Page 114 of Forsaking All Others

“Favourite colour?”

“Black.”

“Of course,” he laughs gently.

He places his chocolate back into his pocket and leans back, seemingly relaxed, yet I sense an undercurrent. I get the feeling he needs me to agree to whatever his proposition is, but doesn’t want me to know that.

I mimic his body language and lean back into the seat, angling my body so I’m facing him, my eyes upon his.

“I’m listening.”

“I want you to keep Thorun safe in the next challenge.”

My eyebrows shoot to my hairline as I meet his earnest gaze.

“And,” he goes on, “she’ll ensure you survive the last challenge.”

I shake my head as I try to visualise Thorun doing anything remotely violent.

“And just how do you imagine she’ll do that?”

“You protect her against threats from competitors; she’ll protect you from the elements.”

I roll my eyes as he leans forward earnestly.

“You’ve studied the game, Cat. You must know that more competitors die from exposure in the last challenge than from each other. Alaska wasn’t chosen at random.”

“Let me get this straight,” I frown. “You want me to ensure Thorun lives to be part of the final three?”

“Yes.”

“Because you plan to choose her at the end.”

“I didn’t say that.”

I shake my head in disbelief.

“Obviously you feel something for her if you want to strike a bargain on her behalf.

“I like her,” he nods, “and I like you, Cat.”

“Who else have you asked to look after her?”

“I haven’t asked anyone else. I wouldn’t strike a bargain with any other competitor.”

“You’ll forgive me for not believing you,” I snort.

“I’m many things, but a liar is not one of them. I’d hoped that by now you’d have some measure of my integrity.”

“And,” I snap, “I’d hoped you’d have some measure of my intelligence. This deal sounds like bullshit. I believe you have integrity, but if I agreed to this bargain I’d need assurances I wouldn’t be signing my death warrant.”

“You know I can’t give you any assurances,” he murmurs.

“Exactly! I didn’t come on this show to lose; I came to win. To win you. Why the fuck would I save the life of another contestant at your behest when at the end she’s going to have to die by your hand for me to win — and that’s obviously not going to happen because you just asked me to save her life. I’d have to be an absolute imbecile to take this deal.”

“Cat, I’ve apologised for not trusting you in Vietnam. You have my complete trust now. But in this, you have to trust me. If you can survive to the final three you could still win. But I need to have Thorun there too.”

“No.”