“It is,” I say as I glance at the dragon. “Your biology might have extended your ability to survive, but the siren would have been harmed. We owe Dr. Danckwardt a great deal of gratitude for assisting without reporting your presence to anyone on campus.”
“I serve at the pleasure of the crown, Master Slash. At Discordia, that means Prince Jasper and his caliphate.”
Bullshit… that old goat seems to serve at the pleasure of our newest member, and he doesn’t even try to hide it.
The Prince takes his dose from the bowl and makes a face. “Disgusting, but not the worst thing I’ve ever tasted, unfortunately. Should we go upstairs and get our mate to drink now?”
“The doctor should, but the rest of us should congregate in Jasper’s room as planned. I agree with Oriel and Xerxes that interrupting their session would not be wise.”
Kaspar snorts, looking around at all the men assembled before he asks, “Do you all truly believe that we’re going to get our asses kicked if we so much as peek in that doorway?”
Clapping him on the shoulder, Lucas shakes his head. “Lady M was very clear about leaving them alone until morning. I don’t think pushing our way in is worth her wrath, big guy. You’re on the rocks with the prof as it is.”
That gets a laugh out of almost everyone, and I cough to get their attention once more.
“Doc, if you want to go up first, it would be better. That way, you’re inside speaking with the little demon and her guests when we come up the staircase to go into the royal suite.”
Without a word, the plague-masked demon creates another portal, steps in, and disappears.
“I guess he agreed?” Archie says as he looks at me. When I nod, he scratches his chin. “You’ve got a lot of folks who don’t talk much around here. I don’t know how your woman deals with it. Open and honest shit is much faster than simmering to yourself. That’s one of the last things we all smacked Reb with when we were all together.”
Damon grins a little. “He’s right. We sort of demanded that our grumpy asshole participate, and it really helped things move along faster. Now he’s off being tortured or whatever, and it’s hurting Rogue that they didn’t come together sooner. Don’t let that shit happen to you, especially if you’re headed to those fucking death matches, man.”
“Today is really full of people telling me off, and I’m not even allowed to respond to the insults,” the dragon growls. “Look, we get it. No need to keep shoving it down our throats. I’m sure your prince and the professor agree.”
“Poor little dragon,” I shoot back. “At least you weren’t gasping for breath on the arena field. Your bear has definitely had it worse.”
That gets the attention of the Fae princeandthe dragon, with the former heading over to pull the young shifter into his arms. “The shark is right. I didn’t properly greet you, nor did I check you myself. I am sorry, cub.”
I knew they were together as Jasper and Zav are; this display has proven it to me.
“Has enough time gone by yet?” The bear in question looks at each of my brothers, and then me from the circle of his lover’sarms. “I’m pretty ragged out from that whole near-death thing, and I’d kill for a place to lie down.”
Oriel smiles again, nodding at the hockey player. “Yeah, I think we gave it enough time. Let’s head up these back stairs, and we’ll find you a place to sprawl, Lucas. Maybe we’ll figure out how to provide better hospitality once we’re all within range of the women, too.”
“I doubt it, but hope springs eternal,” Xerxes says cheerily as they gesture to the door at the end. “Come on, everyone. If we’re all headed back, we can text Jasper’s group that they should, too. If they haven’t figured out whatever the hell they were trying to get by now, I highly doubt it’s happening tonight.”
“Don’t be so sure,” I mutter to the cobra demon as the others follow Oriel into the stairway. “When Jasper puts his mind to shit, it’s seldom that he fails. It’s just getting him to listen that’s hard.”
“Do you think he’s listening to a random group of supes, none of whom are royal or you?” X hisses at me quietly. “I don’t. Zav is there, whichmighthelp, but our leader isn’t great at taking advice from unknowns. Hell, he isn’t even great at taking advice from his caliphate.”
I sigh, realizing that my brother is right. The Prince will argue with the elder Gemini and probably the professor, which will slow down whatever process they’re using to locate… whatever it is. “Should we text Zavida now and save our guests from the pain?”
“Nope. I’m digging all this hard-truth shit that everyone seems to be dishing out to all the stubborn idiots. Let someone kickJasper’s ass that isn’t KK for once; it might help get his head out of it.”
Covering my mouth so the others don’t hear my laughter, I give X a reproachful expression. “You need to be more cautious about talking that way in front of these people. Our prince still has a reputation to maintain. He will be furious if we make him look like a fool in front of the Fae royal especially.”
“Slash, I hate to break it to you, but Jasper Eversore can make himself look stupid with no one else’s intervention. That’s one of his downfalls, and it’s because he’s goddamn stubborn. He’s going to have to figure that out before it gets us killed in the Games.”
As if I didn’t already know that.
Thirty-One
MORGANA
Before Kat can respond, there’s a loud knock at the door. Rogue and I both freeze, looking at her as the kinkajou poses like a fighter and the chicken screeches.
She blinks as if confused, tilting her head when another knock rings out. “Who would knock? The guys all have the code, and I doubt we have the only polite bad guy in the world standing out there.”
