Jasper nods, walking over to get his water, and I follow suit like a good little caliphate member. I assume that mirroring his behavior without the royal attitude is probably safest, and keeping my mouth closed for as long as possible is an even better idea. I toss back a swig, wiping my mouth on my sleeve as I avert my eyes from the Major. I hate playing this submissive role to my very core, but I also made a promise, and part of it was to do my best not to bring more shit on our heads if possible.
Whether I’m successful at it depends entirely on how this motherfucker behaves, though.
“We have a duty to perform to the highest of our capabilities in the Games,” Jasper says smoothly. “I work with all of my brothers to refine their talent and develop their weak spots.”
“Do you now?” The Major says as he saunters over. His casual question sends up a million red flags in my brain, and I turn away from him to ensure that my reaction isn’t visible. His intonation and gait are supposed to lull us into a false sense of security—of that, I’m certain. I had foster fathers who played this game when I was very young, and figuring out how to avoid bad consequences when they put on the mask of friendliness was something the kids in those houses learned quickly.
Jasper sends his empty bottle hurtling towards the trash bin, and I know he’s using it to drain off his anger. Of course, it lands in the damn thing perfectly as if he’s a fucking NBA All-star, but that’s not my worry at the moment. My concern is the speed of his tail tip, which I can see out of the corner of my eye, and how fast it’s moving as he gets more and more irritated.
“Perhaps I’d enjoy a demonstration of your technique, Your Highness. You’ve been taught by the best fighters in the realm since you were a newly summoned lad, and I would like to see your methods.”
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. He can’t say ‘no’, and he won’t be able to hold back as much as he was before.
I turn to look at the two demons, my jaw set as I stand ramrod straight. “Prince Jasper may request my participation in any training he sees fit.” That hurt my soul; Ihateappearing to be a spineless sycophant, especially for a dickweasel like this. But I know by the look in Jasper’s eyes that he’s trapped, and we won’t be able to fly under the radar if he refuses. I’ll have to let him do this to keep the caliphate’s cover, and there’s nothing either of us can do to stop it.
“Of course, Major,” Jasper replies as he moves back into our circle slowly. His entire body radiates tension as I watch him set his stance, and I know to the bottom of my soul that this is going to trigger the fuck out of me no matter how hard he tries to prevent that.
But I can’t show it, and I have to perform well enough toseemlike I’m not the weakest link—no pressure here on day one of training.
Walking into the circle, I pause at the edge to close my eyes. The guys have encouraged me consistently to talk to my animal, talk to my magic, and to reason with it as I do my emotions when I’m having issues. That’s worked occasionally, and with varied results that are not predictable. Butright now, Ineed thoseparts of me that I do not have full control over to listen in a way that they never have before. They have to help me get through this goddamn demo while dancing in a field of landmines that affect all of my men. So I dig as deeply as I can inside my mind, my heart, my soul, and even the colorful stains within me to plead for that aid. I beg them to give me enough strength and stamina to make a very mid showing so this shithead goes away.
Then I open my eyes and walk to the center of the ring, dropping into position.
Jasper’s eyes are dark, swirling with colors that have to be both his dragon and his demon. I don’t think any part of him wants to do this, and he’s fighting like hell to keep that a secret from our spectator. His fists are high as he looks me in the eye, and within seconds, we’ve both made a move. He is faster, but I dodge it—barely. I move away from him again, using the distance to see if I can catch telegraphed moves like he taught me, but Jasper can’t level himself down like he did before.
The first blow rocks my socks off, sending me staggering until I bounce off the barrier the circle creates. My bell is rung, but I focus on the demon circling,notthe fucking birdies around my head as I get back into the game. He gave me enough time to reset by slowing down a fraction after the punch, but that’s about as much leeway as he can get away with, I think. Moving quickly, I run forward, sliding under his arm as he strikes and grabbing an ankle as I go past.
It makes him stumble, but he catches himself easily and whips around. I’m not nearly as fast getting to my feet as he is, so it leaves me at a disadvantage that has him on me within seconds. I’m pinned and up looking at him, my frame trembling with both fear and fury at the situation we’re in.
“Oh, that was too easy, Jasper! Let him up and go again. The boy is weak, and he’s going to get you killed.”
The smug taunt from the Major is the last damn thing I hear before blood rushes to my ears and I feel the sensation of losing control again, but this time, it’s not my pussy getting overly excited. No, now I’m filled with a rage so deep that it coats my insides with sludge as it races through me, and I know that without a doubt, something terrible is going to happen. I try to fight it, but there’s nothing I can reach for, nothing I can hold on to in my mind or body—it’s like I’m completely detached from it all.
This is awful, and I have no way of stopping it; I can only watch from a distance in abject horror.
Chaos
Zavida
Anton and Xerxes have just arrived at the dorm when the shockwave hits. I’m almost knocked off my feet by the sudden jolt, and when I look at Oriel and Salem, I know they’ve been rocked too. That can mean one of three things: Slash, Jasper, or Kit have been attacked. We’re all clamoring for the door at top speed, almost getting caught in the frame as we rush out of it. Salem is leading the way as we take the stairs—no one is going to stand in the damn elevator when it’s very clearly an emergency.
By the time we’re running out the front doors, I realize I don’t have shoes on, but then, Oriel doesn’t have on a shirt, Salem is wearing an apron, and the other two still have on uniforms. We’re a mismatched bunch of idiots following the trail of the caliphate magic towards whatever has activated the panic button. Oriel growls as he lets his wings out, taking to the air, and Anton joins him in a surprising contrast of dark and light.
I’m running hard when I see the big guy exiting the main building, his enormous bulk moving at a speed that most wouldn’t think is possible. But Slash swims at light speed and can move almost as quickly on land—when he chooses to. He’s normally careful and practiced in his motions, but like the rest of us, he’s figured out that we’re only missing two people who could cause the bond to tremble with alarm.
Neither of whom we can lose without enormous consequences—and I don’t mean just the caliphate bond.
“I thought they would be in the dorm,” Slash snarls as he falls in with X, Salem, and me. “Why are they not in the safest place on campus?”
“We don’t know,” I reply as our direction turns unerringly toward the stadium. “Maybe they decided to work on the physical, like Jas said?”
“The little demon was exhausted after shifting. He did not make a good choice.”
“Slash, my man, I don’t think KK being tired is why the metaphysical Bat-signal is calling us to the stadium.” Salem rolls his eyes at us, and a loud screech from the sky brings us back to our target.
Oriel is pissed, and, oddly, Anton has joined him in the animalistic fervor.
“I didn’t think Annie was this… involved,” I say to X as their hair streams behind them. “He so rarely shifts in public, so people don’t stare and make him nuts. This is awfully emotional for his usual behavior.” X gives me a smirk full of snake fangs, and I blink. “Nevermind, I guess. You’re pretty lit up, too.”
