"Stay close to me honey, I wouldn't want you wandering off." My mother tightly held my hand as we maneuvered into the crowd. We were heading toward the Deltorian coin station to pay for tickets.

All kingdoms ran on a money system, based on six different currencies. The six most prosperous kingdoms in the different regions of our world controlled the finance system surrounding them. Descuvian coins have gone extinct, so Revola replaced them in the system.

The kingdoms surrounding Deltora only responded with Deltorian coins, but there were six lines of payment options. This is because people from all different lands attended this event, so the different forms of payment was necessary.

I shouldn't even have to pay if I'm in the damn event.

We paid for our tickets, and I knew I had to come up with a plan as soon as we walked in the stadium. "I'll be right back mother, I'm going to grab us some food and say hey to Hazalen."

"I'll be sitting in the middle-front section," she responded,"Be safe, Annalise. I don't like the look of many of these non-Deltorians."

"Mother, just relax and watch the game. I'll be back before you know it." I gave her a quick hug and ran off, finding a entrance into the private section of the stadium. I was speed-walking down a long, red carpeted hallway. As I was passing by a guarded door, Damien walked out of it.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him bewilderedly. The thoughts of my mission to get ready for the game disappeared.

"This leads to the game box, sweetheart. I should be asking what your doing here." He pulled me away, taking a turn in the hallway. He then trapped me against the wall, away from the eyes of the guards.

"I want to see you score a goal for me, alright princess?" He picked up my hand a placed a feathery kiss on my palm, sending shivers down my spine.

"And why should I score a goal only for you?" I smirked in response as his face came closer. I placed my hands around his neck, expecting a kiss but he paused.

"Why don't you find out." His hand stroked dangerously up my dress, caressing my inner thigh. Damien's mouth traveled down my neck, kissing and sucking as he pleased. A fire ignited in my stomach as I realized where I really wanted his hands to be.

I pushed my pelvis against his hands, signaling I wanted him to go further. He looked me in the eye as I did so, understanding what I wanted next. I felt the electricity between us buzzing, a connection only we could understand.

He slid his hand into my underwear, slowly caressing me until I gave him a pleading look. We both knew we had to be quiet because of the guards nearby, and we were in the middle of a hallway. He returned my look with one of lust, a dark gray storm settled into his eyes.

One of the sexiest things I've ever seen.

He then starting pleasuring me, and I clung onto Damien with everything I had. Soft, incoherent sounds left my mouth as I tried to stay silent.

"Holy shit," he muttered in wonder.

"What's wrong?"

"Oh trust me, nothing is wrong," Damien's lustful eyes gazed into mine.

As he pleasured me, he kept leaving trails down my neck. Every time he traveled to my ear, I quivered in his arms. He placed another digit in, causing me to readjust for a second. He would slow down to gaze into my eyes, only to speed up and watch my reaction. It was exhilarating. I could tell he was fully enjoying this, which made me feel like I was the only woman in the world.

I stuffed my face into Damien's shirt as I shook from the final pleasure, coming down my from high.

"Do you want to score a goal for me now?" He asked, wiping his hands on the back of my dress. He knew I was about to change anyway, and the smirk on his face told me everything.

I looked up at him in a haze,"Do more goals mean more of this?"

How was I out of breath?

He threw his head back with a laugh,"Sweet cheeks, what just happened is the highlight of my whole month. No goals are required for how you want me to pleasure you, princess. I'm running on your time." I melted at his words, knowing he was telling the truth.

"But, a few extra goals might gain you some brownie points. You're going up against Eurizola first, and they aren't the easiest." He remarked, placing a kiss on my forehead. He pushed the frizz from my hair down due to the wall.

"I'll try my best." I smiled brightly, I couldn't keep it off my face. He smiled back, knowing I would try my hardest for Deltora.

"Annalise... be safe." I unexpectedly gave him a long, passionate kiss and broke away with a smile.

"We'll continue this tonight," and I turned away, leaving him dumbfounded. I couldn't help but view the budge in his pants as I turned away, knowing I left him in yet another tight spot.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"We are about to walk on the field! Where in hades have you been?" Jack pulled me into line, ready to walk outside.

You wouldn't want to know.

"It took me a while to change, I couldn't find my shin guard." I shouted over the cheering.

In front of me, I could only see grass and the bright sun flooding the room. Yet the only thing I could hear, was chanting, cheering and screaming. Officials were shouting through speaker tubes, stating that we were about to enter the field. Deltorian and Eurizola cheers were being shouted across the stadium, causing a smile to emit on my face.

A nervous pile of butterflies dared to taunt my stomach as they called us out, and we ran in a single file to the field. The crowd grew louder as we got into our positions, ready to start the game. I took a quick glance around me, viewing the large stadium. There were so many people that I couldn't keep my eyes on just one.

I then looked up at the box to find Damien, sitting in his throne with his golden crown. He was leaning forward in his seat, and our eyes met. He gave me a wink, and that was all the confidence I needed.

"Five... four... three.. two... one!"

It was as if the crowd grew silent, but I knew the chanting only got louder. My mind warded out all noise as I felt my body glide across the field, ready for the ball to be crossed over. My teammate lost it, only for Jack to get it back from the opposer.

Cross it to me! Cross it to me!

Immediately their mid-field ran up, striking Jack from the side and took the ball away from him. I felt helpless as I stood on the other side of the field, but because I wasn't a defender I couldn't do anything.

The Eurizola player took off down the field, tricking our final defender. He took a sharp turn then scored, faking out our goalie.

The same play happened a second time and Eurizola used the same tactic as before, knowing it would work. The same boy scored a second time, pumping his fists up as he relished in the audience.

Oh, it's game on.

The Eurizola chants grew louder, mocking Deltora. We had just started the game and we were already losing. I could almost picture Henry and Hazalen with concerned faces in the crowd, not knowing if we had the potential to win. I looked back up at Damien to see him viewing the field in disappointment.

I will score a godamns goal for you, Damien.

I found jack staring at me, giving me a nod.

The whistle blew for the third time, but this time the play was different. I started sprinting down the field, knowing Jack's plan. The left-forward passed the ball to Jack, but I kept my head straight and didn't look back. He punted the ball across the field, and it landed a few yards ahead of me.

Perfect, Jack!

As soon as the ball touched my feet, I went flying down the field. I expertly dodged the defenders, passing it back to the left-forward. I kept running again, looking to my left and waiting for the return. I reached the side of the goal, and he passed it a little too high back toward me. I jumped up, knocking my head against the ball and it flew in the goal.

Jack picked me up and hugged me as cheers surrounded us, and I felt pride deep in my stomach. They were cheering for me. I could only imagine the mortified look on my mother's face as she realized I had just scored a goal in a Annal Targle Event, not behaving like a proper lady or staying out of the spotlight.

The next play, our left-forward scored a goal making us tied up. The audience cheered us on, it was going to be a close game and we were only in the first quarter.

I had the ball, taking off toward the side of the field. The mid-field slammed into me, pushing me over and taking the ball away. Boos erupted as I dusted myself off, and the opposer somehow wasn't called for a card.

Jack angrily pounced on the opportunity to gain the ball back, gaining sweet revenge for me. I began sprinting as he received the ball, knowing what his next action would be. The ball landed in front of me, and I scored yet another goal.

The crowd went wild as the first quarter ended right on time. Jack came up behind me to give a bear hug, and I laughed rejoicing in our victory so far.

Yet the cheers started sounding like screaming...

I broke away, looking up at the audience to find people dropping to the floor. Crowds starting dispersing as more screams sounded out, and frantic movement followed.

"What's going on?" I asked in fright, looking toward Jack. He looked the same as me, terrified of what could be happening.

"Run!"

"No, please!"

My eyes were frantic as I held onto Jack, I felt vulnerable on the field. It wasn't until I noticed there was a red trail down the wall of the stadium behind me, that blood was being spilled.

"Descuvi!"

"They're here!"

Tears struck my eyes as I followed the blood trail up the wall. A body was pressed against the railing whom's throat had be sliced, and tears flew down my face.

"Jack, my mother! What about Henry and Hazalen!" I screamed in terror, realizing that people were being killed.

That was when men wearing black came from all different angles onto the field, straight toward the players. Jack and I were cornered by six men, many more than necessary.

"We've finally got her, boys." A familiar face broke from the group, emerging behind the thugs.

Is that...

"Cole?" I managed to squeak out, tears pouring down my face. I could smell the familiar scent of mesgra radiating off of him, and he met my eyes with a calculated glance.

"I won't let you have her." Jack stood in front of me, blocking my view of the disturbing man in front of me. It still didn't block our the terrifying screams and cries from above, causing my body to quiver.

"Deal with him," Cole spoke as if Jack was a fly, waving him off to his thugs. Jack put up a great fight, taking down two of the men until all four of them pounced.

Cole approached me, taking in the view of me. My tear-stained face, frizzy hair, quivering body. Cole's soft smirk widened as he stopped in front of me. He relished in making others feel pain.

He wiped off a tear from my face,"I can't believe you were hiding under our noses all this time, Annalise. You've been quite the naughty girl."

I swatted his hand away from me, anger filling my mind,"Don't touch me." I darkly stated, holding my ground. Whatever he wanted, I couldn't afford to give it to him.

He arched an eyebrow, liking the sudden change,"You are definitely the one."

He then slapped a cloth over my mouth, turning me around and pulling my back against his chest. I tried wriggling out of his arms and not breathing in, but it was no use.

My world became fuzzy as I was thrown over Cole's shoulder, the drugs taking over my brain. I tried looking up at the box one more time.

The last thing I saw Damien was standing there, pounding on the glass and shouting to me. His movements were driven by pure anger and desperation, watching me be taken away. I held my hand out, trying to reach for him.

"Annalise... be safe."

I tried.

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