A few men hover at the edges of the room—the hunters who failed to claim anyone during the Hunt last year. They drink heavier, laugh louder, compensating for their solitude with bravado.
Theo shifts beside me, his eyes fixed on Julian Frost and Elliot Chambers across the room. Julian raises his glass in silent acknowledgment while Elliot whispers something in his ear. Theo hasn’t mentioned our discussion about the four of us since that morning at breakfast. The invitation sits unanswered somewhere in his apartment, and I haven’t found the courage to bring it up again.
“You okay?” I ask, squeezing his hip gently.
Theo nods, offering me a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Fine.”
I want to ask if he’s spoken to Julian and Elliot, if they agreed to our potential arrangement during the Hunt. But the words stick in my throat. Despite everything we’ve become to each other, some conversations still feel impossible.
Instead, I guide him toward the bar, keeping my hand firmly on the small of his back as we navigate through the intimate crowd.
As we reach the bar, Knox Blackwood, the youngest of the Blackwood brothers, appears with Bianca at his side. His blue mask hangs loosely around his neck, while Bianca’s fingers stay intertwined with his.
“Well, if it isn’t the fight club king,” Knox says with a smirk. “Didn’t expect to see you two together tonight.” His eyes flick between Theo and me, that trademark Blackwood arrogance glittering in his gaze.
“Knox,” I nod curtly. Despite everything, the youngest Blackwood still sets my teeth on edge.
Bianca elbows Knox playfully. “Be nice. They look good together.”
“We weren’t together during the Hunt,” Theo clarifies, accepting a glass of champagne from the bartender. “Victor was still pretending he was straight back then.”
I choke slightly on my whiskey. “I wasn’t pretending. I was... figuring things out.”
Knox laughs. “That’s not how I remember it. You looked ready to tear Elliot’s throat out when he had his hands all over Theo.”
“The way I recall,” Bianca adds, “you couldn’t keep your eyes off him during the orgy room portion or the feast.”
Heat crawls up my neck. I’m not used to this—having my feelings dissected so casually in public.
“Things changed after the Hunt,” Theo says, his shoulder brushing against mine. “Victor needed some... convincing.”
Knox raises an eyebrow. “I bet he did. The big, tough fight promoter with his reputation to protect.”
Something about Knox’s tone—maybe the challenge in it—straightens my spine. I slide my arm around Theo’s waist, pulling him firmly against my side.
“We’re together now,” I say clearly, the words echoing in my own ears. It’s the first time I’ve declared it so plainly in public, outside the safety of my gym. “Have been since shortly after the Hunt.”
Theo’s eyes widen slightly, surprise and pleasure washing over his features.
Knox raises his glass. “Congratulations on finally finding your balls, Kaine.”
I snort at Knox’s comment, leaning into the challenge rather than shrinking from it.
“That’s rich coming from a guy who spent half the Hunt hiding in shadows instead of actually hunting,” I fire back, matching his smirk with one of my own. “Tell me, Knox—did you actually catch Bianca, or did she just get tired of waiting and turn herself in?”
Knox’s eyes widen momentarily before a genuine laugh bursts from him. “Fuck you, Kaine. I caught her fair and square.”
“After I led him on a chase through that damn maze,” Bianca chimes in, grinning.
Theo leans into me, his body warm against mine. “Victor wasn’t exactly subtle with his staring.”
“Neither were you,” I murmur, squeezing his hip. The old anxiety about being overheard discussing men has faded considerably over the past weeks.
Bianca’s eyes dance between us, a mischievous smile spreading across her face. “God, you two are going to look so hot together during this year’s Hunt.” She leans forward, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “Especially in the orgy room and at the feast.”
Knox reaches out, tugging her back against his chest. “Behave yourself, baby. We haven’t even started the festivities yet.”
“I’m always behaved,” Bianca protests, but the gleam in her eye suggests otherwise.