CHAPTER 89: THE DARES HAVE IT

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Chapter 89

~Spring’s POV~

Tyrion’s gaze was soft. "That’s the point of the question."

I looked down, pressing my hands into the blanket. "Then I refuse. Sorry. I’m not picking."

"Oh, is that it, or is it just that we are too charming to let any one of us die?" Jace teased.

"No. You all are my mates. I wouldn’t want anything happening to you lots."

"Then what about Lucien?" Storm asked out of the blue.

"He can di..." I paused before I said any more than I ought to.

"Brutal," Kael sassed. "I knew you had it in you, but why though? Because of the letter scene?"

I lowered my gaze... "No, it’s more than that. Anyways, I don’t want to answer."

Kael backed off, nodding. "Alright. She folds. You’ll have your punishment coming to you."

"Let me spin," Jace said and grabbed the bottle again. This time, it landed on Tyrion.

Jace’s grin was wicked. "Truth or dare?"

Tyrion looked unfazed. "Dare."

Jace’s grin widened with a dangerous gleam. "Kiss the person to your right."

That person... was me.

I felt every set of eyes shift in my direction.

Tyrion tilted his head slightly, eyes soft but unreadable. "Are you okay with that?"

I hesitated—not because I didn’t want to. But because... did I?

Did I want it here, now, in front of everyone?

"I don’t mind," I said, finally, my voice quieter than I meant it to be.

Tyrion leaned forward, his hand brushing the curve of my jaw, feather-light. But instead of going for my lips, he pressed a slow kiss just beneath my cheekbone—barely a breath away from my mouth.

A non-kiss. But still... my heart stuttered anyway.

When he pulled back, there was something in his eyes I didn’t know how to name.

Tyrion didn’t speak; he simply smiled and relaxed.

But Kael muttered under his breath, "Coward."

"Gentleman," Tyrion replied smoothly.

Storm didn’t comment, though the way his jaw ticked said everything.

Jace, on the other hand, just gave me a wink. "This is better than cable."

Kael raised a brow. "Can we just get to the obvious dare now?"

"Which one?" I asked warily.

The air shifted slightly. And it was my turn again. Jace turned to me with too much excitement. "Spring. Truth or dare?"

I hesitated. "...Dare."

Kael grinned widely. "Kiss. All. Of. Us."

"What?"

"Don’t ruin it. I am the one asking," Jace scolded, then turned to me, grinning too widely. "Alright. You have three options: Kiss all four of us... Give Kael a lap dance... or go topless."

The silence that followed was deafening.

"What?" I squeaked.

Jace burst out laughing. Kael looked like someone had handed him gold. Storm, however, tensed visibly.

"I... I mean," I said, eyes darting around, "going topless isn’t that bad, right? I’m wearing a gown. I’ll just... unzip a little and maybe go half—"

"No," Storm’s voice cut through me like a blade, and everyone went quiet.

"You don’t get to tell her—" Kael began, but Storm stepped forward.

"You all want to test limits? Fine." Storm looked Kael dead in the eyes. "I’ll give you the lap dance in her place."

My eyes flew wide open.... Storm was going to do what now?

The silence was shattered as Jace wheezed with laughter, Kael standing immediately and backing up. "Nope. Nope. I’m good. Spring is officially off the hook."

Tyrion coughed, eyes twinkling. "Nope. She was given three options. How come we never got our kisses if the others were out of it?"

"Exactly, Spring had three clear and easy options," Kael added. "She picked the least intimate. That’s telling."

"Does that mean," Tyrion started slowly, "you don’t want to get intimate with Kael or me?"

"Don’t," Storm warned.

"Don’t what?" Tyrion asked, feigning innocence. "You and Jace don’t qualify."

"Excuse me?" Storm snapped.

Tyrion turned to him. "You kissed her, and so did Jace. She’s all our mates, don’t forget."

Kael blinked. "Wait... what?"

Storm’s eyes whipped to me, and Jace—bless his bold soul—just smirked.

"You kissed her?" Kael asked again, keeping his voice low.

"Relax," Jace said, shrugging. "She’s my mate. I don’t need your permission, remember? Not like Storm asked for our permission."

"And how do you know?" Kael asked Tyrion, but Tyrion answered without hesitation.

"I saw it. And I smelled her on him that day, too, after the games."

The air grew heavy. Suddenly, I stood, my heart pounding in my chest. I didn’t want it to spiral out of control, nor did I want this moment ruined.

So I walked over to Tyrion.

His brows furrowed as I knelt down before him. "Spring—"

Without saying much, I kissed him.

Tyrion stiffened for a second—only for a second—and then one of his hands cupped the back of my head, the other wrapping around my waist, pulling me closer.

His kiss was patient and deep, warm like his voice, and strong like his presence. When he pulled back, his eyes searched mine, hoping for an explanation as he swallowed.

"It’s not because I don’t like you guys," I said breathlessly. "Or don’t cherish you. But I wanted it to be special."

Tyrion smiled, brushing a thumb against my cheek. "Then allow me to make it special, my queen."

Something fluttered in my chest. The way he said it—like I was something treasured—melted every wall I didn’t know I had.

The others had gone quiet. I didn’t need to look to feel their eyes, but I didn’t care.

Tyrion’s hand slid to the side of my neck, warm and grounding. He leaned in slowly, gently, and then his lips touched mine.

I answered and leaned into him, gripping the front of his shirt to steady myself. His mouth moved over mine carefully, like he was memorising the shape of me, not rushing, not demanding, but being there with me.

When his tongue brushed against my lower lip, I didn’t hesitate.

It wasn’t desperate—it was tender. The kind of kiss you felt deep in your chest, in the spaces no one else could reach. Like the world had narrowed to just this moment.

His arm slid around my waist, and I leaned further into him like I belonged there.

When he finally pulled back, just enough to rest his forehead against mine, I could barely breathe.

"See?" he whispered across my lips. "Told you I’d make it special."

I nodded, still finding my voice. And when it came, "It was," was all I could say.