Page 99 of House of Pain
Whichwas a surprise.
From the wound in her palm, Blaze realized Alecto had used blood magic to get herself home. Blood magicovernature magic.
Thatspoke volumes.
Blaze was impressed.
“Hey, fucker,” Andro whispered into Blaze’s ear, and he jerked in surprise.
“Right about fucking time,” Blaze said, flicking off the ash of the cigarette. “I thought you stood me up.”
“I would never.”
Of course, Andro would never. Andro had his flaws, but he was as loyal as they ever got.
They fell into step, walking swiftly through the campus towards the rockey field. The sun was just starting to rise, half the sky still covered in the dark blanket of the night.
When they reached the field, most of the team was already there, some stretching, some barely able to open their eyes, clearly still half asleep.
“Get in line. Two by two,” Blaze instructed, clapping his hands as he jogged to the front of the line. Andro was right beside him.
Blaze waited for the team to get into the formation. “Five laps. Then, stretch. After we practice the formation for Saturday’s game.”
Blaze started to jog. Andro yawned as he caught up.
“They look at you like a bunch of obedient puppies,” Andro commented. “It’s either impressive or pathetic. I can’t decide.”
“They do what they know they need to do to win,” Blaze replied. The crisp air of the morning was burning his lungs.
“Yeah, sure. But still, they look at you like you’re the only fucking star in their night’s sky.”
Blaze couldn’t hold a mocking laugh back.
“They want to be you. But because they can’t, they at least hope to bewithyou. Haven’t you noticed how even the coach looks at you as if you’re his most prized possession?”
Oh, Blaze had noticed.
He knew exactlyhowpeople looked at him andwhy.
Blaze didn’t reply, so Andro didn’t say anything else, and they ran another lap in silence.
Of course, who wouldn’t want to be Blaze Leveau? He had it all—the status, the money, the future.
Except for Blaze Leveau himself, but even then, only on some days. On most days, he was more than content with all the privileges that came with his name.
After the laps, Blaze and Andro went to the middle of the field, leading stretches in front of the rest of the team.
Even Gabe and Matias stayed silent, biting their tongues as they stretched their large bodies.
Of course, with their High Priest suspended and away, even those dumb fucks knew the Tigers were vulnerable.
“Has Val briefed you about our new course of action?” Blaze asked, glancing at Andro as he bent his leg and brought his left foot to his right thigh.
Andro nodded, panting. “Sure did. She literally screamed the new strategy over the dinner last night to the whole House. You’re lucky you missed it.”
Blaze smirked. He could only imagine how fun it was to sit through dinner when Val was in one of her foul moods.
“Imma gonna need your help,” Andro singsonged. “Val tasked me with going to get the blood moss for a ritual and she told me to take you with me.”
