“Maybe now isn’t the time,” Troy said, coming to my rescue.
“Right.” I frowned, then pointed my finger at Grant. “There are much bigger things at hand. What are you even doing here?”
Hunter gestured at me. “You’re here.”
“I mean why are you in the competition? Nowhere in our plan did it include become a gladiator.”
“The bridge was down and the path through the dead zone would have taken too long,” Grant explained.
Hunter continued the answer. “Quickest way to get here was to enter. The second I saw the announcement about the competition and the party, I figured Lucifer was doing it for your benefit.”
“But you could get hurt,” I said as I leaned in.
“Small risk,” Hunter whispered back with a smile. “Besides, when we win, we get a favor from Lucifer. Pretty sure that might just come in handy.”
The fact that Hunter didn’t appear worried in the least helped, but I doubted he’d admit even if he were concerned. He was the sort to fake it even if he knew he was fucked.
“You do like to make a stir, don’t you?” Persephone came up, a big smile across her lips. “I haven’t seen everyone quiet like that in…” She paused, as if her history were a very long one.
Then again…it was at least as old as Greek mythology.
“Well, in a very long time.” She stuck her hand out to Hunter. “I’m Persephone. I remember watching you fight that monstrosity, the one with the acid breath.” When Hunter shook hands with her, she came up closer, looking like a fangirl with a celebrity. “That was amazing.”
Hunter chuckled, turning a charming smile on Persephone that was like the one he’d given Mella. Not the same one he gave me, though.
There was a tension in this smile, one that said he was playing a part.
Some of the jealousy lessened when I realized that, when I saw how the smile didn’t reach his eyes, how the heat in his gaze was absent. I guess this was just the part he played… Looking back, it seemed familiar. He sure turned that charm on when he needed to.
“I remember that one. Took a hit to my shoulder.”
She touched his shoulder. “Oh, I saw that! I was sure you were out of the game then. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone came back from something like that.”
He smirked. “I’m tougher than I look.”
I snorted at the display. Knowing it wasn’t real didn’t quite soothe all my annoyance at Persephone fawning over Hunter, and him puffing up his chest like it was the best thing he’d ever experienced.
Bastard.
Kase gave me a chiding look, but I rolled my eyes in response.
Like he would act any differently if I were flirting with random men.
In fact, I recalled how he and Troy had gotten into an actual fight because of jealousy.
“So, do you have any hints for me?” Hunter asked.
“Oh, I couldn’t say. That wouldn’t be fair.” Even as she said it, she smirked and set a hand on his bare chest.
“Certainly, you could,” Hunter argued. “Just a little something? I’d hate to die in round one and not get to see you tomorrow night.”
Persephone giggled—actually giggled, which I wasn’t sure women really did after ten years old—before leaning in until her lips were almost on his ear. She whispered so quietly, I couldn’t catch it, but Hunter lifted an eyebrow.
“Thank you, sweet,” Hunter told her.
Someone called her name, and she stuck her bottom lip out in a pout. “I have to go. Do try to stay alive.”
When she left and Hunter turned toward me, he was met with one hell of a glare.
He opened his mouth, but I cut him off before he could speak. “Don’t you shadow-girl me.”
“Well, at least if we’re killed in round one, I won’t have to worry about her castrating me in my sleep,” Hunter said.
Kase shook his head before turning toward me. “Has Lucifer told you anything? Given you any idea as to why he summoned you?”
“Nothing. He said everything in good time and made it clear he didn’t appreciate me asking.”
“How did he even grab you?” Troy asked.
“Well, technically he didn’t. I saw that kid—”
“Please tell me you didn’t ignore me and follow him?” Grant rubbed at the bridge of his nose.
“I can tell you that or I can tell you the truth but not both.” After he sighed, I went on. “The kid was working with Jerrod, who decided I looked too tasty to ignore. Before Jerrod could do anything to me, though, Lucifer showed up.”
“I never thought I’d be thankful to Lucifer,” Grant said, his annoyance from earlier gone.
Hunter reached for me, but I pulled away. It was a reaction I couldn’t help, but it was one born from Jerrod’s words, from recalling what he’d told me about what Hunter and he had done. Seeing him had surprised me enough for me to forget, but after mentioning Jerrod and what he’d tried to do to me, what he’d said about Hunter came back to me.
Hunter let his hand drop, a question in his eyes he didn’t voice.
And one I didn’t want to give life to.
“So you’re going to fight in some stupid competition? Then what?”
“We win,” Grant said with a shrug. “I mean, we discussed losing, but since that would mean we were dead, it seemed counter-productive.”
“This is one of those you-win-or-you-die things?” My stomach sank.
“Pretty much,” Hunter answered, thought his voice had lost some of its humor. “They drop in a big bad beast of some sort—or a bunch of smaller ones—and see who’s standing once the critter is dead. Teams usually take one another out, as well. Rounds keep going until there’s one team left and they face whatever Lucifer has up his sleeve for the ending. People can back out between rounds, like if they lose too much of their team and don’t want to keep going. Winner takes all, or in this case, one open-ended favor from Lucifer. Anything he has the power
