Page 37 of Failed State

As we join her, the mage in question strolls up with a smirk. “I have news. Most of these idiots are going to use names that are both dumb and contrived. We won’t have much competition in this group of teams.”

I blink. “You were off doing something… useful?”

“One of us has to talk to people that aren't only our team, bear. Since Vicious isn’t socially inclined enough to flirt with the guys, and you two only watch her… it’s down to the rest of us. Bas over there is still finding his nuts and the dragon hates people. Again, it’s all me, man.”

Elias arches a brow. “I hatemostpeople.”

“Oh, that’s helpful,” Sydney mutters. “How would one know which people you might want to interact with, then?”

“I don’t let them get themselves killed for strangling a vampire in public?”

Her jaw drops and she just blinks at the big supe as Huck and the mage both laugh.

Well, that’s fucking fantastic.

1 Calm, hidden spark. You must be calm.

2 He deserves to die for his part in our misery. He insults me and our people with his presence.

3 hidden spark

REALITY CONTINUES TO RUIN MY LIFE

SYDNEY

I haveno idea what the fuck to do withthatadmission so I huff and turn my attention back to the morons in charge of us. How in the hell would Elias know he likes me from what little interaction we’ve had sinceyesterday? The whole concept is totally foreign to me—I don’t like anyone until I’m as sure as I possibly can be that they aren’t going to try to kill me. And in the time I’ve known Thad, I’ve barely admitted I consider him a friend out loud, much less just spouted it off in public to everyone.

Men are relentlessly bizarre and I do not have the energy for this shit.

“I think she’s ignoring you,” Bas says, his voice filled with sarcastic amusement. “Looks like some of that struck a nerve, demon.”

Whirling around, I hiss, “Do you have a death wish,vampire?”

He shrugs, looking unconcerned by my venom. “Most days. But that’s none ofyourbusiness, mystery half-breed.”

Thad steps between us, glaring at Sebastian before he looks into my eyes. “Syd, he’s hoping to provoke you further. I don’tknow what nerve you hit, or why everyone is trying to dance on yours, but thishasto wait for privacy.”

“Fine,” I say as I move aside so I’m not facing him anymore. “Then leave me alone to recoup my control—all of you.”

I grit my jaw as I pretend to listen to the rest of what’s-his-face’s bullshit speech, breathing in and out mindfully. Who knows if Huck is right, but the last thing I need right now is to get totally riled up when Imighthave magic or powers I have no idea how to control? It’s dumb as fuck for any of them to bait me—no one’s told us if losing a person from your team disqualifies you, much less if there are conduct rules outside of the assigned areas. We could all end up as lockdown losers, or worse—dead.

When Gary—or whatever the hell his name is—finally shuts the fuck up, I sigh in relief. The propaganda they’re spewing at us is insane, and pretending to pay attention to the canned speeches about our ‘glorious’ leader are as fake as his idiotic spray tan. No one in the sectors is going to suddenly kiss that dictator’s feet for locking us up and calling us terrorists and animals. But we don’t have an option here, so I’m sure that’s why the organizers of this nightmare are trying their damnedest to indoctrinate anyone they can.

Very few supes are that stupid and if they are, they’re already acting in their own self-interest by suckling at the teat of the humans.

“Finally,” I mutter as the crowd starts moving and we’re ushered into yet another hallway I’ve never seen before. Regardless of my irritation at their bullshit, I stick close to Thad, Huck and the other clowns because the devil you know is always better than the one who might be hiding a shiv. Thad arches a brow at me and I shrug—I don’t know if I’m better yet, but I can stomach looking at them, so there’s that.

Huck moves closer, looking at me with an apologetic expression. “Sorry, sweet pea. Sometimes I forget you’re somuch younger’n me; I’ve been on this plane for so long it makes me accept things that newer supes haven’t come to grips with yet.”

I wrinkle my nose. I’d like to tell him to get fucked for mentioning my age like it’s a mental disability, but I realize he’s trying to explain a very prominent difference in how we look at things. Hell, likely a difference that may separate me from Elias and the damn vampire as well. Rory, I’m not sure about. Scraping my teeth over my lower lip as I consider my words carefully, I nod. “Okay. You might be right about perspective, though your damn delivery could use some work, cowboy.”

His smile is almost shy for a second before it morphs into one of his normal smirks. “I’ll do my best, sweet pea. Until this week, you’ve mostly told me to shove it where the sun doesn’t shine, so I’m not quite sure where the solid footing is. But I’ll get it; I’m a smart cookie.”

That makes me laugh softly, and Thad bumps my shoulder with his. “There you go, Syddie girl. It’s okay to say shit you feel out loud occasionally so we have a clue what’s going on in your head.”

“Perish the thought,” Sebastian mumbles and I glare at him before smiling at the bear.

“Communication can be one of my areas of opportunity, but I, too, will try to do better,” I promise. That earns me a snort from the dragon and a double thumbs up from the mage, and for some reason, it makes my stomach flutter with happy butterflies.

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