Chapter 37
Sharks
Kit/Kat
When Anton left me for Weapons class, I only had a few minutes to myself to get changed into something suitable for the gym.
The plans made last night regarding who would stay with me had left me panicking, but luckily, X crept back to my dorm after the others left with a large bag full of uniforms and other clothing they’d ordered when we last spoke about my…
predicament. It didn’t have everything I needed, but I have five new binders and boxers to wear under the uniforms so I’m not wrapping myself in the gauze I got from Dank.
That shit is hot and painful after a while—I owe Xerxes big time.
However, a session with Slash in the training gym means I’ll probably get near water—he was quite firm in his request to show me his animal, and I believe that his smirk when Jasper gave him the assignment conveyed that it’s time.
I’m nervous as fuck—for many reasons, including no experience with killer sea life and because if I get in the water, I may have to admit my secret.
I chose dark shorts, boxers, and two tees with my sweatpants, but that may not be enough.
Slash is no fool, and he’s quite observant when he’s paying attention; sometimes, he is even when he’s not paying attention.
I won’t be able to keep this from him if I get in the pool.
Truthfully, I’m not sure I want to. The big guy had been a quiet supporter for a while and started treating me with respect pretty quickly once he was away from Jasper’s influence.
He’s even spoken up in person a few times now, despite the prince’s scowls of disapproval.
I think he’ll stay in my corner when I explain how I came here in disguise and why I kept it a secret once I was inducted.
Jasper’s insistence that I’m a spy is a big part of that, but the opportunity to get away from my old life being yanked away is the largest portion.
Slash knows my life up there was shit, and I think he’ll get why I couldn’t risk it.
Salem, X, and Oriel have understood; I’m pretty sure Annie will, too.
Zav is a toss-up because of his co-dependence on Jasper, but I have faith that he’s working to be stronger.
I mean, mostly, and I can’t very well criticize him for waffling when I’m hiding shit, right?
I frown as that thought muddies my normal concrete boundaries and expectations.
Since I began admitting the truth to the guys and getting to know other sides of them, my hard lines have softened slightly.
I may have been too demanding of people because of my assault trauma and the behavior of everyone who didn’t support me.
Though, to be fair, I had to protect myself when no one else was willing to.
Now I’m here, with enemies abound, and seven guys who are equally damaged.
Most of them are exceeding their own trauma-informed boundaries to be respectful, and I have to give them the same courtesy.
There are requirements I won’t bend on, of course, but that’s normal.
Healing together is what caliphates should do based on all that ritual and brotherhood shit, right?
“We’re here.”
I blink, looking around to find that Slash is entirely correct—we are at the double doors to the training gym.
He had my arm and led me across campus, into a building, in an elevator, and to this very spot while I stayed lost in my goddamn thoughts.
I can’t remember the last time I was transported from one place to the next while conscious without being aware of my surroundings every step of the way.
Yet I trusted this huge dude to do so, without my brain screaming in protest even once.
He has to be okay with this or I’m definitely going to freak out.
“I… Did you just walk me here without saying a word so I could just think?” I ask as I look up at the shark demon.
Slash tilts his head, then nods. “Yes. You were very focused, and I believed it to be a good thing that you were not worrying about the whispers and looks. Was I incorrect?”
“Fuck, no,” I mutter as I flush bright red. “I didn’t need to see all the people staring at me; I’m self-conscious enough as it is. And… because I hear more now…”
“That was my opinion as well, little demon.” He grins briefly and lets go of my arm to push the doors open.
“You did not require all that pressure their stupid gossip would have put on you. It is a sensitive time when you first shift; hearing people make stupid commentary on it is not useful to your progress.”
I walk in behind him, looking around the room to make certain we’re alone.
“I’d argue that petty gossip is never useful and always something that should wave a red flag about the person spreading it.
Someone who talks nastily about others to you will absolutely talk to people about you in the same manner when given the chance.
It’s why bullying victims are often quiet, while the abusers are waving their ass at everyone who will listen. ”
This time, his smile is feral and filled with teeth. “We have ways of dealing with people like you describe, little demon. Trust me when I assure you that karma is coming for them soon enough.”
Slash’s ominous threats are growing on me—they’re making me feel safe. How very odd.
Chuckling as he guides me over to a door at the back of the wooden floor, I reply, “I’ve always sort of subscribed to karma coming for the bad guys, even when the legal shit failed up there.
It might take a while, and it might not be me who serves the dish, but it will get served cold to those who earn it.
You sort of have to believe that a little bit when you live on the surface because so many things are fucking broken and unfair; otherwise, you’d go mental. ”
The smell of sulfur hits my nose, and I frown as he takes me through a locker room I haven’t been in yet to a door with a small window in it.
When I push up on my toes to look through it, I see a huge swimming pool sparkling in the afternoon light from the ceiling-high windows.
Making a face as the smell increases, I turn to him.
“What the hell is that scent, man? It’s awful. ”
“Give it a few moments, and you’ll adjust. This is common of springs in Hell—sulfur is part of the makeup.
You don’t realize it, and I doubt anyone mentioned it to you, but there are many Hell-specific smells that you have already adjusted to.
Your body was doing it from the moment Dr. D let you out of the car and took you to Darkstar.
This one is just considered bad on the surface, and so your body and mind are at war in classifying it. ”
I give him a disbelieving look, but move back so Slash can open the door to the swimming… spring, I suppose. “You’re supposed to teach me about shifting. This is so you can hit two imps with one stone, right?”
The sheepish look on his face is adorable, and I have to restrain myself from hugging him. “Well… I… Yes, I wanted to… Fuck, little demon, I just wanted to do this. Is that okay?”
It’s very okay that he looks so ruffled and squeezable as he tries to stutter his way through the explanation.
My body warms from head to toe, and I nod, looking up through my lashes shyly. “Of course, Slash. I said I wanted to see your animal, and I meant it. And I definitely need to learn how to work with mine before I do something stupid again. I was only teasing.”
His face lights up, and he coughs as he gestures at the water.
“That is a Hell-spring, and it is very good for demons to soak in. It is for recreation, healing, power-gathering, and more. They are usually good, but being able to identify ones that have been tampered with is also a skill you may need in the Games. Ones that are not are also good for drinking, though your nose is probably saying they are not.”
“No shit,” I say as I wave my hand in front of my face. “This adjustment thing needs to kick in soon. It went from sulfur to sewer a minute ago.”
Slash chuckles as he watches me shudder. “Give it time, Kit. Patience is a virtue—that’s what your people say, right?”
I snort. “They may say it, but they sure as fuck don’t believe it at any stage. But I get what you mean; let it happen naturally and just calm down. Right?”
“Yes,” he replies with a grin. “I am going to remove my shirt and sweats now so I can dive in. Is that okay with you?”
My heart squeezes as he asks permission, when he damn well knows I’ve been in the bathroom and locker rooms with them half-naked before.
Slash is kinder than he gets credit for and more emotionally intelligent than his brothers are aware of.
“Yes, big guy. You can strip to get in the pool. I think I can handle it.”
He dips his chin, and I swear to fuck, I see a slight tint of redness on his cheeks.
Making a dude this enormous and lethal blush has my entire body responding in girlish glee, and I step back.
If he’s shifting, his senses will sharpen, and despite my Dank potion, I remember his warning to be cautious around their demons and animals.
As Slash tugs his shirt over his head with one hand, I swallow hard from the spot I backed into, and curse the dryness in my mouth when words get stuck.
Being in this pool area alone with him differs greatly from the other two situations.
He’s tattooed all over under his clothes, and though I noticed it before, I wasn’t really looking.
In fact, I was so busy trying not to look or look like I was looking…
that I missed how fucking cut he is. Okay, I know they’re super muscle-y and hotter than shit, but this is…
different? Seeing Slash’s intricate and likely painful tattoos that dip down his abs to the deep ‘V’ at the low waistband of his shorts is making me feel lots of things, and I’m having a lot of trouble parsing it all.
“Okay, little demon. I am ready to dive in.” He looks at me for a moment, and I worry that he’s figured out I’m ogling him. But then he just says, “You will need to come back where you can see and hear better. That is too far. Have I scared you? If so, I will—”
“No!” I blurt out as my body rushes forward without consulting my brain. “No, I’m sorry. It was knee-jerk, not about you. Tell me about what you’re going to do. Talk me through it, step by step.”
He blinks, his brow furrowing. “That will be very difficult. I have not had to think about shifting for so long that your country wasn’t even founded yet.”
There’s the confirmation that these guys are really fucking old in human years and still not old in demon lifespan in a way that I cannot ignore.
Thanks for making it weird, big guy.
“Never say that again,” I grumble as I rub my palms on my arms. “I know it’s true logically, but my brain still isn’t ready to wrap around the fact that demons are like centuries old when they graduate college because that’s how damn long you live without dying in suspicious circumstances.”
Slash winks at me, tilting his head as his eyes sparkle. “We are all certainly old enough to be so far back in your family tree that it was a seedling—and by you, I mean humans, not whomever your biological relations are.”
“Stop that,” I hiss as I stomp closer and smack him on the chest. “It’s so fucking weird.”
“But I enjoy your outrage, little demon. It tickles my funny bone for you to be so incensed about our age. I am not sure if it’s because of human teachings or something else, but it’s amusing.”
My eyes narrow, and I poke the enormous demon in the chest despite it being bare. “Don’t tease me about this or I’ll… I’ll….”
“You’ll what?” he asks with his brow raised and teeth glinting in the light.
A bolt of inspiration hits me, and I feel a very Grinch-like smirk curl my lips up. “I will call you ‘Daddy Shark’ and introduce the song with that in it to the entire caliphate—starting with Salem and Oriel.”
He snorts. “I highly doubt that, little demon. I don’t know this song, but you will not use that phrase in public. It will embarrass you far too much. I see things you do not think I see.”
Keep telling yourself that, Daddy Shark. I’m a petty bitch when I’ve been challenged.