Page 128 of Godless Saints

Misha was already pulling out his phone. “I’ll call Kaelan and set a meet. You get us masks. We meet back here during the hunt. Nobody sees us arrive together.”

“Aye. See you soon, brother.”

He clapped my back hard. I left him by the glass house.

***

I stood in the black forest outside the Glass House. Wet leaves underfoot. The initiation had already started. Third-years were yapping at the masked crowd, but I didn’t give a fuck what they were saying. I couldn’t fucking see Misha. I gave him the crimson and black neon oni mask. I just hoped he remembered mine and could find me. If not, we’d be fucked.

Anyway, I was going after Declan regardless. Misha said Declan would be wearing—

There. Blood-red neon lion mask. Perfect.

“The doors to the Glass House will open,” the third-year announced. “You have five minutes to get comfortable. When the doors close, they will not open again until sunrise.”

He smiled, scanning the masked faces with sick anticipation.

“Should you survive the night, you will earn entry into the Glass House. Evermourne’s most exclusive society.”

His smile widened. “Collect tokens by completing challenges, solving puzzles, or simply stealing them from someone else. Frankly, I don’t care. Once those doors close, court colors mean nothing. There are no rules worth mentioning… because there are none.”

He rubbed his hands together. “Children.”

He spread his arms. “Go play.”

People started running toward the mansion. Fuck. I still couldn’t see Misha. Declan was already inside. I needed to follow him.

Fucking hell, for his size, Declan was fast. He bolted down the grand staircase of the mansion. I stayed far enough behind that he wouldn’t notice me.

A girl in a dark neon butterfly mask brushed past, giggling as she turned the opposite way Declan was heading. That laugh sounded familiar. If I wasn’t hyper-focused on the lion mask ahead, I might have cared.

I turned the corner.

He was gone.

Pitch black down here. I didn’t bring a flashlight. I pulled out my phone and switched on the light. It barely cut through the dark.

A text from Moonshine.

I’m preparing my speech for the ceremony tomorrow. I’m in the study if you want to come over for a bit.

I stopped dead.

Yeeeeeees, I fucking do.

Still had to kill Declan. Still no clear way out of this mansion before sunrise. Perfect timing, as always.

Prince, I can’t believe I’m saying this again. But I can’t.

Ok.

I will make it

I didn’t get to hit send.

A body slammed into me from behind. My phone skittered across the floor, flashlight face down. I couldn’t see shit. I elbowed the guy hard in the jaw. He grunted. I rolled onto my back and he jumped me again, straddling my chest.

Neon blue and black fox mask stared down at me.