Page 68 of Failed State

“Speaking of which,” Rory pipes up. “Putting these bullshit classes before lunch makes me want to stab myself in the eye with a fork.”

“Agreed.” I reach for the door to the corridor, but Thad gets to it first, smiling as he holds the door open. “Stop that shit.”

“I can’t. We’re supposed to pretend to dig you,” the bear replies cheerily as we find the classroom the schedule lists forStyle & Flair. “Stormbringer, what the hell is this going to be about?”

“Why are you asking me? I have no idea.” Rory huffs and the rest of the guys just stare at him. Finally, he wrinkles his nose, grumbling, “Probably something to do with clothes and attitude. We got made over, and this is probably about how to put together looks if we get access to wardrobe. That’s a guess, but it would be a good marketing strategy. They don’t know how much natural ability any of the competitors have in presentation.”

Just fucking great. Another torture session I’d trade for anactualtorture session.

“There will be events where you are providedbasicaccoutrements to take part.However, it is always in your best interest to cultivate your fan base so well that they are eager to sponsor or support you by getting you better equipment, fancier clothes, or other upper tier necessities. Your classes on creating the rabid fanbase are all in service of swaying the audience in your favor so that they will trip over themselves to take part in your journey this way.”

Scratching my chin, I keep my eyes on the paper as I take notes on what Shoshana is telling us. She’s a snooty dilettante, and her attitude makes me want to strangle her on the spot. Unfortunately, doing so won’t help us win this damn thing, and she’s more annoying than she is evil. I’d wager she grew up with money, never worked a day in her life before the Sweeps, and her family probably made a fortune off of confiscated supernatural lands or businesses. Everything about her screams entitlement that cannot be hidden beneath a fake veneer of professionalism.

Some people spend way too much time drinking their own delulu juice and it’s plain as day when you listen to them rant.

“So we’re supposed to stroke their egos until they give us stuff?” Rory asks, his expression amused.

“That’s it exactly, Mr. Stormbringer!” Shoshana claps her hands like she’s teaching toddlers how to write their name. “We want them to send you fabulous clothes, accessories, weapons… anything you can desire. That’s why it’s so important to focus your team on the branding and follow the planned roles as closely as possible. Giving the audience what they want always leads to easy conversion.”

“Ihatefeeling scripted,” I mutter at the desk. “It’s fake and gross.”

Shoshana clicks her way over to me in the towering heels, and I look up when she clears her throat. “That attitude will not help your team succeed, Miss Jolie. But I suppose it’s not surprising from someone who lacks powers entirely.”

My eyes narrow as I look her up and down. “Rich coming from a human with no conception of how supernaturals’ powers manifest, nor any powers of their own.”

She crosses her arms over her chest, looking irritated as she flips her chestnut hair. “I don’t need to know how you people work to know you’re the anchor that will weigh this team at the bottom of the lake.”

Elias snorts, his bulk flexing as he mimics her arm movement. It looksmuchmore intimidating on him and I have to cover my grin with my hand. “Humans never developanypowers. The Markers are the only thing keeping you in the position you’re in. Without them, this situation would look very different.”

The woman gapes at him for a moment, then screws her face up as she smacks the edge of my desk. “You can thank the assistance of your own kind combined with our superior technology for your dog collar, prisoner.”

I’m about to shoot my mouth off, but Sebastian moves so quickly I barely register it until he’s standing toe to toe with the chick. He looks down at her with a blank expression, but his eyes are a deep ruby that indicates his fury. “You willnotbe violent in her direction—ever.”

What the fuck.

“You can’t?—”

The vampire tilts his head, his brow arched elegantly. “I can’t? Vampires have more connections and privilege than other supernaturals. You’ve probably heard of my father… Astaroth Whitmore?”

Shoshana’s face drains of color completely and she steps back shakily. “I…”

“I’m here for a reason, and if I report your insolence back to him, I’m certain it will be ill-received.”

I don’t like being defended by a vampire using the slimiest vampire in existence to threaten an enemy. But I can’t undercut Sebastian when he’s drawing a line; even I’m not so socially inept. He’s clarifying that my team will not stand for the professors doing certain things—which isn’t a bad thing. We haven’t had a human male instructor yet, but I doubt they’ll be any better than the females. The guards at F.E.A.R. certainly made every day a challenge with their abuse of authority; I don’t want to think about what the shit weasels in this place will do.

“Sebastian, I think she gets it, buddy,” Huck says as he smirks at the woman. “Miss Larson knows our girl isn’t to be trifled with, so we can get back to dressing for success now.”

The brunette woman backs up carefully, tottering as she puts space between herself and the intimidating bloodsucker. “Understood, Mr. Whitmore.”

Sebastian’s serial killer look fades to a pleasant smile as he nods, then goes back to his seat. “Good. I abhor miscommunication.”

For fuck’s sake.

“Ahem.” Shoshana coughs as she rifles through some papers, obviously still trying to get her bearings. “Your assignment for the next class will be to use the software on your tablet to plan fake looks for several scenarios. Obviously, you will not always have access to such an array of items as the app provides, but the point is to judge how instinctively you can combine them.”

Thad groans softly, looking up at the ceiling as if pleading for help. “Barbie fashion creator shit? Come on, man. Can’t we just fucking stab things?”

I blink, my lips quirking up as I smother a laugh. Thad can smash things, especially in his bear form, but he’s more of a cuddly teddy bear than a killer. I think he hates this shit as much as I do. “Apparently not, Thad. We have to learn to work the runwayandgut our enemies to win this thing.”

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