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He was smart, and he had my back.
“But I still don’t know how to play,” I whispered to Ionna.
“It’s simple,” Theron replied, overhearing. “You go first because you’re the challenger. Sirena will ask you five questions that no one in their right mind would answer truthfully. If you do tell the truth, she either takes your punishment for underestimating you or downs one of the mugs as penalty. Whoever runs out of full mugs first is the loser.”
I nodded. “Got it so far, but what if I lie?”
“Sirena has to guess if you’ve lied or told the truth. If you lie and she guesses correctly that you lied, she gives you the punishment, or you take the penalty.”
“All right, I’m with you so far. What about if I tell the truth and she guesses that I’ve told the truth?”
“Then you’re both safe. Same thing if you lie but trick her into thinking you told the truth.” He handed me a rock. “Five questions from her, then you give her the verity stone and ask her five questions. You have ten seconds, then you have to guess truth or lie.”
Verity stone. Verity as in truth.
“Do I hold this the whole time she’s asking me questions?” I asked.
“Yes.”
I didn’t ask anymore. I’d revealed too much of my ignorance already.
Over Sirena’s head, Alex winked at me. An imperceptible toss of the head pointed out the forest again. I got his message loud and clear. After I was finished putting this squawking chicken in her place, we’d finally have time. Just us.
“Let’s get this over with,” Sirena said, kicking back in her seat. Her goddess entourage fanned around her and Alex, whispering compliments to her and insults about me and my friends. “How many people have you had sex with?”
I opened my mouth as Sebastian, Castor, and Dimitri pushed through the crowd, falling in right next to the table. Apparently, the Hell Boys, minus Jason, wanted a front-row seat to this.
My toes curled in my boots when Sebastian leaned in, pressing his lips to my ear. The smile on Alex’s face wiped away.
“Don’t worry. I sent your father away for this part, so please, be very,veryhonest.”
I twisted, pressing my mouth to his ear. “Please... go fuck yourself.”
“Are we doing this or not?” Sirena snapped.
Laughing, Sebastian pulled back.
“The answer is none,” I said clearly. “Zero. Zilch. Nada. No one.”
She smirked. “Now that’s definitely the truth. Not even a toothless beggar would sink as low as you.”
I was proud of myself for not jumping over the table and dumping a mug over her head. Breathing through my nose, I held the verity stone out between us, wondering when it would light up, sing, dance, or do something to prove I told the truth.
It did a fat lot of nothing.
What the heck is this for, then?
“Second question,” Sirena continued. “Have you ever picked your nose and eaten it?”
“No!”
Fierce, searing pain erupted in my palm. Screaming, I flung the rock away—snapping my hand to my chest.
Smug as hell, Sirena looked at the verity stone on the ground and sang, “Liar.”
I felt my cheeks heating. That’s what the verity stones did? Which meant to win the game, I either had to answer every horrible, embarrassing question she asked truthfully or try to keep a poker face while that torture device burned a hole in my hand.
I was doomed.
