That makes me feel smug again, so I give him a look that reflects it. “Then, by all means, we should head out near The Keeper’s compound first. You may see things none of you have ever even heard of.”
“Like what?” the professor asks as he follows Zavida toward our destination. “Are you people keeping unicorns in herds down here or something? If so, I have a question.”
Frowning as we walk, I shake my head. “Of course not. The damn things are just as rare here as up there. Why would you ask that specifically?”
“We’re looking for one,” the bear replies. “But even if we find it on our own?—”
Briarton gives him a dirty look. “Not the time, Lucas.”
“Uh, guys?” the Gemini twin says with a confused look. “We know a unicorn. Are they really so rare? Rogue knows a chick on her team who’s one.”
The mage and the hockey player look at one another, and then Iggy finally says, “Male ones are. They have the specific power we need, but itonlyruns in males. Conversely, it runs in females in pegasi or, the legends say, in alicorns.”
“You’d be more likely to find a goddamn alien than one of those,” I mutter as we cross the quad. “Some people even think they were a myth entirely.”
“Not a myth,” Zavida and the professor say at the same time.
Everyone else looks at them expectantly, and finally, Zavvie is the one who speaks. “They existed, but like many mythical shifters, they’ve been driven into hiding so deep they appear extinctorhave gone extinct. No one is sure which. There are a decent number of lesser-known mythical species who have done so. Some conspiracy theorists surmise the groups in question may have escaped to realms more suited to their needs, where they can hide easily.”
“Just so, Zavida,” Briarton says in a very teacher-esque tone. “The oldest books in the Briarton family libraries suggest that being hunted for their body parts, powers, or beauty drove things like some genders of the equine mythicals, some reptilians, some aquatic, and even some avians to leave for Faerie, the Legendary realm, and the Godly realm. People surmise that a few have gone to the Astral or Hell. Some of the ones assumed to have come here are the hydras, shades, furies, Scylla, and djinn.”
This time, I snort loudly as I cut in, “Djinn donotlive here, mage. And no one has seen a fury since the days when the original deities were on the court together—before my father and his caliphate.”
“Seriously?”
Zavvie nods, pushing his glasses up. “Absolutely. Before our parents, it was the council of the underworld gods or what have you. Humans think it was all different things, but in reality, it was all of them. They got bored, as all immortals do, and sort of let the whole place go to pot. That’s what our parents swear they rose against after the last Games.”
“Except they’re even worse than bored deities,” Angelo says with a knowing grin. “That whole absolute power thing is a bitch, especially when it’s your parents. That’s why you and your royal buddies are in Darkstar’s face, right?”
“I could suggest the same to you regarding your father’s empire,” I shoot back at the demon.
He blinks, then shrugs. “Duh.”
“No one’s asking why we’re here,” Lucas says with a sigh. “Very clique-ish, man.”
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I try not to get frustrated. “We know why you’re here. If you meanherelike in Hell, it’s because the women called your woman. If it’s about joining this ridiculous alliance, I assume it’s clearing your murder accusation and probably because gargoyles and gorgons both have insanely powerful senses of justice. Morgana likely can not bear to know assholes are trying to turn all the realms into fucking terrible places.”
He blinks, then grins broadly. “Yeah, actually. That’s just about it. My mate is freaking awesome, huh?”
Damn, he’s young and naïve.
“She is, Lucas, but you’re definitely heading into a battle that could kill us all,” Zavida says softly. “Your family all know that, don’t they?”
“Uh, of course they do. You thinkourcrispy-ass dragon hasn’t mentioned it a time or a thousand? Come on, little dude. Kaspar is easily as moody as that royal guy you love, and much less talkative. Herelishestelling everyone, including Li, that we’re idiots. It’s why he’s not getting in the sexy times; he doesn’t know how to work as a team.”
Angelo blinks, then snickers, and the humor works its way to the others quickly. He raises his fist to bump the bear’s. “Yeah, that’s why Reb is on the outs, too. He can’t seem to quit tripping over his own bullshit, and before he was snatched, it kept him out of a lot of fun stuff. Honestly, that should be a lesson to anyone else putting their pride or fear or anger or whatever before the good stuff… he’s got to be regretting it wherever he is.”
I stalk faster towards the Beastiary zone, but Zavida catches up to me easily. “They’re right, Jasper. Anything could happen any day. Is it worth fighting everyone, your dragon, and Kat because you feel duped?”
Honestly? I don’t fucking know anymore, but I also don’t know how to forgive the betrayal, either.
Fourteen
ROGUE
Man, this kid issobehind, and we’re going to drop another enormous bomb on her.
I look at Morgana, and she grimaces a little before she replies, “Since demons aren’t likely to find their fated mates in Hell—from what you’re saying—they probably glanced over it when you talked about it in class. Supes who grow up on the surface who aren’t ‘lost ones’ are taught starting in middle school by parents, counselors, and doctors what that means and how to know when you find one.”
