Page 104 of Forsaking All Others

“Three,” I nod, handing them over and not bothering to try to explain why the bachelor is sitting on the bank talking urgently to a camera man.

As he rises I avoid his eyes and turn, taking Sona’s arm to lead her away. I don’t want to see what’s about to happen, and time is our enemy. We need to solve this puzzle and get out of here.

Sona wastes no time in clicking the pieces I’ve just handed her into place with those she already has.

“That’s it!” She grins.

“Great,” I sigh, “let’s get the fuck out of here. We’ve still got a long swim through the last tunnel, and anyone could try to murder us on the way.”

‘And I’m weak from blood loss.’

“No,” she shakes her head. “I don’t think we’re going to get attacked. We’re the second last.”

“WHAT?”

“Miranda, Silke, Claire and Cherry all worked together and solved it way earlier than anyone else.”

“And the others?”

“I saw Vasiliki and one of the twins swim through the tunnel separately, so they must have somehow got the puzzle pieces. I don’t know how. As far as I know, there’s just Aditi left. She’s been chasing me all night, but I’ve eluded her. Please tell me Thorun has my baby.”

“She does. You left it behind when you ran off.”

“I’m going to be the worst mother,” she giggles.

I laugh with her, relieved beyond words that we’ve solved the puzzle and can make it to the end, but terrified that we’re so far behind.

“If Aditi’s still here we won’t be last, but we need to swim fast, Sona.”

“I know,” she nods as we turn to dive into the water and make for the cave leading out of this lagoon and back to our waiting canoes and guides.

As we enter the dark tunnel I slow down my strokes and allow the current to take me, floating here and there where I can to conserve my energy.

I don’t know how much blood the bachelor took, and I don’t know how long the bite went on. I lost all sense of time once the euphoria and pleasure took over. But it isn’t the bite I’m thinking about now as I float. It’s the end of the bite when he moved his bloodied lips from my throat to my mouth and kissed me in a way I’d never even imagined I could be kissed.

When his lips had finally left mine he’d murmured into my ear, “that should have been your first kiss,” before lifting me off his lap and rising, holding out his hand to help me up.

Neither of us had spoken the rest of the way to the island.

76

“Falcon.”

“Jaguar, I hadn’t heard from you for so long I began to wonder if you were enjoying yourself.”

“No chance of that,” I snap. “Look, I won’t waste your time, I know you have important matters of your own to deal with.”

“I always have time for you,” he says quietly.

“I’m calling to find out about the blood sample I sent you.”

“Is something wrong?”

“Yes. A great deal is wrong, but I won’t weary you with the details. The sample?”

“Mmm, I was going to get onto you about that at some point. I sent the sample for analysis, as you asked, but they lost it.”

“Lost it? The royal physicians lost a sample?”