Page 93 of Forsaking All Others

“Yes, but real, live babies?” Her tone is incredulous, “risking the lives of consenting, or mostly consenting adults is one thing. Risking an infant’s life is another thing entirely. It’s barbaric!”

“Get a grip, dumbass,” Miranda snorts. “If you knew anything at all about this Game you’d know only two babies have ever been lost in the entire history of this challenge.”

“Contestants sacrifice everything to ensure they’re kept safe,” Silke adds, “because if anything happens to the small person, the competitor is immediately eliminated.”

“Small person?” Thorun shakes her head. “They’re infants!”

“Infants whose mothers have deliberately enrolled them into this challenge,” Claire shrugs, “because they want fame for their daughters and they want what Evelyn had.”

“A knife in the throat?” Thorun gasps.

“No, dipshit,” Miranda laughs, “a chance to be on the Games when they grow up. They’ve got a much better chance of being selected if they were already here before.”

“I once knew a man who liked to dress as a baby,” Sona muses, “I liked feeding him, but I grew weary of changing his diapers. I never knew babies pooped so much.”

“There’s something very wrong with you,” Aditi says with finality.

“There’s something wrong with all of you if you think this is OK,” Thorun whispers.

Rising, I beckon her to follow me as I leave the room.

When we reach our wing I take the baby challenge card from her trembling, white fingers and motion for her to sit on her bed.

“Listen,” I shake my head. “This challenge is going to be hard, but it usually doesn’t involve weapons, just a puzzle to solve under a time limitation.”

“In a water cave system, under a mountain, in the dark,” she whispers.

“Yes, apparently. But we also get to spend time with the bachelor.”

“How?”

“He accompanies the women on this challenge, if he feels like it, to get to know how they react under pressure — how they’ll be as mothers. The vampire bachelors are looking for royal wives who’ll be great mothers while at the same time completing their royal obligations. The whole reason they marry us is to have children.”

“Not this one,” Thorun shakes her head.

“Pardon?”

“He doesn’t want children,” she sniffs, wiping away a stray tear. “It’s how I knew he was never going to pick me and that I’m doomed in this show.”

“What are you talking about?” I frown at her, exasperated at where the conversation has headed. I don’t care if he doesn’t pick her; I don’t care that she’s upset, or why.

‘Why the hell did I bring her back here?’

“You know, my grandmother always said you can be the most beautiful yellow in the world, but if a man’s favourite colour is blue, you’ll never be good enough,” She murmurs.

“Thorun, you’re killing me. What the fuck are you talking about?”

“I’m yellow,” she says quietly. “I want children. I don’t sail. I don’t cook. I don’t want to live in a castle surrounded by royals and do royal things. I want to go back to my island and beachcomb for the rest of my days and never have to fear for my life again. I’m his yellow, and he’s looking for blue. And he’s my yellow, and I’m looking for green.”

I throw my hands into the air and shout.

“Basta cosi!”

“There’s no point telling me enough is enough! I’m trying to tell you that even if I were to win this game, I’m not compatible with him!” she shouts back. “I don’t want to risk a baby’s life to try and win something I don’t want!”

“So what?” I snap, “Do you want me to end it for you here and now?”

“What?”