“Godsdammit!” Stiles muttered. “I’m going to tell my father we’re engaged. The faster we get out of here, the faster we can be done with this, and I can get that ring off your finger.”
He stormed out of the room, shoulder checking a growling Tomb in the process. Once he was gone, I grabbed Cheryl’s wrist and led her to the bed. “Can we have a minute?” I asked my guys with a small smile.
Crow grabbed Risk’s and Tomb’s arms, pulling them out of the room. “Sure thing, Little Spider. We’ll wait in the hallway.”
“But I wanted to hear more about this wedding,” Risk teased. I glared at him until the door slammed shut.
Turning my attention back to my daydreaming roommate, I nearly laughed out loud when I saw her admiring her ring. “Cheryl, you do realize you aren’t marrying Stiles, right?” I asked tenderly, scared to spook another deadly scream out of her.
“Well, of course I know that. But a girl can dream, can’t she?” she replied calmly before lacing her fingers through mine and giving my hand a friendly squeeze.
“So why are you fake engaged? I don’t fully understand what’s happening here,” I replied.
“My family is rich, as you know. Mr. Trant is lobbying to get contracts for Belvini and needs connections in the community. Stiles thought it would be a good idea to pretend to align ourselves with him for now. It’ll keep me safe until we get out of here, and even if it’s not real, it means that Stiles actually cares about someone other than himself for once.”
I nodded in understanding. The Trants definitely liked to align themselves with powerful people. It’s how we ended up in Spector’s clutches in the first place.
“Also,” Cheryl began with a wince. “You should definitely keep your head down for a while. I heard that Mr. Trant doesn’t like what happened with Oz. Risk is smoothing things over, but he was pretty pissed that you weren’t punished for killing one of his guards.”
My back snapped up straighter, and my fangs punched down. “Well, I’m not too happy that his guards were torturing my mates,” I curtly replied.
She nodded. “I get it. I really do. But it’s not just that. Since you killed Oz, there has been more...defiance. The other hybrids like that you stood up to Oz. There are whispers, and it’s making Spector anxious. Just be careful, okay?”
She looked around the room, as if looking for Spector spies to be eavesdropping. “People are acting out. Lavinda Carre threw a hellfire ball at one of her trainers, and Moses Greene let out his hellhound demon, and it gnawed on a lab tech’s leg. People are acting up, and Spector is taking notice.”
Dread gathered inside of me like ice forming. Even if I hated my peers, I didn’t want them punished for acting out. “Are they still making you use your siren ability to kill people?” I asked her.
“Not so much now that I’m with Stiles. Though I heard they’ve started to send out our former classmates to do jobs.”
“What kind of jobs?”
She lifted a shoulder. “I don’t know. Maybe something like the job you were sent out on?”
That was not a good thought. If Belvini was looking for more high level demons, then that meant he could churn out more hybrids.
“Okay, thank you for telling me, Cheryl,” I finally replied.
Risk might feel in control of the situation, but there were too many variables. It was time the guys and I made a plan to get out of here before it was too late.
“Of course. What are friends for?” Cheryl beamed. She really was proving to be a good ally here. “Oh! And when you have time, I’d like to discuss your duties as Maid of Honor. I’m just not sure you’re experienced enough to throw the kind of high-caliber bachelorette party someone like me will need, but don’t worry, I’ll be holding your hand through the entire planning process.”
“Oh boy.” I stood up and headed for the door.
“Motley, I’m serious! Don’t make any plans without me!” she called out as I shut the door behind me.
I smirked to myself. Stiles was going to have to cut her hand off if he ever wanted that ring back.
Chapter 23
“Wake up, Little Spider,” Crow’s voice whispered in my ear.
I rolled over in my bed, not wanting to wake up. Today was demonstration day. Council members and influential supes from all over the world would be in attendance. Spector called us to the training room last night and announced that there would be a show and tell about our gifts. They weren’t clear on what exactly would be expected of us, but I was anxious they’d make me drain a victim dry with everyone watching.
“I don’t want to go,” I pleaded before snuggling deeper into the mattress.
Risk had already left earlier that morning to coordinate plans with Collector. Now that I knew his true name and that he didn’t like it, I found myself calling him that regularly. I didn’t like that Risk was working with him, but my demon reveled in taking chances.
“You have to go, Little Spider,” Crow cooed while stroking my cheek.
I knew he was right. Since the incident with Oz, the guards had become more brutal, using whatever power they had to crush the hybrids under their boots. I didn’t want to openly defy them again, not until I had a plan for getting out of here and ensuring my aunt’s safety.
“Come on, Wid,” Tomb said from where he was standing at the foot of the bed. “You can do this, and we’ll be right there with you.”
“Actually, you won’t.”
We all turned to look at Risk striding into the room, the door slamming shut behind him. He eyed my bare thighs where they were peeking out from under the sheets. “Why are you still lying prostrate and naked? We have to leave in
