House of Deception: The Unrivaled Series

by Brandi Elledge

  She rolled her eyes. “Got it.”

  I sat on the bed next to my bag and rubbed my arms. There was barely any heat coming out of the vents. Coming from Old Florida, I had never really been cold.

  I dug through my bag to see if there was anything warmer for me to wear as Cal said, “I’m going to run to my room. I’ll be right back.”

  Raven was mumbling something when Cal reappeared with a cotton pullover. He handed it to me.

  “Here, this is mine. You can wear it.”

  I smiled at him as I grabbed the white, soft fabric and pulled it over my head. “Thanks.”

  He backed away toward the door. “Celebrations begin soon. Tonight, there will be a party at eight. I’m going to let you ladies get settled, and then I’ll come back for you. If you need me, look across the hall for the door that is painted blue, okay?”

  We both nodded.

  As soon as he shut the door, Raven said, “What’s that, Cal? Oh, am I cold, also? Why yes, I am. Thanks for thinking of me, too.”

  I laughed as I hurled a pillow at her. “Stop it.”

  “He so likes you.”

  “Whatever,” I said, not wanting to discuss it.

  She rolled her eyes at my obvious attempt to drop it then walked to the door. “Well, I’m going to go for a stroll around campus; get a lay of the land.”

  “Are you sure? I mean, do you think it’s safe for you to walk around by yourself?”

  “Of course it is. This is neutral ground, baby.”

  She left before I could argue with her again.

  I lay back on the bed and threw an arm over my eyes. I swore, Raven had no self-preservation. I worried that I wouldn’t be able to protect her, and I wasn’t sure that the Puppeteer would have her back if she needed him. She always leapt before she looked and never learned from her mistakes. When she came back, we needed to have a long talk.

  I was halfway dozing when I heard her reentering.

  “Back already?” I asked.

  “Hello, Little Thorn.”

  That deep voice had me sitting up and scrambling backward on my bed so fast as I put one hand over my racing heart, trying to keep it in place.

  I watched icy-blue eyes roam over my body as he stood there in black pants and a black silk shirt. The cuffs were rolled up, showing those dang masculine forearms. I really hated the way he oozed sex appeal. No one this powerful should be that hot. It was a dangerous combination.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “Can I not pop in to see how you are doing?”

  I narrowed my eyes. Had he traveled from Virginia to Georgia just to realize that my aunt had sent me to Tennessee? No, there was no way. We had literally just arrived.

  “How did you know I was here?”

  He shrugged.

  I pulled the big pullover away from my neck to see if any marks had appeared. At his laugh, though, I dropped the pullover back into place.

  “And before you ask, Little Thorn, it’s not on your face.”

  “So, why are you here?”

  He pulled out a chair that was tucked into a desk into the middle of the room then sat down, facing me. “Whose shirt are you wearing?”

  I crossed my arms over my chest. How was that any of his business?

  Since he didn’t like to answer questions, I would take a page from his book.

  A sexy smile slowly crept upon his face. “You do realize that I could make you tell me, correct?”

  I just glared. Then it hit me—I wanted him to feel agony.

  Closing my eyes, I thought of the saddest thing that I could think of. Then I opened an eye to see him smirking at me. Closing my eyes once again, I tried a different tactic and thought of the fear that I had felt when Halton had dangled me over the banister at the House of Ash. Opening both eyes, I caught his full-on smirk.

  “Really?” I asked. “Nothing?”

  He leaned forward in his chair, resting his arms on his knees. “You have to have a heart to feel something, Thorn. But that was a valiant effort. Don’t worry, though; I have a feeling that little trick will work well on others.”

  Man, I hated him.

  “Are you going to tell me why you’re here?”

  He sat back in the chair. “Well, since you asked so nicely … I’ve decided to do something I’ve always turned down before. I’ll be helping with the carnival tonight.” That must have been the party Cal had mentioned.

  My mouth dropped open. “You?”

  He nodded. “I thought that would excite you.”

  “You must be slipping. The feeling you’re picking up on is revulsion.”

  He tilted his head back and laughed. “So pretty and so prickly.” He stood up and smiled. “You will need to stop by the bloodwork tent, because that is where I’ll be.”

  “Dying to spend more time with me, huh?”

  “Something like that. Take care, Little Thorn.”

  I watched as he placed the chair back under the desk then just disappeared.

  I looked around the room. He had been standing in the middle of my room one minute then gone the next. How was that possible? No house had that talent.

  I stood up and moved to the door to look out into the hall. There was no sign of him anywhere in the long hall. Closing the door, I sat back down on my bed.

  Just when I thought I knew how powerful the Puppeteer was, he had to show me how little I truly knew.

  He had followed me here to the ball? Why? To protect his bait?

  One thing was certain: the fiercest predator around would be watching my every move.

  When Cal came to pick us up a little before eight, I was unbelievably nervous. I knew what I was here to do—be mysterious and leave anyone who might know of where the serum was guessing if I could be a possible subject for the serum injection. I assumed that was why the Puppeteer himself had volunteered to donate his time to the ceremonies, especially the minor’s ceremonies. I could probably sit back and do nothing while he did all the work. Regardless, when Cal came to escort us to the party, my anxiety was through the roof.

  He rubbed a hand over his forehead. “Come on, Thorn; pull it back. It’s a party, not a battle. Besides, if you keep it up, everyone will know what house you’re from.”

  I laughed awkwardly while I took deep breaths. “You’re right. Sorry.”

  He gave me a smile as he skimmed his golden eyes over me. Then his brows came together as he looked at the tight blue shirt that Lana had made me, along with the black pants. “Where is the pullover I gave you? It’s going to be cold outside.”

  I grabbed it off the bed and pulled it on just as Raven came out of the bathroom that we shared. She was wearing tight pants and a billowing top.

  She grabbed a coat and threw it over her arm. “There were two coats packed in my bag. One is a lot smaller, so I’m assuming it’s yours.”

  I started to take Cal’s pullover off and exchange it for the coat, but he stopped me.

  “You can wear it. We’re going to be late. Besides, it’s so big on you that it makes you look cute.” He grabbed my sleeve and pulled me through the door.

  Raven had to take two giant steps just to catch up with us.

  When we made our way out of the building, Cal steered us through the parking lot and toward a grassy area where small tents were set up.

  “Every year, they have a welcome party for all the bachelors and bachelorettes. The different tents have games set up in them, and the last one”—he pointed to a big dome-looking tent—“is the most important.”

  “Why?” I asked.

  “Because that is where they take your blood and tell you who your matches are. I suggest we skip that tent.”

  I looked over at Raven, who was shaking her head. “They are serious about these bloodlines, huh?”

  “That’s what I’ve been telling you,” Cal said, nodding toward the dome tent. “There, you find out if your genes have mutated and you officially belong to another house or if the house you were born
into can claim you. Anyone who is below fifty-one percent your match, they demand you don’t see. If you don’t follow the rules, then you’ll most likely end up dead.”

  The unrivaled were as gross as they were evil.

  He gave my sleeve a tug. “Again, I say we avoid that tent. If you don’t give blood, then it’ll look suspicious, but I don’t know what other options we have.”

  I thought about what the Puppeteer said. “I can’t. I have to go.”

  Before he could argue with me, four guys came up. They were all pushing into each other, making liquid spill out of their red Solo cups.

  A cute guy clapped Cal on the back. He had spiky black hair, brown eyes, and was almost the same height as Cal. He was attractive but not as handsome as Cal and nowhere in the same league as the Puppeteer, but I was starting to think that kind of beauty was a fluke.

  “What do we have here, Callin?” the spiky-haired man asked.

  Cal took a step closer to me. “Micah, this is Thorn, and this is her friend, Raven.”

  He nodded at me and completely ignored the human to my right.

  One guy, who was the same height as Raven and had red hair and freckles, gave her an exaggerated wink, making her laugh. The other two men were twins. They stood a few inches shorter than Cal, and had blond hair and blue eyes. Their looks were average, and their faces were blank as they assessed both me and Raven. Something about their cool, calculated gazes had my heartbeat speeding up.

  Cal didn’t bother introducing the others, and if they were offended, they didn’t show it.

  “We were just about to go play some games,” Cal said.

  “Have you gone to the bloodline tent yet?” Micah asked.

  Cal stood a little taller. “No, not yet.”

  Micha nodded. “If you don’t mind, I’ll stick with you guys.”

  I could tell that Cal did mind, but he let it go.

  The man with freckles shoved his hand out to Raven. “Hi, I’m Leo.”

  She batted her eyelashes as she gave him her hand. I tried not to groan out loud. This girl would never learn.

  Our group had now grown as we walked to the first tent. I stayed as far away from the creepy twins as I possibly could and sat down on a barrel as I watched Cal go stand in a line. Leo and Raven went with him, and I rolled my eyes as Leo leaned in close and explained to Raven that the goal was to take the darts and throw them at the balloons. If you popped all three, you won a stuffed animal.

  I felt someone come up behind me and tensed until Micah came into view. Though I didn’t trust him and probably never would, he didn’t have the I’ll-murder-you-in-your-sleep vibe that the twins had.

  “So,” he said, “you and Cal a thing?”

  I shook my head. “No. We just came here together.”

  “Interesting,” he said. “I thought his house was dwindling in numbers.”

  “I didn’t say I came from the House of Deception. They have just been letting me stay as a guest while I got ready for the ball.” I wasn’t about to give him any more information, so I turned slightly away from him, hoping he would take the hint. He didn’t.

  “You know,” Micha said, “Cal is a love-them-and-leave-them kind of guy.”

  I swiveled my head toward his. “I’m sorry, what?”

  He shifted his gaze over to Cal, who was picking up his first dart and taking aim. “It might have something to do with not being able to find a compatible match or it could be that he can’t seem to keep it in his pants.”

  “This is none of my business.”

  Micha smiled at me. “Good to know.”

  When the pop of a balloon sounded, I jumped a little. Then Cal came over to me, carrying a small stuffed animal.

  “I couldn’t win the big one, but I got you a small one.”

  I smiled at the ugly panda bear. It was my first stuffed animal. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”

  Micha shook his head as he straightened. “Shall we go to the next tent?”

  I cradled the panda to my chest as I watched Raven shamelessly flirt with Leo. That girl loved flirting with danger.

  I smiled as we stepped into the next tent. We were standing in front of a mirror that made us look funny.

  Cal came up behind me and put his arms around me before he leaned down and said, “Still beautiful, Thorn.” At that, he let go and walked over to the next tent.

  I caught Micha’s raised eyebrows. “What?”

  He shrugged. “I’m just over here, minding my own business.”

  “Good,” I said. “If all unrivaled did that, we wouldn’t continuously be in a mess.”

  He crashed his brows together. “Who is we?”

  Pretending like I didn’t hear him, I started walking faster until my heels were almost touching Cal’s.

  Leo grabbed Raven’s hand. “Hey, my girl here wants to get her fortune read.”

  I rolled my eyes at the “my girl” comment. Raven should still be a little shell-shocked after the whole Halton thing. Though I wasn’t surprised when she giggled as she followed behind the redhead. I would have to have another talk with her once we were by ourselves, but I seriously doubted it would do any good.

  An older gentleman walked by us with a friendly wave. “Good evening, minors, and welcome.”

  Cal reached for my arm and pulled me up beside him. “That is one of the majors. A few of them come to make sure that we all keep the peace while we are here.”

  I should have told him who I had run into earlier, but I had a feeling he wasn’t going to be happy to learn that the Puppeteer was also volunteering his services.

  Leo grabbed the flap of a red tent and pulled it back. “Come on, guys.”

  The twins shook their heads. “We’re going to go find something else to do.” Their voices carried no accents of the region they were born in and were as robotic as their motions.

  It wasn’t until they started walking away that I breathed easier.

  “Glad to see them go. Those two are freaks,” Micha commented.

  Leo rolled his eyes. “Aren’t we all? Come on.”

  Raven giggled like a love sick girl as she almost skipped into the tent.

  Cal motioned for me to go before him, and as soon as I stepped into the dimly lit tent, my heart rate sped up. I stood in the corner while I watched a pretty woman, who was maybe a couple of years older than me, come sashaying her way to a table. Her auburn hair was braided on each side of her head, and her green eyes were bright. There was something about her that put me on edge. It was as if she could peer into my soul and knew exactly who I was or was afraid to be.

  “Welcome to my tent,” she said. “Who shall go first?”

  Leo was the first one in the seat.

  I had backed up until my back touched the side of the small tent. I watched from that spot as the woman shuffled a deck of cards and gave Leo the breakdown of his future. I shifted from foot to foot as she told him that he would find his love here, at this ball. She went on to tell him that his true love would also be his biggest weakness and ultimate downfall. That seemed to make him laugh. He obviously wasn’t too concerned over the woman’s remarks.

  When his turn was over, he stood up from the chair, and then the woman asked who was next.

  She skimmed her eyes over Raven. “Unfortunately, I don’t do reads on humans.” Then her eyes landed on Micah. “And you won’t let me read you. So, who is next?”

  Cal strolled forward and gripped the chair with one hand before he picked it up and turned it around, sitting backward in it. She gave him a smile as she shuffled the deck.

  I started edging my way toward the door as she began to tell him his future. Somethings were better off not knowing. Like a future that dealt exclusively with the unrivaled.

  “You have too much pride and little humility. Narcissism is your worst enemy. Selfless love will come to you, and you will demonstrate it, but only after you have lost what you will one day truly care about.”

  “Huh?” he asked.
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  She sighed deeply. “Actions have consequences. Remember that for when you finally care about someone other than yourself.”

  Micah was snickering beside me. He gave me a pointed look. “Told you. He leaves a trail of broken hearts.”

  The woman dropped Cal’s hand and stared at Micah. “Would you like to talk about your own future?”

  Micah paled. “No, thanks.”

  She nodded like she knew what his answer would be before his muttered words. Then she swung her green eyes upon me. “Come on; it is your turn.”

  “Oh, no, thanks. I think I’ll just—”

  My words were cut off as Cal stood from his chair and practically pulled me in front of the young woman. I nervously turned the chair to face the right way then sat down. I gripped my hands in my lap as she shuffled the cards.

  My anxiety grew when I noticed the look of shock on her face. Then, without speaking to me, she reshuffled the cards again and again. “You are not safe here. Bad things will happen to you.”

  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Cal come up beside me.

  “He will protect you. Your heart will be hurt, but then it will be mended. In the end, he would sacrifice all for you. Be patient, and be careful.”

  I put my hands on the table to help me stand on wobbly legs so that I could get away from this tent.

  With her green eyes, she scanned mine for a second before she clasped my hand. “When it comes time to fight, don’t. Think of it as a riptide in the ocean. Don’t swim against it. Swim with it. Let it carry you. It’s the only way you will survive.”

  Cal grabbed my shoulder. “Okay, I think we’re good.”

  I couldn’t take my eyes off the woman as Cal forcefully steered me out of the tent.

  No one said anything as we stood right outside the flap.

  Finally, Micah said, “Well, that was intense.”

  Raven nodded as she scooted closer to Leo.

  “She’s right; I’ll protect you,” Cal said, keeping his arm over my shoulders as he started walking me farther away from the tent, like he could tell I was unable to shake the fortune teller’s ominous words.