coming…and I had no idea how to fight it or how to prepare.
“Die, HDF bitch.” A hiss crept up the back of my neck, and I jerked my head over my shoulder. Nothing but blank expressions met me, the regular morning zombies staggering forward, no one looking suspect. Blinking, I faced back around hearing another threat murmured near me, lacing fear down my spine. As I limped through the entrance of the bathroom, the figures bottlenecked at the doorway, where we shuffled in like sheep, and suddenly stopped. Bodies slammed into me, shoulders ramming me, elbows knocked me around with force as whispered threats muttered in my ear.
“I will kill you, Kovacs.”
“Stop!” Still aching from the fight, I bobbed around, trying to stay upright, panic curling in my throat. Yellow, blue, red, and gray uniforms danced around my periphery. Hands grabbed for me, touching me while some yanked painfully at my ponytail, bouncing me around.
Grunting, I tried to shove through the throng with any energy I could muster, my bones screaming in protest. I needed a rest from the abuse of the night before. The crowd only crunched in closer, getting angrier and braver.
There would be no special treatment for winning; my identity changed everything. Now I would be the prize. Kill the ward of General Markos—you win.
A hand crawled into the space, wrapping around my wrist. I tried to tug out of the hold, but it yanked me forward with unbelievable strength.
“She said stop!” Kek’s voice drove through the mob, pulling me beside her, eyes black as night. “Do as she says or deal with me.”
Growls and snarls echoed through the group, but begrudgingly they listened to the demon, huffing away with glares and promises of later.
I sucked in a deep breath, my barriers still wobbly and fragile since being in this very room the previous night with Warwick.
“Jesus, little lamb.” Kek stepped in front of me, crossing her arms. “You have them clamoring for you, even without brushing your teeth.” She winked. I stared. “Your performance last night? I have to say, I’m impressed, awed, slightly frightened, and totally turned on.”
My lips pressed together, not responding. Speaking cost far more energy than I had to give this morning. The surge of adrenaline was already plummeting to the ground. I slept very little, and only because my mind and body gave in to the fatigue. Besides the mystery of Warwick’s visit, my mind looped with Aron’s declaration, Rodriguez’s cryptic words, and Mio’s eyes. They haunted me, their cries of death echoing through my mind, bolting me up during the night with a gasp.
On top of it, I hated to admit the absence of Opie and Bitzy this morning stung. Many days they weren’t there, and I never really thought about it. But this morning I wanted to see them. I had grown used to their visits, adding a bit of reprieve to the horrific days. Even Bitzy was growing on me. I couldn’t help wondering if they stayed away because they learned who I was. General Markos was known to be very anti-fae, killing sub-fae as if they were rodents. Did they think I was the same?
“Seriously, lamb, you gave Tad and me a heart attack.”
I moved to my locker, grabbing my pouch of toiletries, and ambled for a free sink.
“You didn’t hope for my death?” I questioned dryly, pulling out my toothbrush.
“Hope for your death?” Kek leaned on the counter, lifting a blue eyebrow. “Seriously?”
“I’m Brexley Kovacs, General Markos’s ward, daughter of the renowned Captain Benet. As far as I can tell, most here consider those two associations as bad as the worst crime you could commit. I’m worse than a murderer.”
“Well, since you’ve done that too…”
I shot a glare through the metal mirror.
“Too soon?” She met my gaze in the reflection.
“What do you want, Kek?”
“Nothing.”
“I don’t believe you. Everyone wants something.” From the moment Warwick stalked away, my mood had turned foul.
Confused.
The anguish crept back in, taking over my mind.
Though the darkness didn’t consume my soul as I thought it would, something about him beside me had made me feel balanced. Then the moment he left, I was… What was I? Unbalanced? Tangled? I couldn’t explain the odd mix of feelings fluttering in my stomach. All night my mind had twisted the memory of him so much I wasn’t even sure it happened. It could have been just a bizarre dream.
“I want mind-blowing sex, a very strong cocktail, a rare steak, and a great massage, but not