Page 18 of Failed State

Even the vampire snorts at Syd’s question, and the tension in the room ratchets back a few notches. Mr. Sexy Storm Dude grins at her, looking delighted as he backs off. “Ah, the plucky heart. Yes, I see why the two of you moon over her so. I think this will be much more fun than expected.”

“You’re a douche,” our girl mutters and she turns on her heel to rejoin us on the couch. “And I’d love to know whose ass you’re sucking to look so fucking fancy and ‘maybe it’s Maybelline’, asshole.”

This time I burst into laughter and Huck joins soon after. His eyes dance as he drapes an arm around Sydney. “Perfect timing as always, sweet pea.”

“Wouldn’t youalllike to know,” Rory says with a shrug. He plops into a big armchair, looking not even a tiny bit ashamed of that admission as he sighs. “But our last teammate is a more interesting topic at the moment, I’d wager. They held someone back for a reason, methinks.”

I frown, looking at my friends then the two clearly powerful supes who are now part of our group. What in the fuck would they hold back if they’ve got a storm mage and a damn pureblood vamp with us? “Are you implying that?—”

“Freeze!” We all turn to look at the guard at the door in shock when he yells. The beefy guy looks at each one of us seriously before he speaks again, “Dante, Elias, number 83745089201983. All supes present cleared for interaction. Bring him in, boys.”

What in the name of Odin’s eyepatch is going on?

The guards cart in a goddamned enormous dude on some sort of trolley. His eyes are bright sea green—as striking as you could possibly imagine and full of rage. His dark black hair is mussed and curly on top, and he’s got a lot more scruff than the mage, but not a beard. Tribal tattoos cover every bit of the exposed skin peeking out of the lockdown loser uniform of black tanks, black cargos, and work boots. He has an eyebrow ring, a nose ring, and more hoops than a sewing circle in his ears. He’s chained to the damn dolly thing from head to toe like they’re terrified of what will happen if he can move a pinky.

“How the fuck is this guy going to help with anything when you’ve got him shackled like a serial killer?”

Bright eyes immediately flick to Sydney as she gives everyone a look as if they’re very, very stupid. I think I see the corner of his mouth quirk a tiny bit, but then his expression turns stoicagain. The guards lower his conveyance to the ground, ignoring her question as they start unlocking the huge glowing locks that hold his chains in place. One by one, the chains go slack around him, and limbs shift slightly.

Huck arches a brow. “So no one’s worried that our new teammate is trussed up like his last meal came with some fava beans and a nice Chianti… except Syd.”

Sebastian snorts from his seat. “Just because humans fear something does not make it fearsome, demon.”

“They are rather chicken shit,” Rory says in amusement. “That’s why we’re all here, isn’t it? Fear of what isn’t like them? Who says our chained comrade is even worth such a dramatic entrance?”

“I do.”

We all turn to look at the freed supe as he shakes out his limbs with a dark glare. He’s even bigger and more intimidating when he’s not bound, but his scent doesn't make my bear concerned. In fact, something about the ocean-y smell is pretty comforting despite his dangerous appearance. Huck gives me a knowing look, and I frown—what does he know that I don’t?

“This issoexciting!” Krista says with a squeal of joy. “As Brutus said, your last teammate is Elias Dante and he’s one of the few known members of the sea dragon clan.”

The dragon growls, looking at our blond human with an angry stare. “There aremanysea dragons you have not forced to diminish themselves with your disgusting technology. Even larger than us are the earth, air, and fire clans—most of which you’ve not managed to locate. It will be your undoing.”

Oh, fuck, we’ve got a captured dragon rebel; this won’t end well.

Sydney tilts her head, looking very curious now, and I groan internally. Neither Huck nor I can get her to look at us twice, and somehow the fucking FHSA people have stuck us with posterguys for supernatural kind who are juiced to oblivion with power and testosterone.

“Huh.”

Every head in the room turns to look at Sydney as she crosses her arms over her chest. The move definitely gets the attention of the dragon and the mage, though I’m not sure if the vampire is lusting after her body or the blood pumping through her veins. It’s a toss-up with those fuckers, and I haven’t known any of them well enough to tell the difference.

“What’s runnin’ through your noggin, sweet pea?” Huck drawls. His tone is light but I can feel his ire from Syd’s other side. The demon would be stoking these assholes’ fears already if Krista wasn’t here with the phalanx of guards. I don’t even have to think about that twice; I just know.

Sydney Jolie is ours, and I know he’d tear the soul out of a priest to protect her.

“Seems like you’ve gathered the dumbest group of people imaginable, especially if your stupid algorithm is supposed to pick winners,” Syd says as she shrugs. “None of us will ever get along, let alone help one another. Anything requiring team effort will be a battle of wills and the result won’t be what you hope it to be. You’re fucked, Kristin,”

I wince, knowing she’s called the enthusiastic human by the wrong name on purpose. Sydney isn’t great at being subtle, nor is she one to gild the lily when she thinks shit is fucked up. No matter how interesting and good looking these dicks are, she believes they’ll sell us out the first chance they get. That’s a problem in more ways than one and we definitely can’t discuss it here.

Krista rises to her feet, jerking her chin up haughtily. “Be that as it may, Miss Jolie, this is the team you’ve been assigned. There’s no half-credit in this competition, so if any of you wantto survive, you’d best start figuring out how to work with one another.”

“Not likely,” the edgy dragon mutters. “The males are soft, even the demon, and the vampire can’t be trusted.”

“Good to know I didn’t fail your sparkling assessment,” Stormbringer snarks as he stands. “I feel warm and fuzzy inside now.”

Sydney rolls her neck, cracking it loudly and I know whatever comes next isn’t going to be pretty. “Fine. If our lives depend on pretending we want anything to do with a traitor, a criminal, and a human sugar baby, we’ll learn to adapt.” Her lips curve and she gives our bubbly manager a withering look. “That’s what supes do and humans can’t fathom—we find ways to survive without subjugating others in pursuit of our own comfort.”

Huck chuckles, slapping his thighs before he stands up as well. “Since we’re done being contrary, perhaps it’s time to move this little party to the next step? I’m fixin’ to burst if someone doesn’t give me a potty break and the toxic bullshit in this room is makin’ my stomach turn.”

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