by Jayce Carter
Hunter strolled up at the front, looking entirely at ease with the situation. “Lucifer, nice to see you.”
“I doubt that. I rarely let creatures into my palace.”
“Which is why these competitions are so useful. How else will I get to drink all your booze?”
Lucifer made a disgruntled sound. “I take it you four are here because of Ava?”
Grant had his hands tucked into his pockets. “Of course not. I’m just really interested in fighting to the death for the entertainment of others. I’m a giver, you know.”
Troy didn’t look at Lucifer at all, his gaze locked on me. I could see his wolf peek through, as if they both needed to reassure themselves I was okay.
Even without him asking, I nodded, letting him know I was fine.
Kase remained silent, though I got the sense he was absorbing everything. The man was too smart to not already have a few plans on how to handle the situation.
And, oddly enough, I felt better. I didn’t feel so alone, so lost.
“As a competitor, I don’t think I’d be out of line to ask for a moment with the guest of honor,” Hunter said.
“Last request? At least you’re realistic about your odds,” Lucifer said, his hand still on my shoulder.
“I recall being undefeated,” Hunter said.
Lucifer snorted softly. “And I recall you backing out when facing an elder demon.”
“The prize wasn’t worth it.”
“My favors are worth everything.”
“Not always.”
Lucifer shook his head, then stood. “Very well. Enjoy your time, competitors. It will likely be your last.” With that, Lucifer left, giving me the chance to bolt from my seat and throw myself against Hunter.
His lips were familiar and warm and perfect. He grabbed my ass as I wrapped my legs around him, desperate for that moment of connection.
Silence from around us made me pause and break the kiss.
With Lucifer gone, everyone was staring at us, including Persephone, her mouth hanging open.
I frowned, then whispered to Hunter, “We’re in hell—public displays of affection can’t be that taboo. I saw two people screwing by the snack table earlier.”
Hunter lowered me to my feet, making sure I rubbed against his front on the way down. “You, shadow-girl, were seated beside Lucifer. That is the top of the food chain here. We are competitors, who are allowed in the party so people can place bets, mostly. We’re at the bottom. This little show was the equivalent of the princess rushing off a throne to kiss a bellboy. You’re breaking quite a few unspoken rules.”
In for a penny…
I turned to offer a searing kiss to Grant, who smiled softly as if thrilled by my lack of proper etiquette. Kase didn’t lose himself, choosing instead for a quick, light kiss. No doubt he was too busy studying the room and potential threats to give in.
Troy pressed his lips to my head, as he’d done before, the chaste way he liked to give me affection but didn’t care to do so in public.
Except with Kase…
“Want to share what you’re thinking?” Grant asked, that quirk to his lips that said even if he hadn’t been reading my mind, he probably didn’t need to.
“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 to grant, he will give.”
“A favor can’t be that useful.”
“I’m sure you’ve heard about a deal with the devil, haven’t you?” Grant gestured toward Lucifer, who stood across the courtyard talking to someone I didn’t recognize.
Not that I recognized many people…
“Well, Lucifer has a lot of sway. He can make life very comfortable for someone here and could even orchestrate a ride out of this level, to somewhere else, to a better area of the afterlife. People have been lining up to fight and die for these favors forever.”
“So what would you ask for?”
Before anyone could answer, a loud, low sound reverberated through the courtyard. It rattled up through the floor, into my feet. I covered my ears, the sound so deep it felt as if it could throw off the steady rhythm of my heart.
When it stopped, I turned to find Lucifer looking directly at me, at all of us.
“That’s our sign,” Grant said.
I caught Troy’s hand, the fear becoming real. “Don’t go. “
“Don’t really have a choice,” he said, turning his hand over so he could grasp my wrist in return. “We’ll be fine.”
“You better be,” I responded.
Grant snorted. “We’d better do as she says. Normally women can only make our lives miserable as long as we’re alive, but with this one? Well, death doesn’t seem to have much on her. Pretty sure she’ll make eternity a bitch.”
Hunter chuckled, and despite the seriousness of the moment, I could have sworn even Kase and Troy grinned as they followed Grant.
“What if that’s the last thing you ever say to me?” I called after them.
Grant turned back toward me and held his arms out. “Then you’ll know what a pain in the ass you are. I’m good with that.”
All I could do was watch them walk away, and hope Grant’s stupid joke didn’t come true.
Chapter Fourteen
I’d assumed the competition would occur elsewhere, but when all the partygoers moved to the outer edge of the courtyard, creating an empty space at the center, I realized nothing would be as simple as I’d thought.
Lucifer waved his hand and the area in front of us shimmered, then cracked through the ground and space. It seemed to open on itself until it showed somewhere else.
I shifted side to side, and the view changed as if inside that small area—a cylinder only about ten feet across—there were hundreds of feet inside. Even with that, however, I could somehow see all the details of the large, open, desert space.
“What is that?” I asked out loud.
Lucifer didn’t turn to look at me as he answered. “I attempted live competitions before, but cleaning blood stains from my stone floors became tiresome. We open this small tear to a pocket universe within hell for these, now. It enables us to see the events while at a safe distance.”
I peered past the space to see a few people meandering near the food tables. “Safe distance meaning near the snacks?”
He made a noncommittal sound before placing his elbow on the arm rest between us. “You seem rather attached to those immortals.”
“Surviving hell on my own wasn’t all that likely. I get attached to the people who keep me alive.” Saying the lie chafed, but it was better he thought they were simply a means to an end for me. Giving the devil any leverage to use screamed of a bad idea.
“Of course.” The slightest curl of his lip said he didn’t buy my story. “Well, now that you are here, and under my protection, you won’t need them anymore, will you?”
I swallowed hard, wanting to tell him to shove it but knowing it was a piss-poor idea. Instead, I leaned forward, narrowing my eyes to try and see more of wherever the men were.
The teams were spread out on the edge of a large circle with tall stone walls surrounding it. There didn’t seem a direct light source, like a sun, but it was brighter than where we were. The sand was a light brown, but huge splotches dyed it red all across the obvious battlefield.
Finding my competitors wasn’t all that difficult. The other groups were made of hell creatures, ones that didn’t look close to human. There, at the far side, were the men I was looking for.
They wore different clothing, as if they’d been given things for the competition. Each group was color-coordinated in a jumpsuit, and my team wore black.
It seemed oddly fitting. They faced off against yellow, red, blue, green and purple, but at least it would make it easier to tell them apart amidst the chaos.
“Why did they change?” I asked.
“To make it easier to see who is on what team, and to prevent advantages for creatures such as shifters, who could impersonate another team. Also, I prefer combatants stand on their own abilities, so we strip them of their weapons. I like a fair fight.”
I doubted that. Lucifer struck me as the sort of man who considered a fair fight one he could win. He judged everything by his own power, skewing the rules to help him.
There was no reason to say that out loud, though, so I kept it to myself.
My stomach grumbled, not out of hunger but anxiety. I knew my men were dangerous, but this was different. There was run of the mill lethal, then there was competing in hell lethal.
“Are you hungry?” Lucifer asked.
“No.”
“Then would you cease that noise you’re making?” He nodded at my stomach, as if I could have a chat and make it settle down.
“Sorry, but it isn’t something I can control.”
“You mortals are so complicated. It is a wonder you manage surviving even your short lives.”
“Yes, because planting body parts so you all can get high is a much less complicated way of life.”
I knew I kept going back to that, but it felt like a sticking point, like the thing I couldn’t get past.
I was sitting on a chair made of bone, there were demons with hooves and horns around and people happily masticated bloody chunks of raw meet.
I didn’t feel much like being told how odd I was.
“I have questions for you, Ms. Harlin,” Lucifer said as a large bell rang. The sound didn’t come from the courtyard, though. It filtered through the barrier between the pocket realm and this one, so it was less abrasive.
“Is this really the time?”
A spark of light came up in the center of the dirt, so blinding I had to place my hand in front of it to shield my eyes.
On the edges of that, though, a figure moved so fast it was little more than a blur of yellow. In its path one of the red fell, then a green and finally a purple.
I leaned forward and my breath caught as the flash of light dissipated and that one person felled combatant after combatant.
“He can’t do that,” I said. “He isn’t even focusing on the actual enemy!”
&nbs
p; Lucifer didn’t lean forward, didn’t seem interested in the battle at all. “Of course he can. That’s part of the game. It is about the last team standing, and nothing in the rules says a team can’t remove another team.”
My heart pounded as I watched that yellow blur approached the black team, my fingers digging into the arm rests of the chair.
It closed in on Kase, and I barely stifled a gasp when it slammed into him. I expected Kase to fall, as all the others had done, a scream already in my throat.
Instead, the yellow came to a complete stop, held in place by nothing more than Kase’s grip around its neck. He jerked to the side—I felt a sickening crack more than I heard it—before the yellow team member fell limp to the ground.
“You see, you worry too much,” Lucifer said. “I may not care for your team, but there is no chance any would fall in round one. Hunter alone has taken on teams such as these in the past.”
His reassurance didn’t help much. Somehow knowing they could wasn’t the same as knowing they would. I’d learned plenty of times in my life that could didn’t matter.
I could have lived a perfectly normal life, but I didn’t. Things could have gone right, but they never did.
Could could bite my ass as far as I was concerned.
“You seem to find yourself in the wrong place a lot, Ms. Harlin.”
Dust cleared from the center of the space, where the light had shone, and I got my first look at the thing they faced.
It wasn’t that big—which was funny, because weeks ago I would have said it was huge. It was the size of a horse, but after having seen things much larger, I breathed a sigh of relief.
It looked like some strange cross between a tiger and a buffalo. It had teeth and claws, but also had horns and the large, stocky build of a buffalo. Black fur covered it, and smoke escaped its nostrils when it breathed.
Not that anyone seemed to pay it any attention.
Where I’d assumed the battle would be between the beast and the competitors, the teams were more focused on one another.
Hunter had shifted, his huge dragon form incredibly fast. He charged though the field, much like yellow had before, leaving carnage in his wake.
Troy had shifted as well, his body now taller and wider than before, his claw-tipped hands swiping. When he moved, it wasn’t like a man. He’d drop to all fours for a quick burst of speed, looking every bit the monster he thought he was.