Page 15

A LITTLE TRUTH GOES A LONG WAY

SYDNEY

The more we tour this facility, the angrier I get. Our dear dictator spared no expense in creating this incredibly film-able, state-of-the-art place within a sector that’s hurting—and we’re not even the worst one nor is this the only facility like it. I shudder to think of what kind of bullshit playground was built in wealthier sectors like El Dorado 1. All that dough could have gone to improving the lives of supes everywhere, but instead it went to creating this perfect facade for the world to watch. It makes me wonder what kind of ulterior motive Taterman has for these Games—other than being an asshole species racist—and how this is going to fuel that fire.

Money isn’t the ultimate goal here; there’s something bigger at play.

I suppose it’s possible some idiot let him watch a copy of The Hunger Games and he figured spending money to make money was a good option. Forcing a vast amount of young supes to kill one another in these trials would lower the population and therefore, the cost of maintaining the sectors. I just don’t think it’s on a large enough scale to be the only factor. There’s a hidden benefit in this charade and I’m going to find it and expose it. The FSHA needs to be taken down and the global stage is the best place to do it—not that I have a clue how at this point.

“Rein it in, Vicious. You look ready to gut the next person who speaks to you,” the mage whispers as he sidles up to me. “Can’t have the shiny happy people thinking you’re contemplating their deaths.”

I snort. “Yeah, because they’d be totally mistaken in that assumption.”

He grins conspiratorially as he winks at me and bumps my shoulder with his. “Exactly. No one could accuse you of dark, dirty thoughts, huh?”

My eyes run over his tanned skin and perfect, blindingly white teeth as he bobs his brows. “The only dirty thoughts I’m having are to do with corruption and painful deaths, spell caster. Back off.”

His laugh is rumbling and I can almost feel it as that smile stretches into something much more predatory. He moves closer, looking over my shoulder at me with a wicked smirk. “So tragic, the way you lie to yourself, my little killer. One would almost believe you if they were incredibly naive and gullible.”

My head rears back, catching him in his irritatingly straight nose, and he grunts as he clutches it. Blood drips from it as he cups his palm in front of his face and the tour grinds to a halt. All eyes land on us and my face heats, wondering if I’ve just earned myself a punishment worse than participating in this farce. But Rory simply pulls a cloth from his pocket, looking rueful as he pinches his injury.

“Whoops. A little advice for you all now that I’ve learned my lesson… Sydney has an excellent startle response and no one should creep up on her unless they want to bleed.”

Damn, he just gave me a public legend; people will be worried about what else I can do, not my magic.

Huck is in Rory’s face within seconds, his expression hard. “Don’t touch people you barely know, Stormbringer. You deserve a good smack for your rude behavior.”

I catch Thad moving toward us and shake my head, putting my hand out to stop the scene from getting more salacious. “It’s okay, guys. The dipshit just learned a hard lesson about consent. That’s what happens when you sneak up on a woman when she’s distracted by such opulent surroundings.”

Thad frowns, but I know he caught the pleading look in my eyes when I looked at him. Our relationship is close enough that he can read me, and I want this spectacle to end before anyone hands out punishments for interrupting their gushing. “The same goes for you, too, Dante and you, Whitmore. Sydney Jolie will kick your ass if you try shit with her.”

Whew. Good on him for being so damn intuitive.

“As long as Mr. Stormbringer is okay, we should move along,” one of the Krista-like drones says from the front of the pack. “We need to show you all to your team suites.”

My jaw drops when I realize she’s just admitted that they’re housing the teams in shared living space. The blood in my veins freezes and Huck has to grab my hand to tug me along as the group walks away from the scene of my bloody mistake. His palm is cool in mine, but I don’t mind because the rise in blood pressure is making me hot. Once everyone is thoroughly distracted by the cheery moppets leading the tour, he squeezes my hand.

“Sweet pea, you gotta breathe. I know this makes you madder than a wet hen, and you’re not wrong about it, but it’s just another thing we have to endure.” I scoff softly and he chuckles. “You’re a stubborn one, Sydney Jolie, but you’re not stupid. You know we’re not in a position to do a damned thing about this… now . But the time will come, and when it does, I’m with you one hundred percent.”

Damn, that good old country boy thing is soothing sometimes.

“Huck, they pen us up like animals for years and now they’re gathering the next gen of possible leaders to cull them through a competitive reality competition. I’m not sure it will ever be the time. This isn’t a YA novel, and reality is far from the glamorous portrayal movies show. People are going to die horrifically in front of us— again .”

He shakes his head, swinging our arms like we’re having a normal, everyday conversation. “That’s true, sweet pea, but we’ve seen plenty of supes die since The Unveiling. My count is likely higher than yours, but that’s because my first sector was a lot darker than this one and I’m a demon. Are you going to be able to handle it?”

It’s a good question, but I don’t think he’s prepared for my answer.

Licking my lips, I take a deep breath before I reply. “There are a few things you don’t know about the time between my father’s death and being rounded up to come here. I just… I can’t tell you here .”

He follows my gaze to the ceiling then to the crowd of supes and humans around us. “I see. Well, I enjoy a good edging from time to time, sweet pea, so you’re in luck. I’ll take a raincheck on that little tale… if you promise to have dinner with me.”

I frown at him, tilting my head. “Huck, we’re all going to have dinner. It’s not like we can avoid it.”

“For fuck’s sake, you’re awkward, woman. He’s asking you out, and how the fuck you’ve been blond about those two even this long is a real mystery.”

My gaze whips to the glowering vampire as he strides past us with a disgusted expression. “Well, fuck you, too, Sebastian Whitmore.” His shoulders tense as he continues on, and I know he’s heard me—which was exactly the point. I turn back to the demon still gripping my palm, frowning. “I don’t date, Huck. You know that.”

“I do, but since you’ve teased me mercilessly with your hidden past and I helped save you from the mage, I thought you might make a wee exception.” He bats his lashes and my breath catches in my throat. “Please, little lady?”

Oh, for fuck’s sake…. What is happening to me right now?

I want to protest or tell him to shove it where the sun doesn’t shine, but his pretty face and pouty lip are making my stomach do weird things. Paired with the goddamned hat , I find myself both dry-mouthed and surprisingly moist elsewhere. This isn’t fair; the Universe is just mocking me to my face now. I can’t give a damn about people; they leave and I’m destroyed… then I destroy. That’s the story he’s going to eventually hear and I don’t want him to be a part of my weird, potentially illegal secrets, even if he is more of an outlaw than a cowpoke.

“Huck, I…”

He pushes his hat up, hooking his other hand into his belt as he continues to pout and I’m a goner. What the fuck is in the air here? It’s like the men are exponentially hotter, even the ones I’ve known forever, and I’m having trouble forming coherent thoughts. “Please, Syd?”

Yep. Now I’m screwed.

“Okay,” I whisper as our fingers lace together. “One dinner, just with you, because I teased you. But that’s it, right?”

The beaming smile he gives me causes my heart beat to skip and I almost stop in place. “For now, sweet pea. For now.”

“Thank fuck that’s over. I was about to heave.” Elias stalks past us to get closer to the front, and I groan as I look up at the ceiling.

“Was everyone paying attention to us instead of the fucking tour? Huck, I’m going to gut you and wear your innards for garters.”

His smirk is wicked. “I’m a demon, darlin’. You can do that, and wear them to our dinner. I’ll respawn before the first course.”

“Gross.” Thad gives me a weird look, gesturing to the bank of elevators we’re standing in front of. I was so distracted by Huck’s bullshit that I didn’t even notice we’re all waiting for turns by team again. “Demons are so damned psychotic.”

Huck gives him a bright, easy-going smile. “We are, partner, but that’s our charm. You two are my besties and that means all my disgusting tendencies are on board with protecting you. Remember that when you’re being a grump, big guy.”

“I knew I got a whole ‘menage’ vibe from you three. Always room for one more, right?” Rory appears behind me again, his face clean and recovered from the blow I dealt him a few minutes ago. The benefits of being a damn magic user, I guess, but it doesn’t make it less annoying. “I’m a very generous lover and you’ll adore what I bring to the table.”

“Get it under control, Stormbringer.” The dragon gives him an evil look, then he tilts his head at the other groups waiting. “If we overheard their little meet-cute, people can overhear this conversation. Thinking she’s important to us—even as a bed mate—will encourage the others to target the girl. She’s… got other issues to deal with.”

Like my erstwhile magic, perhaps?

My brows furrow as I remember the words of the centaur and what he did in our private examination. I have no idea when and where I’ll be able to test his claim, especially since we’re all rooming in a shared space. Cursing softly, I let go of Huck’s hand and cross my arms over my chest. Everything about this fucking event is trapping me in an ever-shrinking box, and I hate it.

“Come along, team!”

Krista’s voice breaks my train of thought, and I groan. “Oh, goody. It’s time to find our new cage. I can’t wait.”

Thad chuckles as he gives me a small push towards the elevator. “You’re a ray of sunshine, as always, Sydney. I can’t wait for your take on the accommodations.”

“Anything’s better than the actual cages I’ve been living in,” Elias says as he gives us judgmental looks. “So perhaps we can be slightly less snooty when our beds aren’t made of bags of straw, mm?”

My jaw drops and I turn bright red as I follow him into the car. Guilt sits on my gut like a stone as I realize that for all my complaints about life in Tempest Seven, I’m not the one who arrived trussed up like a fictional cannibal. Hell, I don’t even know how long they made him stay in that damn thing. I’m a fucking moron and I can’t believe it didn’t occur to me that someone in the lockdown definitely had it worse than me.

“I’m sorry,” I murmur to the dragon as I stand next to him. “I was obnoxious and insensitive.”

He looks at me for a moment, then laughs. His dark eyes are full of amusement as I frown again. “Don’t be. I was testing you and my theory was right on the nose. You have far too much connection to humanity and we need to work on it.”

Rage fills me when he admits to manipulating my emotions and I deck him without a second’s warning. He reels for a second as my fist throbs, and then gives me another assessing look. His grin is full of sharp, dagger-like dragon teeth this time and his eyes glitter with a deep sapphire. “ That is more like it, little rebel. You need to channel that energy more often and we’ll have a much better chance at surviving.”

What the fuck is with these dicks pushing my buttons today?