The forest was dense and dark. The only light came from the beams of the camera crews following the contestants.

Aedan was fuming. He snatched the map out of Cecil's hand as soon as they were out of the camp.

"Stay behind me," he growled, his voice low and dangerous. "And don't say a word."

He held the map up to the flashlight, squinting at the contour lines. He pointed to a trail that led up a steep ridge. "This way. I've seen this show before. They always put the beacon on the high ground."

Cecil didn't move. She stood with her arms crossed, her expression unreadable. "You are wrong," she said simply. "And I do not like your tone."

Aedan whirled on her, his patience snapping. "Wrong? I'm the one who can read a map! You're the one who thinks she can just boss people around! What do you want from me?! Why are you doing this?!"

He turned his back on her and started marching up the ridge, his boots crunching loudly on the dry leaves.

Cecil watched him go. She didn't chase him. She didn't yell.

She simply snapped her fingers.

The sound was sharp, cutting through the quiet of the forest.

Aedan felt a sudden, violent impact on the back of his knee. It wasn't a physical blow; it was a concentrated burst of energy.

His leg buckled. He let out a yelp of surprise as his balance deserted him. He pitched forward, his arms windmilling.

But he didn't hit the ground. Another force, invisible and firm, caught him mid-fall. It pushed down on his shoulders and lifted his other knee, forcing him into a position he didn't choose.

He landed on one knee, his back straight, his head bowed. It was a perfect, ceremonial kneel. Right there in the middle of the dirt path.

The camera operator zoomed in, the red light blinking. The live feed was broadcasting to millions.

The chat went wild.

Did she just Jedi mind-trick him?

He dropped like a sack of potatoes!

This is the best television I have ever seen.

Aedan tried to stand. He pushed against the ground, but it was like an anvil was sitting on his shoulders. He was pinned to the spot.

Cecil walked slowly around him, her footsteps barely making a sound. She stopped in front of him, looking down at his bent head.

She reached out and plucked the map from his limp hand. She unfolded it, glancing at the strange symbols and lines. She didn't understand the modern cartography, but she didn't need to.

She closed her eyes. She could feel it. A faint hum of technology in the distance. The beacon.

She opened her eyes and pointed down the hill, in the exact opposite direction Aedan had been walking. "This way."

The pressure vanished.

Aedan scrambled to his feet, his face flushed with anger and embarrassment. He brushed the dirt off his pants, his hands shaking. He wanted to scream at her. He wanted to shove her.

But he didn't. He just stood there, staring at her with a mix of fury and fear.

Cecil turned and started walking down the slope. She moved with an easy grace, ducking under branches, stepping over roots without looking down.

Aedan followed. He had no choice. He was seething, his pride in tatters, but he followed.

The camera operator followed behind them, struggling to keep from laughing out loud.

The path became overgrown. Thick, thorny bushes blocked the way. Cecil raised a hand, and the branches seemed to lean away from her, creating a clear path.

Aedan, trying to keep up, wasn't so lucky. A thorn scraped across his cheek, drawing a thin line of blood. He hissed in pain, jumping back.

Cecil glanced over her shoulder. A tiny smirk played on her lips. "Clumsy," she murmured.

Before Aedan could retort, voices drifted through the trees. Angry voices.

Grove Greene's smooth baritone cut through the silence. "I said, we go this way."

Cecil stopped, her eyes narrowing. The oily feeling was back, stronger than before.

Cecil and Aedan pushed through a thicket of ferns and stepped into a small clearing.

Grove Greene and Katia Ramsey were standing a few feet away, arguing. Leo Vance was standing off to the side, looking uncomfortable.

Grove looked up as they emerged. His eyes immediately went to the scratch on Aedan's cheek. A slow, mocking smile spread across his face.

"Well, well," Grove said, his voice loud enough for the cameras to pick up. "Looks like the little rich boy can't even walk through the woods without getting hurt. Need your girlfriend to kiss it better?"

Aedan's hands balled into fists. The humiliation of the past few hours boiled over. He took a step forward, his teeth bared. "Say that again, you washed-up hack."

Cecil moved. She didn't get in front of him; she simply placed a hand on his chest. It was a light touch, but it was like hitting a brick wall. Aedan stopped dead in his tracks.

She looked at Grove, her gaze sharp and unyielding. "I would rather trust my instincts than follow a lost gentleman who relies on his ego."

Grove's smile faltered for a second. He hadn't expected her to bite back. He recovered quickly, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Feisty."

Katia stepped forward, her face a mask of sweet concern. "Guys, let's not fight. We're all stuck out here together. Why don't we just work as a team?"

Aedan shot her a look of pure disgust. The woman who had ruined his life was offering a truce. It made him sick.

Leo nodded eagerly. "That's a great idea, Katia. Safety in numbers, right?"

Cecil studied them. She wasn't looking at their faces; she was looking at their hands. At Grove's hand.

He was wearing a large, silver ring. As he spoke, his thumb was rubbing the band, a nervous, repetitive motion.

Every time his skin touched the metal, Cecil felt it. A tiny, almost imperceptible pulse of dark energy. It was a leech's heartbeat. It was the same feeling she had sensed when she touched Aedan's chest. The stolen light.

The alarm bells in her head turned into a siren. This man wasn't just an actor. He was a thief. And he was carrying the weapon.

Cecil made her decision in a split second. She needed to get closer to that ring.

"Fine," she said, her voice flat. "We cooperate. But I lead."

Grove raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. He looked her up and down, a hungry gleam in his eyes. "A woman in charge. I like it. Lead on, my lady."

Aedan leaned in close to Cecil, his voice a harsh whisper. "Are you crazy? That's Katia! She set me up! She'll stab us in the back the first chance she gets!"

Cecil didn't break her stride. "I know," she said softly. "But to catch the wolf, one must sometimes walk with the sheep."

Aedan stared at her, stunned. She had called him part of the hunt. Not a disgrace, not a dog. A hunter. It was the first time anyone had ever seen him as anything other than a screw-up.

Katia fell into step beside Cecil, trying to charm her. "I love your coat. Is it vintage? And your skin! What's your skincare routine?"

Cecil didn't look at her. "Sleep. And minding my own business."

Katia's smile tightened, a flash of irritation in her eyes. She huffed and dropped back to walk with Leo.

The group walked in tense silence for another ten minutes. The trees grew thicker, the shadows longer.

Cecil stopped. She pointed to a massive, ancient oak tree, its trunk wider than a car. "There," she said.

Everyone looked. Nestled in a hollow at the base of the tree, glowing with a soft blue light, was the beacon.

Grove stared at the beacon, then at Cecil. He hadn't even taken out his map. "How did you know?" he asked, his voice smooth but his eyes calculating.

Cecil ignored the question. She was watching Grove's hand. The thumb was rubbing the ring again.

Grove looked at Cecil, his smile not reaching his eyes. The greed was there, plain as day. He wasn't just interested in the game anymore. He was interested in her.