They fear a loss of control.
That’s why the blackout they knew was coming had so many people agitated, not the storm. Even the dragons that aren’t interested in the war of power still cling to the control they do have like it’s their gospel. Hell, the triplets are just as guilty, likely without realizing it. Kahl obsesses over their routine at the forge and keeping his family safe, the way Kaiden side eyes everyone in town like he won’t hesitate to turn on them at a moment’s notice, and Kinsley instigating pissing matches with random people over the smallest of slights. Though to be fair, he uses annoyances instead of actually fighting them to make his point. For all their claims that Hadeon is dull and they are just making their own entertainment, I think they secretly thrive on the routine. They control their little section of this world, making sure it doesn’t fall to outsiders.
They can’t handle the chaos the outside world wants to throw their way, so they opt out. Between Ezra, her men, and mine, they’ve risen to the height of power in the city, and fully intend to keep it. Their confidence stems from the fact that they’ve already clawed their way to the top oftheirworld, they just have no interest in expanding their territory.
“When they aren’t comfortable in their position in the hierarchy, they lash out like feral animals,” I murmur to myself, still staring at the man curiously, finger still hovering above the trigger as my gun rests on my knee, pointed in his direction.
“Fuck is she talking about?” he growls at Kahl, not even acknowledging me as a person.
If the last year has shown me anything, it’s far too many people only do when they think they have a chance of taking me as a mate, before figuring out I’m defective or not interested. That’s when their true colors show; not that it wasn’t clear from the first moment I met their eyes and got a read on them.
And Kaiden, Kinsley, and Kahl have made it abundantly clear that they consider me theirs despite the fact none of us are fully mated. So no point bothering to pretend to be a decent person since the chance is off the table as far as he’s concerned.
“You care to try that again? Maybe with less ‘asshole’ in the tone this time,” Kaiden offers, extending a hand to help me up.
When I take it, my bracelet brushes against his hand and I freeze. Curbing the impulse to bare my teeth, I stuff the feeling down, not wanting to lose control of myself like that with a pissed off stranger two feet away.
Aw hell, I’m a hypocrite. Though to be fair, I’ve had control issues since I was human, so I shouldn’t be surprised they’ve been exacerbated during all of this.
The stranger gets to his feet, glaring, but I note the small step back he takes despite his bravado. “All that feral animal shit. And she seriously had to get that close to fucking shoot me?” he continues.
I take several steps backward, Kinsley watching me all the while, his face tight with concern. “You’re alright, love,” he murmurs, taking a slow step in my direction like he’s afraid I’m about to run.
When I’m back at the entrance of the alley, I raise my gun without hesitation and fire six more times, each shot aimed at the man’s crotch because I’m petty like that. “I didn’t have to.” I shrug, not that he can see it, but hoping it comes across in my tone. “Just wanted to test how close I could get before you realized I was there. Shame, really, after what good things I’ve heard about this place.”
His face twists in annoyance as he clutches himself, but his hostile protests die on his lips when the telltale sound of a handgun being cocked surrounds us, timed perfectly on a pause in the music as it shifts to a new song.
“It’s just a game, Nate. No reason to get so riled up for losing,” Kahl calmly states, surprising me that he beat Kaiden to the punch. “Maybe just take it as a lesson to be more aware of your surroundings. That’s the point of this whole thing, don’t you think?”
There’s a heavy beat of silence, the testosterone in the alley refusing to be washed away by the rain. “You’re right,” Nate finally relents through clenched teeth. “If a chick can get the drop on me, I need to up my game.”
Kaiden clucks his tongue. “Saige. If you’re going to back down, no use tossing around insults on the way to try and save face.”
He crosses his arms, leaning against the brick wall with his paintball gun held loosely in his hand. His entire posture is deceptively casual, like he doesn’t even register Nate as a potential threat. It’s clear by Nate’s tight jaw that it grates at the man, and I have to applaud the balls on my men for how seamlessly they work in tandem.
“Sorry, Saige,” Nate finally announces, eyes spewing disdain.
But none of it is directed at me. Each spark of anger is hurled right back at my mates as he barely even acknowledges me, noting me as nothing more than the Veles’ inconsequential mate.
I make a mental note of his features, from the buzzed, dark hair, to the set of his stubble-covered jaw. Not because I’m scared, but for the first time in a long time, I’m thoroughly pissed off. I have no doubt that he would stab any one of my mates in the back the second he got the chance. And where there’s one, there’s always more waiting in the wind for the opportunity.
They claim Hadeon is a peaceful place, but it’s only safe because people are afraid of defying them. There can only be so much camaraderie and trust in a world that thrives on seeing everyone else as competition.
“No worries. Between the storm and ungodly loud music, it’s easy enough to sneak up on people,” I concede, figuring it better not to show my hand too soon. You catch more flies with honey than vinegar, as they say. “Sorry for bruising your organs. In a couple of weeks, I’m sure it’ll be like it never even happened.”
He finally gives me the time of day, raising his eyebrow at me. I bite my tongue, not knowing what I said to incite the reaction. The last thing I want is to make an already tense situation worse, so I try to fade into the background, finding it far more difficult than ever before.
Kaiden raises his gun suddenly and fires down the alley, Nate ducking and whirling around on instinct. We take the excuse to end the conversation, bolting back the way we came and veering left.
Eventually, we stop beneath the fire escape of the tallest building in the area. I put a hand to the stitch in my side, gulping down panting breaths. The guys hesitate, looking far better off than I am, and have a mental debate with merely their eyes on the next flash of lightning. But while they’re experts on Hadeon, they obviously haven’t had much experience with intense storms.
About six months ago a tree nearly took me out, struck by lightning before I ever saw it coming. It wasn’t even half as bad of weather as it is now; more of a dry, summer storm, but enough to leave a lasting impression.
So I’ve been monitoring the seconds that lapse between the flash of lightning to when the thunder sounds, seeing how quickly the storm is moving and estimating how much longer we’re going to be able to stay out here before having to call it a night. It’s still about five miles out, give or take, but I know that can change in an instant. No matter how much fun I’m having, it’s impossible to fully let my guard down, even at the guys’ insistence that everything will be alright; as clearly disputed by our encounter with Nate.
“We can’t climb up the metal staircase of death to the tallest building in the city with metal guns, guys. Hard no.” They grimace, knowing I’m right, but still disappointed.
Kahl shrugs a single shoulder, eyeing the surrounding area for a blip of color since it’s currently back to a shroud of darkness. “Would have been a hell of a lot easier. No one could shoot us and we’d be able to pick them all off one by one.”
