Trustfall
Kit/Kat
T he rest of the night went awkwardly, to say the least. I did my best to describe what happened to me in the arena step by step—as best I could. Salem and the others filled in their accounts of the magic in the air increasing their rage, making the worry and fear inside of them explode in powerful reactions. X and Zav were spared because of their injuries, and Slash swears he wasn’t any more angry than normal. Jasper had already lost his shit, but he admitted that perhaps it helped his dragon stay in control longer.
By the time we bedded down, I was so exhausted I could barely keep my eyes open. Oriel and Salem curled up by my legs instead of their chairs, making Jasper get even grumpier as he finally shut off the lights. I honestly didn’t get all the weird looks and growls being traded around me, but boys are fucking weird.
If they’ve got something shoved up their asses, it’s not my responsibility to help pull it out.
However, the way they’re all violently getting ready in the bathroom this morning tells me I was right. Jasper is brushing his teeth like he’s going to scrub off the enamel. Oriel and Salem have been jerkily fussing with the gel in their hair for much longer than normal. Slash is quieter than ever, but he’s flashing his teeth occasionally as he looks in the mirror. Poor Zavida keeps ducking in and out of his tails as he does his morning self-care, while Anton is grunting in irritation as he helps Xerxes get cleaned up and pretty. The wings on X’s eyeliner are T. Swift sharp for certain.
Clearing my throat, I look around as I step out of my stall. I have my remaining uniform on, but it’s messier than usual because I refuse to tighten anything against the healing wound. “So… what’s the plan for today?”
Seven heads whip around to pin me with their gaze and the intensity makes me back up a bit. Salem’s face lightens as he smiles at me, his gorgeous torso on display all the way down to a very defined pelvic V above his pants. “There you are, Kit Kat. I thought you’d drowned for a second.”
Ha, ha. I was hoping you assholes would get dressed so my tongue wouldn’t feel too big for my fucking mouth, but here we are.
“It’s harder to get my shit on with the shoulder.” Plus, I had to use the ACE bandage I swiped from our medicine cabinet to bind myself until I can get X alone to chat. “Don’t fuss at me.”
A snort makes me turn to look at Jasper and I swallow hard as my eyes take in his broad shoulders, muscled back and the dragon spikes he always wears. He looks dangerous as fuck, even half-naked. But despite my mixed feelings about the spicy Prince, my whole body feels hot when he finally looks at me. “Someone has to. You take far too many risks, even when they’re with good intentions, and you don’t seem the least bit concerned with the fact that someone is actively instructing people to kill you.”
“Of course he’s concerned.”
My eyes swing to Slash when he speaks, and my mouth gets dry. The enormous shark shifter is using some kind of moisturizer on his thick biceps and boy, does it make my stomach flutter to watch. I push out a slow breath, hoping to calm myself before I speak. I’d prefer my voice not come out like Minnie fucking Mouse, and I’m not sure it won’t right now.
Anton saves me as he leads X to a bench to sit down. “You’re both right. Kit cares, but he’s unable to let any of us be harmed. That’s part of the caliphate bond and you all know it.”
“Yes,” Jasper grits out as he turns back to the mirror. “But he keeps getting hurt, which defies coincidence. He’s not being cautious enough and that has to change.”
“Kit is right here, and he does not like being talked about as if he isn’t.” I cross my arms over my chest as I finally find my voice. “I’m doing the best I can with shall we say… limited resources … in comparison to the people threatening me. You guys keep coming up with plans, but then Lucian or whoever the fuck, does something to put me right back in the hot seat. Stop blaming me for shit outside of my control.”
Xerxes gives me a thumbs up, and I dip my chin, oddly pleased that they agree with me. “It’s true. We have got to find out what the hell that dick is up to. It probably has something to do with his journey to the surface before the ball.”
Everyone is quiet for a moment as his statement sinks in, then the Prince nods. He spins to face us, his expression one of grim determination. “Xerxes is correct. However, it will take some time to arrange for an expedition to look into it. I’ll send word to my father that I require passes today.”
Passes? What the hell for?
My heart rate speeds a bit at the knowledge that the King will know anything about our efforts. I’m definitely not his favorite person now, and the guys—including his son—don’t seem to be in his favor often, either. Maybe this isn’t a good idea. Licking my lips, I raise my hand and Oriel chuckles until I yank it down. “Are we sure bringing him into our business is a good plan?”
“Absolutely not,” Jasper says with a smirk. “But I’ve spent most of my life finding ways to induce my father to grant his permission for things without telling him the real reason I’m doing them. I will make sure he doesn’t suspect our true aims.”
Slash nods. “That is accurate.”
“I hate to mention it, but our first class this morning is Arms,” Anton cuts in. “While Zavida may be okay to participate, I don’t think X or Kit should go. We need a reason to keep them out and someone to escort them, just in case.”
“We can go for a check-up with Dank,” I offer, eager to get Xerxes alone so I can talk to him about things I don’t want the others to know about.
“Mythology is useless to me. I am all too aware of the history of Hell,” Slash replies. “My free time is afterward, so I will take them to visit the doctor.”
Perfect. Slash will keep his distance if I ask, so I can talk to Xerxes on the way.
Jasper scratches his chin, then nods. “Acceptable. You will keep everyone but the doc away from them, then take X to Human History, where Oriel can take over. Kit will stay with you until we meet for lunch in the Triclinium.”
The shark shifter grins broadly and I breathe a sigh of relief. He, Salem, and Oriel are the easiest to be with when there’s no classes involved. I’m getting there with Xerxes and Anton, but I’m still nervous as hell with Zav. Jasper is a whole different enchilada and I don’t want to stay with him solo until I feel more secure in his support.
“Okay,” I murmur. “I can deal with that.”
“You looked like you wanted to run like a rabbit in there,” X says as we walk down the hall to the elevator on our floor.
We all finished dressing and got our shit together, the rest of them leaving for the arena before they ended up being late for class. Breakfast was a round of packable treats from Salem, and I swallow the bite of my special granola bar before I answer the cobra shifter. “I get… nervous in there. It’s not an atmosphere I’m used to, obviously .”
They grin a bit, tilting their head as they study me. Slash is standing a few feet back, giving us the distance X asked him for. “I’ll bet it’s not. Lots of pretty guys running around half-naked is definitely out of your wheelhouse.”
I roll my eyes at them. “As if I care about that. You know I have issues. It was just very combative in there this morning.”
“Bullshit.” X shakes their head, their eyes knowing. “My gifts are in this arena, Kit Kat. You can’t fool me, even if you’re trying to fool yourself.”
Sucking in a deep breath, I shake my head, not looking at them. “I don’t have the ability to analyze that statement, X. It’s… I’m not there, and I honestly don’t understand the things you’re referring to well enough to respond. Plus, with all the weird shit happening to me with this… demon thing? Hell if I know what’s what.”
They pause as the door to the elevator opens, following me in then holding the door for Slash. “Fair enough. You had a huge fucking burst in the arena and none of us really know what it means. Even Jasper is puzzled by the mix of powers your demon presented. It’s not… directly representative of anything common.”
“I do not believe that is the extent.” We both look at Slash, who just arches a brow. “you are holding back, little demon. There is something you did not reveal.”
Xerxes looks at me curiously. “Is he right, KK? If so, you can tell us now and we won’t rat you out to Prince Prickface.”
“I don’t know…”
The shark shifter grunts, then eyes me. “Your secrets are not mine to tell.”
I might be stupid, but I actually believe him.
“C’mon, Kit Kat. What did you leave out last night?”
The door dings and Slash holds it open for us, then falls in line on my other side as we slowly walk out of the building. Once we’re in the open air, I feel safer, though I’m not sure why. “I think I had an incident… before this. But I’m not sure because no one’s ever mentioned this sort of thing so far, and I don’t know enough about all this shit to be sure.”
Xerxes bumps my good shoulder with theirs. “Tell us, Kit Kat. We might not know, either, but it will help us try to figure out what you are. Or I think it will, but I won’t know until you tell us.”
“X is correct,” Slash says firmly. “More knowledge can only help.”
Clasping my hands together, I consider their words. I never trust people with all the information; if you don’t have anything held back, it puts you at risk. You have to have things just for you that no one can take away. My trauma screams in my head, trying desperately to convince me that I shouldn’t share this with the two of them. I fight with myself internally, warring between wanting people to lean on for once and fear needing them at the same time.
Sweet baby Cerberus, I’m a goddamn mess.
“If you don’t want?—”
I shake my head at X, pushing all my fears down into my feet so I can speak. “No, I want to. It’s just really hard to fight the voices.”
“I would eat them if I could.”
Blinking for a second as my brain halts in place, I burst out laughing at Slash’s statement. Suddenly, the conflict in my head seems silly; after all, someone who would consume my internal voices if they could wouldn’t willingly hurt me.
Xerxes chuckles as I work through that thought process. “Leave it to the big guy to put it as simply as possible.”
“Don’t be mean,” I chide them as I get control of my mirth. “It was simple, but extremely clarifying, and that’s all it needed to be.”
My answer is a big, toothy grin from the shark shifter. He gets that his words struck a chord inside of me and he’s giving me time to reconcile it. X is supportive, too, but in a very different way than the huge enforcer. Their opposing styles are surprisingly complementary, much like the dark cleverness of Oriel and the happy ease of Salem.
Taking a deep breath as we cross the quad, I look at them and say softly, “I’m pretty sure I stopped time in the cafeteria the other day. I mean, I think I did. Is that weird?”
The looks they give are not encouraging, and my chest tightens.
I guess that’s not a good sign at all.