Page 38 of Failed State

Damn it, why do I care if they’re pleased? Fuck, this shit is weird.

“Team Whizzbangs, head for the room labeled Alpha-One,” Gary-I-Think says. He points at the door at the very end of the hallway and I groan.

“I really hope these rooms aren’t assigned by?—”

“Krista, your team will go to Alpha-Two.” I bang my closed fists on my forehead lightly as the idiot confirms my suspicion.

The teams are being assigned rooms by power or strength level—we have a Prince.

“Just fucking fabulous,” Huck agrees as he steps forward to lead the way. Krista is waving like a tool up by our door, and a feeling of dread fills me as excitement flickers in the air as we get closer to her.

The blond woman bounces her toes, looking at us with crazy-eyes. “I cannotwaitto figure out what your team will be called. Being in Alpha-Two issuchan honor, and I amsoexcited for us to circle up!”

Elias and I groan at the same time, making Rory snicker. I look at the dragon, my expression relaying how much we’re going to hate this shit. He mouths ‘better than jail’, and I have to hold back a laugh. I’m not sure he’s right, but that’s coming from a place of privilege, I know.

Though, I’ll be the first to admit I’d rather be poked with a cattle prod than do some sort of marketing workshop—that’s one hundred percent fact.

“What about the ‘Alpha All-stars’? That sounds very snazzy.”

Putting my fingers on my temples, I close my eyes and rub gently. So far, Krista has branded our colors in a red and blue that feels like a mockery of the flag this dumbass country used to fly and almost got herself throttled about forty times. I’m not the only one irritated with her and this entire exercise, but I’m definitely in the top two of people who are ready to end this in blood.

“Unfortunately, I would have to murder myself if I wore something that idiotic on my person,” Sebastian says drily. “Try again.”

This time, I agree with him—not that I’m going to let him know.

“I mean, if you’re going to be that obvious, we should go with “Big Dick Swingers’, right?” My head turns slowly to look at the cheeky mage and I feel my eye begin to twitch.

Elias snorts, pacing past me again as he grumbles, “You’d have to let the girl tell everyone hers is the biggest, I suspect.”

“You’re damn right about that,” I shoot back, almost smiling for the first time in an hour. “But also,fuck no.”

Thad and Huck are leaning back in their chairs, watching the pingpong match happening between the new guys, Krista, and me with smug grins. I’m sure they’ll intervene if need be, but they’re smart enough to keep their yaps shut otherwise. I think my temper tantrum in the hallway worried them, so they’re not adding to the ribbing the others are doing.

“What about Twilight Marauders?” Krista pipes up as she looks at her tablet. “That sounds dangerousandsexy.”

Sebastian flashes his fangs at her, his eyes red and angry. “Absolutely not. Twilight? Are you mental?”

Covering my mouth as images of the dickish vamp covered in sparkling booty dust fill my mind, I spin around so he can’t see me. I hate the name, too, but I’m tempted to support it just to piss him off. The urge passes when I imagine having to wear that moniker on global television feeds. I should probablynotget behind something so stupid to spite someone unless I’m ready to look extremely dumb in public.

Damn. Humans always ruin my fun.

“We have to decide this now so they can continue producing all of the things you’ll need for branding, both in physical and digital form. Having something catchy that people will want toget behind is very important. You have to be appealing from the minute they see you; it’s imperative.”

Something in her voice makes me turn back to study the usually chipper human. Her brows are furrowed and I can see the tension in her frame. I don’t know what she’s been told, but she’s definitely concerned about our success. I’m too jaded to believe that it’s about my team; it’s likely about what will happen to her if she’s one of the failures.

I can’t be responsible for anyone other than the five people I’m already tied to by this competition.

“Look, Krista. We’re not cutesy people. Dante is a furloughed Lockdowner, we have a traitor and a flirty magic user, a bear, and a demon who thinks he’s a cowboy. Topping it off, I’m a powerless supe. We’re more the rag-tag underdog types than the ‘A Team’ with pretty faces.”

The human looks at me in shock. “You don’t see it, do you?”

I arch a brow. “See what?”

“Dear Lord in heaven, how the fuck is she so blind?” I almost respond to her but the bouncy coordinator climbs on a chair and gives me an annoyed look. “The cowboy demon is hot as hell, and has an adorable Southern boy charm. The Lockdown dragon is dark, dangerous, and looks like someone every girlwishesshe could take a spin on. Your big cuddly bear is muscled and burly, like the blue collar boys you’d want to meet in a small town movie. The flirty, statuesque magic user and flawlessly dark vampire are also enough to make people drool. Then you have this Lara Croft meets smart girl thing going on… you guys are agoldmineif you’d quit being dim-witted about it.”

Huck slouches more, his lips curving up as he pushes the brim of his hat up. “Why, thank you, little lady. I’m aflutter with your praise.”

“Shut up, Huck,” Thad and I say at the same time. His face turns red when I wink at him, and suddenly, I see the whole ‘cuddly big guy’ thing Krista was talking about.

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