Page 1 of V for Vengeance

Chapter 1

Cosplaying Hotties

With my group of elite flanking both sides of me, dressed in our best Hunter attire—save Jo and Cash who fashioned their own unique brand of fighting clothes—the understandably confused hotel receptionist stared at us, wide-eyed. The little darling who couldn’t be any older than me, probably working her first big-time job, was stunned silent the second she locked eyes on us.

Her curious stare wandered to my right, where Phillip and Cash stood, giving the poor dear a heart attack because glamour magic didn’t work on his runes and Cash’s eyes were one of a kind and Phillip was…well, Phillip.

Then after drooling a little at the sight of the first two, her wandering gaze went to my other side where Jo and Sloan stood, both too beautiful for words and far from the norm. Honestly, one glance from the two of them sent women and men to their knees in worship.

The panicked woman—Rachel from what her nametag said—smacked her lips in wonderment before she hastily looked at hercomputer screen, failing to hide a blush already reaching her cheeks.

I feel you, Rachel. The scale of hot in this group is a lot for me, too.

“Um, here are your…room keys,” she murmured, sliding three keycards over the counter to me and eyeballing the group with fascination again. “If any of you need…” Her eyes danced from Phillip to Cash to Sloan, the poor thing short-circuiting. “I’m sorry, but are you here to film a movie or music video? Models?”

Oh lord.

I could almost hear Cash’s excitement. I didn’t need to look over at the asshole to know he was already preparing some ridiculous response. He brushed through his hair, bringing all that pretty-boy flair to his self-important pose. Phillip and Sloan both smirked, but Cash, as was his way, flipped his hair back and fluttered his pretty eyelashes at her.

Called it.

“Shhh!” He hushed the unsuspecting woman with a cute finger and wink, pretending he was a little girl telling secrets. “No one can know we’re here, love. You understand, yes?”

Her brown eyes went impossibly wide, a look I’d unfortunately seen more times than I cared to admit. Sort of went hand-in-hand with being the travel companion of a bunch of supernatural hotties.

Huffing contemptuously and wishing I could get to my room for a hot shower after nearly a week of traveling, I rolled my eyes. I was already exasperated, and we’d only just gotten to the location.

“Cosplay convention,” I told her, enjoying the horrified sound leaving Cash’s mouth, knowing it’d be the last thing the Dark Fae wished to be associated with.

As expected, Cash quickly mumbled angrily he wouldneverbe caught dead or alive at some sort ofadult roleplay. His grumpymonologue only made me smile and the hotel receptionist all the more confused.

“The convention center is just a short walk from here, right?” I asked, beyond amused.

Rachel nodded, a little slow to react. “M’hm,” she murmured, catching sight of Sloan and biting her lip. “All of you are cosplayers?”

Sloan took the keys and tossed one to Phillip, the other to Jo, and then waggled his with a swoon-worthy smile. “Oh, aye, love. Haven’t missed a convention yet.”

Sloan’s cockney-slathered voice was an instant K.O. to the poor thing’s heart. Her pulse was so loud it echoed in my ears. Rachel went a deep red as the saucy Hunter’s hand hovered over my lower back. Tossing Rachel a wink, he led me away from the desk. I shook my head, expecting Phillip to lay on the suave charm and a little surprised to find Sloan doing it instead.

“I literally can’t take you guys anywhere,” I complained with a sideways glance at Sloan.

“More importantly,” Cash interrupted, “what are the sleeping arrangements? Please don’t tell me I have to subject myself once again to this devil’s bedtime noises.”

“Sounds naughty when you say it like that,” I taunted.

Cash balked like the fully transformed Karen he was. “Hardly. I’d rather eat glass than do anything remotely sexy with this wanker,” he ranted, thumbing at Phillip. “Now, who am I rooming with?”

“Me,” Phillip said to the group’s surprise. “Sloan and V will take one room, and Jo can stay in the single.”

As we loaded onto the elevator, drawing the eyes of every person within viewing distance, I stared openly at Phillip. “You want me to room with Sloan?”

The tattooed bad boy shrugged his massive shoulders and crossed his arms, stealing a look at the man in question whoseemed just as surprised as I was to hear it. “I don’t trust Cash not to slip away in the dead of night, and Sloan lets this little bitch off with too much as it is.”

Despite what he said, something was in his eyes, in the way his body moved and the tone of his voice, that made me wonder if there was an underlining meaning to his words.

The quiet moment between Phillip and I was quickly interrupted by noises leaving Cash’s mouth, which could only be compared to the insulted gasps of some chick onThe Real Housewives. I was forever entertained by them. “Did you really just call me a little bitch? What a bloody Neanderthal. Oh, sure, let’s all gang up on Cash. I don’t know why I bother. I should’ve left you lot to figure out the Seven by yourselves.”

Jo was smirking, which was never a good sign when it came to Cash. A dagger danced between her fingers, worrying a few of the tag-along humans taking the elevator with us. “Why didn’t you leave, then? I, for one, wouldn’t miss your incessant whining.”

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