Page 74 of Failed State

Wisely, the jokey magic user doesn’t comment except to say, “Naw, Vicious. You got here in time.”

My eyes cut over to the vampire on the far end, then the dragon, and finally, my chosen brother bear. I try to communicate the need for discretion to each, hoping we can hold this shit together in the last class of the day. If I were a bettin’ demon—and I am—I’d say our girl will make a beeline for the doctor’s bay after this. The only way we’ll be able to convinceher to let someone come along is if we behave here and now. Otherwise, she’ll fight us and waste a lot of time that could be better spent re-fueling and knocking out our damn ‘homework’.

“Attention, competitors!”

The voice from the front isn’t our cheery coach. My head whips around to see which one projected that well and I roll my eyes when I see them using what has to be an infused item to accomplish that range. Humans hate all of us with every fiber of their being—enough to imprison or kill every supe they find in this country—but they sure as shit love using our powers for their own gain. It’s infuriating, and I want to throw a ball of terror at the jackass doing it to teach him a lesson. I can’t, though, so I slouch in my chair and pull my hat brim down so I’m unlikely to be called on by this tool.

“Thank you for attending our first Intrigue & Socialization seminar.”

“As if we had a choice,” Syd mutters in the lowest tone I’ve ever heard from her. Her shoulders hunch as she keeps her eyes on the tablet, waiting for the dummy to say something she can add to her notes.

My lips curve up at her indefatigable spunk. It’s my favorite part of this woman and has been since we first met. No matter how angry or upset or happy she is, Sydney Jolie always has that sharp edge. She doesn’t tone it down for anyone or anything, though I’ve seen the softer side peek out occasionally. Her sarcasm makes her funny, but it also makes her real, and I adore it whether it offends others or not.

Leaning in slightly, I murmur, “Easy there, filly. Don’t want to start a brawl we can’t finish.”

She frowns at her screen, but nods quickly. I know she’s embarrassed about her period starting unexpectedly in the locker room, but getting control of her more volatile emotions is important for this stupid training. I tilt my head, consideringher behavior since we were chosen, and it occurs to me that since her powers—whatever the hell they are—started emerging, she’s been like a yo-yo.

That might be a side effect of emergence, but I’m uncertain what it means. Shifter like her dad possibly?

I yank my device out of my bag, turning it on. The others need to know my thoughts about the ups and downs of Syd’s moods, and I will not say it out loud.

“This class will address both friendly and not-so-friendly interactions between the teams competing in the Games. You should seek to form alliances, as they may be needed, but also to gather information that might be used as leverage as well.”

Their advice is contradictory and I can’t imagine that anyone listening hasn’t figured that out. Every one of these sessions will be a huge fucking waste if this is what they’re ‘teaching’. I might as well use it to take notes on the teams and individuals based on their reactions. But for now, I’m going to hit up the other guys via this lovely technology they provided—carefully. I open the chat function, creating a room titled ‘Dude Bros’ and swallow the chuckle before it escapes. Adding each of them from the pre-populated list, I consider how I’m going to say this in a way that won’t give away our shit if someone is actively monitoring this shit.

DocHolliday: I believe I’ve discovered a foundation for the roller coaster.

I wait for one of the others to respond, hoping they get what I’m trying to say. After a few minutes, the bubbles on the screen turn into words and I sigh in relief.

VladtheImpaler: Discuss.

DocHolliday: Perhaps it is linked to the rising sun.

I know I’m being cagey as hell, but I don’t trust the humans pitting us against one another for sport as far as I could throw them.

YogiBear: That may be accurate. It wasn’t common in the past.

MrWizard: Also, the new information.

PufftheMagicDragon: Both are likely.

DocHolliday: Clues to origins?

VladtheImpaler: Multiple, not singular.

YogiBear: Probably. Unusual.

Their agreement makes the wheels turn in my head for a few minutes and I’m totally absorbed until a sharp elbow hits my ribs. I automatically click my screen closed as I look over at the woman sitting next to me. She’s finally meeting someone’s gaze after the incident in the shower, so I wait for her. I don’t want to spook Sydney, so she withdraws again.

“I… I have to go to the doctor.”

Nodding, I scratch my chin. “Okay, darlin’. No problem.”

“Will you go with me, Huck?”

I blink, a little surprised by the request. The dumbass upfront is still droning on about how to socialize with other teams and when we’ll be tasked with doing so, but I couldn't care less about that. I figured she’d tap the mage because he’s been doing so well of late. “Well, of course, I’ll come, sweet pea. You know I’d walk through Hell barefoot if you asked.”

Her nose wrinkles as she whispers, “You’re a demon, Huck. You can walk through Hell bare-ass naked and it wouldn’t hurt you.”

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