“It’s just a game. I’m sure it’ll be fun,” Luna said confidently. “Everything will be fine. I promise. And if it’s not, I—I’ll take care of it.” She paused, shocked by what she’d said. Alex was too, judging by how high his eyebrows jumped. But it was true—she could feel the roiling, ferocious truth of it in her stomach. She was so, so lucky to have him there, her perfect counterbalance. The least she could do was to make sure he felt safe enough to at least try playing the game. She would take care of everything else. Of him.

“Think about it,” she continued. “We’re the only two people here who actually know each other, and there will be two winners. That automatically makes us partners. And partners mean we watch each other’s backs. No matter what happens, we’ll protect each other and make it to the end together.”

“You’d protect me?” Alex sounded skeptical, but the good kind, like it made him happy, which instantly made her happy and wow, why was her face suddenly so hot?

“Of course I would.” Right then and there, Luna made a promise to herself to never leave Alex behind, never betray him, and never do anything to put him in danger. “I will.”

“Time’s up,” Jewel said. “Everyone in, yes?”

To Luna’s surprise, no one objected.

“Perfect.” Jewel grinned as Ethan handed her plastic bags. “Moving on to Addendum One: Turn in all watches, phones, music players, and any other electronic devices in your possession, excluding your Cruelest Jewel–approved tablets.”

Alex sighed deeply, but Luna had suspected this was coming. The reason why she didn’t have an impromptu photo shoot in the courtyard the millisecond her feet hit the gravel? Because she had signed away her right to take pictures outside the house, among other requirements Tasha had worried about before she agreed to let Luna attend Golden Weekend X. Luna figured they just wouldn’t be allowed to have phones, period, to ensure nothing leaked.

“No,” Stella said. “That’s not happening. That wasn’t mentioned as part of the deal anywhere.”

“I’m mentioning it now. So,” Jewel said.

“I’m not giving up my phone,” Stella said. “If my parents don’t hear from me, they will show up with the National Guard yesterday. Risk their wrath if you want to, but leave me out of it.”

“That sounds like a very personal problem.”