Page 131 of Forsaking All Others

“No, stupid,” she laughs, “nothing like that. My God, who do you think I am?”

I frown and say nothing as she goes on.

“He asked me to protect you.”

“You?” I snort, “protect me?”

“Yes,” she shrugs and rolls her eyes, “and I thought that was very strange. But I thought I’d just pass that on since you, well, you know.”

“What?” I scowl.

“Since you’ve accepted we’re friends now, and you and he…”

“Thorun, you’re moving me to violence,” I throw my hands into the air in agitation, “what are you getting at?”

“I just,” she shrugs, “I think you have feelings for him and he does for you, too.”

“Bullshit,” I snap. “I don’t have any feelings for him.”

‘Do I? Why was I so jealous about his date? Why can’t I stop thinking about that kiss? Why does it hurt to know he’s chosen someone else and probably plans to murder me when I know that’s all part of the Game?’

“Well,” Thorun shrugs, “You both have an awful lot in common.”

“Like what?”

“Like you both like sailing, you both like cooking, you obviously have a similar sense of humour. And, well, the obvious one; you both kill people.”

“I don’t like killing people, Thorun,” I scowl.

“Neither does he.”

“It doesn’t matter,” I shrug, turning away to end the conversation. “None of it matters.”

“It does if you came here for love,” she says quietly.

“I didn’t,” I snap, “now let’s get packing.”

Frustratingly, she sits down and shakes her head.

“Why did you come into the Games, Cat? You’ve never said.”

“Basta cosi! Why the sudden urge to share? I’m starting to wish I’d kept Sona around just so I don’t have to have these bizarre heart-to-hearts with you.”

She shrugs.

“We’re two friends about to spend a long winter together and we probably won’t survive this last challenge unless we trust each other and know more about each other.”

“You know all you need to know,” I snap.

“Why?” She asks again, the inference obvious.

“You aren’t going to let this go, are you?”

“No,” she grins.

‘Ah, where’s the harm in telling her? Even if the cameras are rolling, it’s something I’m sure the crew have already worked out. This late in the Game I don’t even care if the audience at home knows, although probably the producers will edit out my conversation anyway.’

“I entered the Games because I was running from someone. I wanted a protector, I wanted immortality, ‘although that’s apparently not on offer,’ and I wanted to be in a position of power to exact my vengeance upon someone who hurt me.”