Darkblood Prison - G.K. DeRosa Page 0,22

hoped I wasn’t bright red when I emerged from the x-ray box.

Ella took the lead, turning us down one barren corridor after another. Talon walked beside her, and I trudged a few steps behind. The blind rage had dissipated, but I still didn’t feel like being super chummy with Mr. Mood Swings. Plus, I had to pretend not to know Ella which made things extra difficult.

“Anything new on Vander?” Ella asked Talon, and my ears perked up.

He shook his head and grunted. “The Gargoyle Guardian Council is trying to find a way into the castle. Logan’s contact thought they’d lost him for a day, then they discovered he’s moved every few nights.”

“Wow, that’s really tight security. Any idea why they’d want him in the first place?”

“No. None of it makes any sense.” He glanced back at me, his dark brows furrowed.

Whatever it was, it had something to do with me. I’d cost Talon his best friend and I didn’t think he’d ever get over that, even if Vander was brought home safe and sound.

Ella stopped in front of a door marked Development and pivoted to me. “I’ll bring her into the locker room to change into something more suitable. She’ll need to be comfortable for the physical assessment.”

I gulped. What the hades would that entail?

Talon nodded and Ella escorted us into a sitting area, where she motioned for him to wait. Then she ticked her head at me, and I followed her into the changing area. Ella’s sharp eyes scanned the large locker room before fixing on me. “No cameras in here so you can talk freely.”

“Oh, right, thanks.”

She led me to a locker, typed in a code and pulled out a duffle bag. “I got you the same size as me since my clothes fit you so well last time.”

“Thank you.” For someone that didn’t know me well and could get into a lot of trouble for lying about that, she was being awfully nice. I hung my coat in the cubby and tugged off my prison-issued boots, then checked out the new clothes: a tank top, yoga pants, and sneakers. Just what I needed.

As I squirmed into my new workout gear, Ella pulled her long hair into a high ponytail and stared at her reflection. “Is everything okay? You seem quieter today.”

I shrugged as I laced up my sneakers. “Guess I’m a little nervous.”

“Don’t be. You’ll do fine.” She waved a nonchalant hand as she continued to primp in the mirror. “I thought maybe it had something to do with whatever you and Talon were arguing about when you walked up.”

Freakin’ faeries, she had heard. I kept my gaze trained to my shoes and mumbled a reply. “Nope, just Talon being a dick.”

I glanced up to see her lilac eyes widen through the mirror.

“Sorry. I know he trained you and all, but I had a different experience with him.”

She stopped fidgeting with her hair and turned to face me. “I can’t imagine what it must be like for him, living with the worst criminals in all of Azar for all these months.”

“Yeah, it’s no picnic.”

Ella clapped her hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry, that came out wrong. It must be horrible for you too. I only meant that you just got there, and you did end up with Talon and Hayden so things can’t be that bad, right?”

I was lucky to have ended up with SIA secret agents, but I hadn’t exactly had an easy time either. “Nope, not too bad.” I didn’t feel like sharing my boneyard drama with my cousin. And now it was time for a subject change. “So what exactly will I be doing today?”

Ella tugged a small tablet from her back pocket and scrolled through the screen. “You’re scheduled for a physical assessment followed by a supernatural one. They’ll examine your powers, both demon and mystical. The written test won’t be until your next session, so you’ve had time to review the manual.”

I nodded, hoping I’d kept my expression neutral while my insides churned. A magical assessment? I had zero control over my burgeoning warlock powers.

“Ready?”

“Yup.” Nope.

I followed her back out into the foyer where Talon waited, pacing the length of the small sitting room.

“T, you can wait here while I escort Azara to the trials.”

He stopped his manic trudging and whirled at her. “I’d like to watch them actually.”

“Okay, sure. You can come wait with me then.”

“Perfect.” A big smile lit up his stupid face, and I repressed the snarl in my