Page 29 of Failed State

For someone who’s been in a cage more than half the time over the past few years… that’s swank as fuck.

Rory is the first one to speak as we look around the ridiculously nice suite. “Am I the only one getting a hardcore ‘for those who are about to die’ feeling about all this… sudden kindness?”

“Duh,” Sydney says as she strides over to yank open all the doors on the outer edge of the living area. When she’s exposed all six bedrooms and a bathroom, she huffs and stomps back to us. “They’re buttering us up for the kill.”

The demon pats her shoulder, then stands in the middle of the room, lifting his hands in the air. “First, I’m gonna make sure they’re not lyin’ about the camera thing, folks. We shouldn’t have conversations until we know for sure.”

“True.” The others look at me and I shrug. “If he can figure it out, it will save a lot of bullshit scurrying around later.”

“His power isfear. What the hell is he going to do?” The vampire rolls his eyes and leans against the door frame of the first room. “Scare the cameras out of hiding?”

Huck whips his head around, his dark eyes glowing red as black tendrils of magic emanate from his body. He tilts his head, then whisper-hisses, “Seek.”

Okay, it’s a little intimidating and I can definitely feel the amount of power he’s exuding; it’s not trivial.

“Huck is more than a simple fear demon,” Thaddeus says as he shrugs. “He apprenticed under a Prince of Hell before he came up here.”

“Why don’t I know that?” Sydney looks angry as she pokes the bear—literally—and he looks sheepish.

“I wasn’t supposed to talk about it, but since we’re all going to have to share and sing Kumbaya to work together…”

The demon tenses for a moment, his magic pausing as Sydney frowns at him.

Grumbling under my breath, I shake my head. The jailors in my sectors have always cautioned us that we cannot trust the other supes—if we do, they will sell us out in an instant. Seems it’s possible they were right in spirit, if not in their assessment of intent. I doubt the grizzly told us for a nefarious purpose, but his loose lips could get his demon friend in a lot of trouble if the wrong person finds out. Demons with that much power and influence are usually locked up as I have been.

“Stop talking until he’s done,” I order them with a loud growl. “There are things not meant for the possible watchers, shifter.”

The girl nods, wandering over to the demon as his magical tendrils waft through the air, extending into other rooms. “Make us safe, Huck. We’ll talk later, okay?”

They’ve distracted me, and I have to get my shit back together. It’s good to know the demon has more magic than I assumed, but what about the rest of them?

Sebastian is certainly full of himself enough to be hiding bonus talents—vampires are a dime a dozen and their powers aren’t particularly versatile. The bear can’t hide shit with his earnest look and eager devotion, so we’ll have to work on it. My eyes move to the unusually quiet mage as he comes out of the bedroom he must be claiming. He’s not babbling or flirting; something he’s been doing since he walked into the room with our new team members.

“What’s with you?” I ask as I tilt my head. “Run out of material so soon?”

The blond saunters across the floor, sidestepping the demon without blinking an eye. “Worried about me, Salty Seaballs? I’m touched.”

“No, but I trust no one until they give me a reason, and you disappear.”

His grin widens as he approaches me. “I’m an open book, baby. Ask me anything and I’ll answer you true.”

No one says that when they’re being honest; he protests too much.

“Did you miss where he yelled at everyone for talking about shit until Huck’s done? Hello!” Sydney rolls her eyes, moving away from the demon to flop on the big ass couch. Her eyes pop wide open as she sinks into it, and her entire body goes stiff.

“Syd, are you?—”

She waves the bear off, the shocked expression still on her face as she relaxes one limb at a time. “I’m fine… I… “ The rest of us wait for her to continue, waiting anxiously as she gathers her thoughts. Her face turns bright red and I swear, she gets even angrier when she figures it out. “It’s nothing. Leave me alone.”

Thaddeus looks confused, the demon snorts, and I watch her carefully. But the mage is the one who walks over, lowering himself to the cushion next to her carefully. Rory doesn’t touch her, he just gives her a sad smile that I don’t quite understand. They look at one another for a moment before he finally speaks.

“It’s the most comfortable thing you’ve sat on in years, right?”

“Shut up,” she mutters as she tosses her braid over her shoulder. “This sector isn’t ritzy like the ones you and the overgrown mosquito probably come from. Tempest Seven is pretty chintzy.”

Thad snorts. “That’s being kind.”

I arch a brow. “Try living in a cage and not being able to use your wings or fully shift for four years.”

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