. His hand brushed her thigh, their kisses growing more urgent. He pulled her closer, and she felt him pressing against her.

She gently pushed him back.

"You've never done this before?" Hunter asked. She shook her head. He stared at her for a moment. "It's fine. I won't push you."

Isabella grinned, clutching her chest. He was hooked.

"But is Chloe going to fall for him?" Isabella wondered aloud. "After the mess with Liam?"

"Doubt it's even on her mind," someone replied.

The bell rang, signaling the end of the break.

"We'll figure this out," Chloe said, and he kissed her again.

They entered the throne room, or whatever she insisted on calling it, stiff and uneasy.

"Welcome back," a voice drawled. "Hope you enjoyed your little break. Next game's all-nighter. This time, ladies, you're saving the guys. They'll get a taste of what you went through, until you find them, that is." He chuckled as the vampires dragged the guys away. Chloe reached for Hunter's hand, holding on until she couldn't anymore.

"Here's the deal," the guy continued, pacing like he owned the place. "A maze. Survive it. Get to your man before someone else does. Simple, right?"

"Good luck, ladies," he said, spinning on the marble floor like a lunatic. "Let the game begin. Tik-tok, tik-tok."

Before Chloe could process it, someone grabbed her arm and shoved her into a dark car. They drove forever, or at least it felt like it, before dragging her into some creepy building. They dumped her at a door with a red light glowing above it. "Stay put," it seemed to say.

Her mind raced back to the shapeshifter guy. His mate. Claiming her like she was some damn trophy. She wasn't anyone special, just a girl with a father who'd left her with scars.

The light turned green. She opened the door. Pitch black. Great. Her fear of darkness kicked in hard. Tiny lights flickered in the distance, barely making a difference. A maze. Think. Use your senses, she told herself. Her stomach growled as the smell of blood hit her. What if it was a trap?

She moved forward, the hallway narrowing. A bony hand grabbed her arm, and she screamed, jerking away. Footsteps behind her. It was Jasmine.

"Stop screaming," Jasmine hissed. "These are vampires sentenced to die, slowly. They've done some messed-up shit."

Chloe nodded, still shaky. "What are you, Chloe?"

"What? Human?"

Jasmine laughed. "Doubt it. That wolf pack came for you. That means you're one of them."

"No way," Chloe scoffed. "I'd know if I were a wolf."

"Not always. Sometimes it takes a while for your form to show."

"How do you know so much?" Chloe asked, just as a bony hand yanked Jasmine into a room.

Chloe tried the door. Locked. She spotted a fire extinguisher, smashed the door open, and found a vampire sucking on Jasmine's wrist. She slammed the extinguisher into his face and dragged Jasmine out.

The crowd watching the game went wild. A glowing sign appeared, directing Chloe to turn. She glanced at the camera and flashed a smile.

Jasmine open her eyes, and Chloe helped her up. "Let's move," Chloe said. But around the corner, the floor was slick with blood. They slipped. Chloe kicked off her shoes.

Meanwhile, Hunter was hallucinating. He saw Chloe smiling at him, her neck calling to him. Then his vision cleared, and he saw a man chained up, covered in blisters.

He gagged. "Motherfucker," he muttered. His mind was still playing tricks, a vampire in lace was coming at him. "No," he shoved her away. "Hell no."

Dana's stomach growled, her hunger gnawing at her like a dog on a bone. She trudged forward, her eyes landing on an IV bag dripping with blood. Too good to be true. "Screw you, Callum," she muttered, grabbing the bag and smashing it against the wall.

Meanwhile, Samantha was sandwiched between two skeletal vampires, their teeth sunk into her wrists. Chloe yanked her free, but Jasmine bolted ahead without a second glance, laughing like it was some twisted joke. "Get up, Samantha," Chloe urged, dragging her to her feet. "Come on, we've got to move."

Samantha finally stirred, groggy but alert. Chloe, sniffing the air. "Hunter's scent," she said, pointing down the dark hallway. But before Chloe could react, an arm snaked out of a doorway, yanking her inside and slamming her against the wall.

"Chloe," Liam's voice was soft, almost pleading. "Listen to me. Give me something to hold onto."

Her hand instinctively reached for his face. "Liam?" she whispered, her fingers brushing his cheek. He kissed her palm, sending a shiver down her spine.

"You feel it, don't you?" he murmured, his lips brushing hers. Her body leaned into his, the pull between them undeniably. "Tell me you do," he breathed, his voice barely audible.

"I do, Liam," she admitted, her head resting against his chest. "But I have to finish this damn game."

He held her tighter, like he was afraid to let go. "You're playing with fire, Chloe."

She pulled back, determination flashing in her eyes. "I made a deal. Wait for me." Her hand lingered on his face. "Now push me out. Make it look real."

"Chloe..."

"Do it," she insisted, shoving him. He didn't budge.

Finally, he relented, giving her a hard push. She stumbled back, hitting the wall just as a bony hand reached out from the doorway, searching for her.

She dodged it, following Hunter's scent down the hall. When she found him, he looked like he'd lost his mind, his hand reaching out blindly. "I'm here, Hunter," pressing her lips to his. Did they believe it? She was not sure she did.