Playing the Witch's Game (Keepers of the Veil)

by Zoe Forward

  “I wanted to see you blush.” The musical joy of her laugh made him smile wider.

  She sobered and gazed at the shoreline. “Let’s take care of your hands. Lead the way.”

  They both pushed off the rock and into the water, swimming the hundred or so yards to the steep shoreline. After scrambling up the rocks they pushed through the waist-high thick brush toward the denser forest. The spiky grass cut into his naked legs. “The grass bothering you?” He gazed at her bare legs.

  Jen shook her head.

  “What do you remember about this island from that documentary?”

  “Not much other than the snakes. They like being in the trees because that’s where the birds land. There’s a lot of them and they’re very poisonous.”

  “Venomous.”

  “What? Are you the grammar police now?”

  “They inject venom. You eat something poisonous.” He bit back a laugh when color dotted her cheeks. He liked seeing a bit of the firecracker again.

  “You are a serious pain in the butt,” she grumbled.

  His lips twitched as he lost his battle against the smile and turned back to where she followed. “I would love to be in your—”

  “Don’t you dare finish that statement,” she ordered.

  He chuckled. “What plants do you need?” He led her toward what looked to be a rocky and straight-upward climb.

  “Why don’t you focus on finding two rocks that look decent enough to use for grinding. And water. If we can’t find fresh water, I’ll make do.”

  A few seconds later, he heard a commotion behind him. She’d fallen to her knees in the tall grass, which obscured her from the camera’s view.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  She jumped up with a triumphant smile. “Look what I found.”

  She definitely didn’t find the small switchblade here. When she disappeared earlier, she must’ve armed herself. Smart girl.

  She declared, “Finders, keepers.”

  His eyes narrowed momentarily. Then he nodded. “Good find.”

  She twirled to head onward.

  He’d sighted at least eight golden vipers coiled at varying distances from them on their trek so far. As long as they weren’t threatening to the snakes, he hoped the creatures wouldn’t strike. He hated snakes. Thoroughly despised them. But he did learn how to handle them from a childhood friend long ago. He caught up to Jen and whispered, “Will your ‘prayer’ from earlier help us on land?”

  She shook her head. “It was for ocean animals only.”

  Minutes later, he ordered, “Freeze.” He pointed to a huge snake with a head the size of his fist that rested a yard away from her foot. His heart thrashed against his ribs. He shoved the escalating oh shit freak-out aside and forced his tone to be calm. “Back toward me slowly, Angel.”

  She backed up until she smacked into him. He wrapped his arm around her. She was safe. But she could’ve been struck. She could’ve died. “I need a stick. A big stick.”

  “There.” She pointed to a branch on the ground not far behind them.

  He tested the branch on the ground for strength. “It’ll work.” He walked toward the snake. Don’t dwell on what you’re going to do. Just do it. He wrapped the viper around the stick and tossed it yards away. “Walk fast. I’ll lead and you tell me when you see what you need to make that poultice. The lighthouse and our meeting is somewhere up there.” He pointed up the steep slope and swiped sweat off his face.

  “Don’t the snakes bother you? Especially because they’re so venomous?” she asked with a quiver in her voice.

  Hell, yes. “When I was eight or nine I learned everything there was to know about snakes from a kid across the street who collected them. He had all kinds. Can’t say I really got into them, but I learned how to handle them.”

  “Was the one you just tossed away a venomous one?”

  “Yes. Very.”

  He leaned in close to her and whispered, “Can you do anything special for these snakes?” Please say yes.

  Shannon was right in their face with the camera, obviously attempting to catch what they whispered.

  She shook her head and darted her eyes to Shannon. Shannon backed up a few steps with an apologetic shrug.

  He nodded and led up to the forested area. The ground was almost path-like in its dearth of greenery, probably because the canopy was so thick that it shielded the sun. “There.” He pointed to two yellow-bodied snakes wrapped around branches high above them. “They’re less interested in us than their aerial prey. See any plants you could use?”

  She ran her hand along some leaves, nodded, and plucked a few. Then swiped two fist-sized rocks off the ground. “We just need some water.” She walked over to a bush with a wide stem structure and broke off a piece. “Perfect.”

  Fascinated, he watched as she used moisture from the stem and pulverized the leaves. Minutes later she pointed to a rock. “Sit.” She knelt between his legs and hummed as she smeared the leaf combo onto his hand. “I wish I had something I could wrap your hands with. You’re going to wear this off using the machete. Even so, the burns should be better by tomorrow.”

  “Does the singing help, too?” He smiled.

  She nodded. Her gaze darted upward to his, conveying absolute seriousness.

  “Let me put some on your neck.” He took the rock with the paste from her and slathered the mixture onto her neck. “Stinks.”

  “It’ll work.” Her soft smile hit him straight in the gut. Exhaustion etched deep lines in her face. The urge to take her into his arms overwhelmed him. He wanted to hold her. This went way beyond boyfriend playacting and angling for a little weekend play. He resisted. She probably wouldn’t react favorably, given that she appeared to be barely holding her panic in check. Rejection wasn’t something he cherished.

  He helped her stand. “Come on. Let’s get going.”

  “I wonder what time it is.”

  “We’ll make it to the meeting.” He glanced at Shannon, who was allowed to have a watch, unlike them. Shannon rolled her watch and held up five fingers. One hour until the meeting. “I think if we go up and then go along the top of this hill we should hit the lighthouse eventually.”

  She nodded, gazing complete trust at him. In this moment he felt helpless. He knew how to hack computers, acquire unusual items, and kill, but not how to traverse the wilderness. Yet she trusted him.

  “I really am sorry I dragged you into this,” she said.

  He took her hand in a gentle grasp and started walking. “We’re in it. Keep moving.”

  A few yards later Nikolai ordered, “Shannon, don’t move.”

  Shannon froze. She’d been walking backward in front of them, shooting. The camera drooped from her shoulder. Wide-eyed, she gazed at Nikolai.

  Tight bushes surrounded them on all sides, and the trees overhead made it dark. Shannon started to twist to look behind her.

  “I said don’t move,” Nikolai repeated. Calmly he said, “Here’s how this is going to go. On my count of three, Shannon, you will move to where I am. Move fast. Jen, you use the stick in my left hand to toss the snake that is closest to you on the ground. Toss it far away. You’re not going to think about this. You will do it. I will get the coiled one behind Shannon.” He pulled out his machete and slowly moved the stick to hand it off to Jen. Jen’s pale-faced fear worried him, but he had to trust she could handle this. “One. Two. Three.”

  Shannon and he traded positions. He focused on the snake. With a wrist toss, he speared it behind the head. Dead. Such a waste to kill the rare creature, but if the show was going to put them in these life-or-death situations, then it was their life over that of a deadly animal. The show could deal with the bad PR of killing an endangered species. He glanced around to Jen, who stood proudly leaning on the stick. He raised his eyebrows.

  “Got it.” She beamed.

  He completed the cut to remove the head off the golden lancehead he’d knifed. “You okay, Shannon?”

 
; “Yeah,” she said, her camera back up and running. “You didn’t need to…”

  “Of course I did.” Nikolai pierced her with a solemn glare. “You’re a part of our team. Your life is more important than a TV show.” He gripped Shannon’s shoulder and squeezed for a moment. “If they want to pull us off this competition because I chose to save your life, then fuck ’em. I know what these snakes are. A bite from a golden lancehead means you’d have hours. I seriously doubt we could find help in that time.”

  He drew Jen in close to him and wrapped his arms around her. “You did good.”

  Her tongue darted out to moisten her lips. Despite how obviously stressed she was and running on an adrenaline high, his cock swelled in response. Bad timing. He wanted to taste those lips. When his eyes made it back to hers, she sucked in a sudden breath. The hunger in her gaze was all the invite he needed.

  He kissed her. This time it wasn’t a nibble or a tease. He went straight in between her parted lips with a need to taste and devour. She sighed and sagged against him. Her fingers dug deep into his shoulders to draw him tight against her. When he finally lifted his head, they were both panting. He smothered his need to get her naked and be inside her. Here was definitely not the right place. And they were on camera.

  “Angel, I could stay right here all night. Make us a fire and eat snake. We could miss that meeting and have us a nice campout before we get shipped home.”

  She stumbled backward and murmured, “You shouldn’t have started that.”

  His gaze darted to the camera and he granted her a cocky smile. “I had to remind the world that Brunette Barbie is all mine.”

  She jumped forward and kneed him in the balls.

  “Fuck.” He doubled over.

  …

  “I warned you not to mention the Barbie thing again.” Jen fisted her hands on her hips while Nikolai gripped his knees and shook his head.

  “What the hell was that for?” His eyes glittered dangerously.

  She picked at a nail. “I seriously doubt Barbie would be caught dead in this outfit.” She plucked at the neckline that plunged low between her breasts. “I mean the colors alone are hideous. Green and brown? Who selects green and brown when going on a TV show in the woods? Why not hot pink and blue? This will not look good on TV. The show has seriously got to rethink its wardrobe choices.”

  He glared the promise of retaliation as he gingerly stood upright. “You are more dangerous than anything on this godforsaken pile of rocks.”

  “I warned you about the Barbie thing. Then you kissed me to play for the camera?” She’d been sucked in by that kiss. She pointed at him. “If you kiss me, then you better mean it. Admit you liked it.”

  “Oh, I liked it. Right up until you kicked me in the fucking nuts.”

  “I most certainly didn’t kick you. You want me to show you what it feels like to be kicked?” She tensed to kick. “Fair warning, I took karate for six years.”

  “Do it. I dare you. Your juvenile karate moves are no match for me.” His gaze challenged. And holy crap, that threat was sexy. “Come on, try it.” He wiggled his fingers in a come-on-do-it gesture.

  She bit back a grin. She actually enjoyed sparring with him. He didn’t dance around her like every other alpha male in her life. He didn’t treat her like fine china that would break if he touched. She fully expected if she kicked him, he’d throw her down. And, oh my God, she wanted him on top of her. He was right. She wanted him to rip off her clothes. Blood surged a rush of anticipation and arousal through her body.

  She cleared her throat. “As tempting as that is…” She dropped her voice an octave and infused it with suggestion, “And where it might lead, we’ve got a dinner date. We don’t have enough free time for that kind of fun right now.”

  He stepped closer to her. A half foot of air separated them.

  Her head snapped up to meet his gaze. His eyes smoldered a dark fire that made her gasp. “Do something like that again and I’ll tie you up and have my way with you for days. Show be damned.”

  He didn’t intimidate her. But everyone she knew would see this in glorious high def over and over. Now it was her turn to do camera acting. She stepped into him, molding herself tight to his hard contours. His arousal pressed against her abdomen. “Promise?” She found herself only half acting. The thought of him doing anything he wanted to her made her crazy with the desire to push him. He’d make whatever he did good, probably better than good. Of that she had no doubt. The back of her mind tickled her with thoughts of Owen. What are you doing? You don’t know Nikolai any better than Owen.

  “You are one dangerous woman,” he said hoarsely. “Stop giving me that look. Just kill me now and spare me another four days of being unable to…finish that.”

  The note of desperation in his voice made her smile. Knowing she had this much power over him…she loved it. She backed away from him and dusted off some pretend dirt on her swimsuit. “Let’s go to the meeting.”

  Chapter Nine

  Jen gripped Nikolai’s hand in a too-tight grip as they entered the circular clearing lit by tiki torches. Her fingers ached from the strength of her clasp on him, but she feared this meeting more than any slithery danger in the darkening forest behind them. Cheesy came to mind as she scanned the clichéd jungle set with fake canvas tents and thatched-hut building fronts. The crew must’ve spent days building this.

  They were swarmed by people who adjusted their outfits and hair. Microphones were attached to them. All this would probably be cut out of the aired version of the show.

  Owen sauntered their way. He smoothed out imaginary wrinkles in his perfectly pressed khaki jungle shirt and cargo pants. She pressed into Nikolai’s side, and he wrapped her with his arm. She glanced up, but Nikolai didn’t meet her gaze. He stared impassively at Owen.

  Owen’s on-camera smile didn’t falter. “Welcome. Congratulations.” As he closed in on them he turned his back to block out the cameras and whispered, “It wasn’t me, Jen. Are you okay? My bracelet burned me, too. It was a bitch to get off.” He pulled up his sleeve to show off deep lacerations encircling his wrist. “Someone hexed us.”

  “Hexed?” Nikolai asked, his face conveyed shock. “What’s that?” The man could win an Oscar for acting.

  Owen’s tone suggested he knew she had special abilities. They’d never discussed it. That made this game a zillion times more dangerous.

  How had he gotten his off? She’d needed Charlotte’s help. Two powerful witches. This man was not what he seemed. Or he lied. She no longer felt a draw toward him. It must’ve been the magic in the necklace. She didn’t find anything about his insincere smile attractive. She masked her instinctual fear over what Owen might be with a wide smile. “No worries here. I’m so glad you figured it out.”

  Nikolai shot her a what the hell frown.

  A man with wild, frizzy hair clapped his hands. “Okay, people, we’re going live in five, four, three…” He held up fingers.

  “Take a seat. Now,” Owen ordered, waving his hand toward the crude wooden benches.

  She counted two couples missing. Eight remained. They settled into the front row. She hadn’t released her grip on Nikolai’s hand. He squeezed back.

  Owen sat on a wood bench in front of them and crossed his legs. As soon as he got the signal from the director he said, “Welcome to our first meeting. We’ve had great highs and great lows today. Some surprises.” His gaze slid to her and Nikolai. “You are our survivors. We lost two couples to the snakes. We’re still not sure on their status.” He paused dramatically. “Nick, what were you thinking when you first jumped out of the helicopter?”

  Nikolai slowly smiled. “I was thinking, game on.”

  “Jen, what was going on with you getting pulled under the water right after you jumped?” Owen asked.

  Her brain spun with you didn’t bring that up for a few seconds and then spat out a resounding: you asshole. She forced a smile. “Jellyfish. They burned both of us.” She touched her
neck.

  “But you made a concoction of sorts to treat the burns?” Owen’s expression conveyed fascination.

  She nodded, unwilling to get into a discussion with him over this bullshit.

  “How did you know what to use in the woods? There are a lot of plants out there,” Owen asked.

  “I took a field course in South American rain forest botany when I was in undergrad. Plant remedies are kind of a hobby.”

  He must’ve recognized she’d stonewalled. He turned to the blond next to her, the triathlete married to the navy SEAL. “Francesca, you saw Andrea get nailed by that snake. Yet you didn’t even stop to check on her. How’d you feel when you saw that?”

  “It could’ve been me, but that’s the game.” Francesca shrugged. “Whoever didn’t recognize this as Snake Island is an idiot. Snake Island means be careful of the snake dangers.”

  Jen’s gaze shot to Nikolai, horrified over the thought of Francesca abandoning the woman who’d been bitten. He let go of her hand to throw his arm around her.

  “What do you think of that, Nick?” Owen asked.

  He didn’t release his grip around her. “I made my opinion on life versus the game clear an hour or so ago. No need to rehash.”

  “None of your competitors saw that,” Owen said, pressing him.

  “Why don’t you show the clip on that jumbo screen behind you?” He dropped his voice to whisper to Jen, “Let’s just hope they cut it before you knee me in the nuts.”

  She bit her lip against a smile.

  Nikolai’s image flashed on the TV in a rewind of him talking to Shannon post-snake encounter. They cut it before he and Jen’s subsequent altercation.

  “You look good on TV,” Jen whispered to him.

  His eyes smiled, but not his lips.

  Owen faced the group. “Wow. What do you think, Bob?” he asked the Alaskan survivalist.

  Bob leaned forward and held out his hand to Nikolai. Bob nodded. Nikolai and he shook in silent solidarity. Nothing further was said.

  Jen zoned out while Owen asked a few other competitors about their day. No one else seemed to have the same level of life-or-death excitement as they. A few bland clips demonstrated how fantastically in shape the other competitors were in comparison to them. Swim, avoid snakes, make it through the forest. Everyone else’s day seemed boring. Beneath all of it, though, the biggest snake on this island was Owen. Why had he wanted her on the show? To die?