CHAPTER 88: TRUTH OR DARE

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Chapter 88

~Spring’s POV~

The lake breeze was light, teasing the hem of my dress and the tips of my hair. I should’ve known better than to think the peace would last.

"It’s only fair, Spring. We need to... bond," Kael stated as his eyes gleamed. I could already see the mischief in them.

"With her?" Tyrion raised a brow. "Or with each other?"

Kael shrugged. "Both."

I groaned. "No one’s getting naked, I swear to all things sacred—"

"I make no promises," Jace added with a grin.

"I swear, Jace..."

It started lightly. Tyrion was dared to sing a lullaby in his deadliest voice, somehow making it sound like a war song.

Kael’s turn, he told us an embarrassing secret about getting stuck in an elevator for two hours.

Storm, surprisingly, chose truth and answered about his favourite scent. His answer? "Lilac and rain."

When they looked at me, I blinked. "What? Why are you all looking at me like that?"

"You haven’t had your turn," Jace said with that signature smirk.

"Truth or Dare, Spring?" Kael asked.

"Truth," I said, instantly.

Tyrion leaned forward. "Have you ever fantasized about one of us?"

I gasped. "You’re joking."

"Dead serious," Kael added, looking way too amused.

I opened my mouth to lie but saw Storm’s expression—tranquil, unreadable—and something inside me tugged.

"...Yes."

Kael’s eyes glinted. "Who? And what was the fantasy?"

"I am not saying that," I half-laughed, half-hissed, trying to bury my face in my hands. "Nope. Pass."

"You can’t pass," Tyrion said smoothly. "You chose truth. That’s the rule."

"But you asked, and I answered. You never said I must tell."

"Well, you were not supposed to leave us hanging..." Jace chipped in.

"Then I lie," I said quickly, lifting my chin.

Jace snorted. "Which would defeat the point of a truth game."

Storm, still quiet beside me, tilted his head. "You don’t have to answer it like they want. Just say the name."

His voice was calm, but there was something in the way he said it, like he already knew or wanted to know as well and wanted it said aloud.

If it was him, hit would boost his ego, I bet and if not, he’d get even more jealous.

I exhaled slowly and looked away. "Fine. I... I had a dream. It was vague. I don’t even know if it counts as a fantasy, but... it was Jace."

Silence. Then Kael burst out laughing, and Jace raised both arms like he’d just won a tournament. "Finally! Victory for House Jace."

"You’re ridiculous," I muttered.

Jace leaned close with a grin. "But flattered. Deeply flattered."

From the corner of my eye, I could see Storm smile subtly, but his hand was clenched. It must have hurt him.

I tried to avoid eye contact and readied myself for another game.

"Let’s switch it up," Kael suggested, reaching into a picnic basket and pulling out an empty wine bottle. "Classic spin. The bottle chooses. The person who lands on it gets asked a question. You can pick truth or dare."

"Gods help us all," I murmured as Kael placed the bottle in the center of our little blanket circle.

"Let the chaos commence," Jace announced.

Kael gave it a spin. The bottle whirled, clicking against the glass base... and stopped on Tyrion.

Kael smirked. "Truth or dare?"

"Truth," Tyrion said smoothly.

"What’s your biggest weakness?" Kael asked.

Tyrion gave a half-smile. "Strong, stubborn women with sharp tongues and eyes like moonlight."

Everyone turned to look at me. I raised a brow. "Wow. That’s specific."

"Is it?" Tyrion asked innocently.

I rolled my eyes. "You’re all insufferable."

Tyrion chuckled, but he never said anything more than that. However, I did not know if the words or the way he said them... which made my heart flutter.

Jace spun next. It landed on Kael.

"Dare," Kael said before Jace even asked.

Jace looked around until his eyes lit up like a birthday candle, ready to start trouble.

"I dare you to write a haiku about Storm’s hair."

Storm’s jaw tensed. "Absolutely not."

"Yes," Jace insisted gleefully. "We all suffer under its glory. Let the poetry begin."

Kael sat up straighter, hands steepled like he was invoking some ancient writing ritual. Then, with a dramatic toss of his imaginary quill, he cleared his throat and spoke in the most solemn voice I’d ever heard him use:

"Sunlight’s jealous glare."

"Golden threads down godlike back."

"Shampoo of the gods."

There was a beat of silence before I burst out laughing.

Jace wheezed. "’Shampoo of the gods!’ Kael, I swear, you are something else."

Even Tyrion cracked a rare grin, and I caught Storm’s face twitch—just a little. Amusement or agony? Couldn’t be sure.

Kael smirked, deeply pleased with himself. "What can I say? The hair deserves tribute. Honestly, we should build a shrine."

Storm let out a long breath through his nose. "You’re all unwell."

I leaned in slightly. "But we’re your

unwell."

He gave me a side-eye. "Temporarily."

Jace nudged me. "Admit it. You thought about running your fingers through it at least once."

I didn’t answer, but I didn’t deny it either.

Kael held up his hand solemnly. "I speak for all of us when I say—Storm’s hair has main character energy."

Storm growled softly under his breath, but there was no heat behind it. "Never do that again," Storm said flatly.

I clapped despite myself, biting my lip to stop laughing.

"My turn!" I said quickly, grabbing the bottle and spinning it. It spun for a long moment and landed on Storm.

"Truth or dare?" I asked carefully.

Storm met my gaze. "Dare."

Of course. "I dare you to... compliment each of the others on something you genuinely admire."

The guys snickered, already itchy to hear him speak well about them, and Storm sighed in defeat.

"Kael," he started, "you’re a strategic thinker. Brutal when needed, but clever, highly. You aren’t a genius for nothing. I admire that."

Kael blinked. "I—uh, thanks."

Storm gave a nod and moved on to the next person. "Jace. You see more than you let on. You’re not just charming, you’re smart. And I pity girls who fall for you, Naughty Devil. You are chaos personified and just the man I need in my corner when all hell breaks loose."

Jace gave a small grin. "Stop. You’ll make me blush."

Everyone rolled their eyes or shook their head. "Tyrion... The calm prince, you’re composed, quiet, and calculated. Always in control. If I want peace, I know just the guy to be around me."

Tyrion gave a slow, respectful nod. "Thank you."

Storm looked back at me. "That was not so hard."

"You did good," I said softly.

Kael was already spinning again, and this time the bottle landed... on me.

"Truth or dare?" he asked.

I hesitated. "Truth."

Tyrion grinned. "No more mild questions."

Kael leaned in. "If all four of us were about to die and you could only save one... Who would it be?"

My mouth dropped open. "What?!"

Jace whistled. "Brutal."

Storm’s gaze darkened slightly, like he wasn’t sure he wanted to know.

"I-I can’t answer that," I said quickly.

"You have to," Kael pressed.

I shook my head. "I can’t choose. That’s a no-no. That’s cruel."