Page 34 of Hell’s Weapon

“Don’t look worried, Zephyr. I don’t blame you for the fact that one of the contestants managed to get one of the staff cards.” Finally, something that brings cooling relief to the acid that’s been swimming in my stomach for the last several hours. “It was a good idea you had, to make all the staff memorise the entire contestant deck. At least anyone breaking in here wouldn’t learn much.”

I think of the site plans and game summaries in my desk and quickly slide open the drawers beside me to check those are still there.

“Yes, there isn’t anything overly confidential kept on site,” I respond, quickly counting the sheets and feeling more relief when I confirm none of them are missing. Sitting back up I run a hand through my hair before stretching out my arms, the tiredness really taking hold now that I’ve sat down.

“Get some rest, Officer.” Hades moves to stand. “We can catch up this evening.”

“Wait. Did you find anything out from the soul?”

“Sadly not. Their memory of the killing was hazy. It was quick, they’d been asleep and didn’t take in any features of the killer.”

“Damn, I was holding out for that. Whoever it is, Hades, they’re good. Like beyond human good.”

“I know. I think this second one confirms that the Angels must be involved. One of the contestants must be more than we believe.”

“You think they’ve been given divine magic?” It would take an Arch Angel to do it but some of their strongest have the power to imbue some of their power into a mortal. It wouldn’t last very long but maybe that’s why they’ve acted so quickly.

“It’s plausible, don’t you think?”

“It is. It shouldn’t last more than another week though, unless they’ve found a way to top it up down here.” I stifle a yawn, my mind trying to conjure up the ways in which we could test this theory.

“Rest, Garrick. I’ll come back at dusk and we can talk properly then.” Hades disappears in his smoke, and I’m left alone in my office. Slumping back in my chair I tap my fingers on the wooden surface. Hades was much more lenient about the officer pass going missing than I thought he would be. I know that the contestants couldn’t really access much information but it's still a huge screw up on our part.

Another yawn drags its way out of my chest and forces my mind to empty. I need to rest. If I get some sleep, I will be able to focus more. I can still feel the sun’s rays on my face from my short walk across the courtyard.

Fuck it.

I march out of the office, yell to everyone that they are to go to Elisa with any problems, that she’ll prioritise for me, for when I get back and I hightail it out of there. I barely remember heading to the main exit of the games compound, but as my feet hit the grass outside the fences I shift.

Immediately, my muscles relax and the tension I was carrying slips deep into the recesses of my mind, getting locked away for when I return to my human form. My black coat absorbs the sun’s heat, which is now much higher in the sky. Digging my claws into the earth I take off into the wilderness. I can’t go far but the freedom feels fucking glorious.

I run for a bit before my stomach grouches at me, reminding me I haven’t eaten in way too long either. Leaning fully into my feline instincts I find some prey to catch, eat until I’m stuffed and then pass out on the flatbed of a rock in the sun.

Chapter 13

Tacita

Getting out of the Officers’ building was a lot harder than getting in. Chaos broke out as another body was found, and I spent nearly an hour trapped in Officer Probably-stressed-as-shit’s office. It seems Tarron had finally realised his pass had gone missing as well because that piece of information spread like wildfire amongst the guards scrambling to ensure their quarters were not being infiltrated.

Idiots.

I managed to sneak back up to the top floor using a second set of stairs I found thanks to Garrick’s handy maps. Going back out the front door was no longer an option with guards running in and out.

On the positive side, it meant I could leave Tarron’s pass on Garrick’s bed, although I wish I had a camera I could set up just to see his reaction when he finds it. And even better, leaving from the roof meant I had to fly myself back to the dormitories, so I was finally able to let my wings free. Of course I couldn’t just hop it across the compound because I’d have been seen. I’d taken off over the perimeter fencing instead and had circled the place leaving nearly a mile in radius and using the darkness of the mountains looming over the valley to hide.

I’d landed just out of reach of the cameras inside the fencing, in one of the black spots I’d used on my way out and then had simply retraced my steps.

It was about an hour before dawn when I’d swiped my wristband on my door and snuck into bed. Thankful that Milo was sleeping soundly.

Unfortunately, it's only a couple of hours later that he stirs, getting up and using the bathroom. I pull the duvet up over my head and groan as the light pouring into the room threatens to burn my retinas.

The shower starts up as I roll over, trying to get five more minutes of sleep. Thoughts of last night keep that from happening, however. And it's not thoughts of what I learned over at the Guards’ quarters. Visions of naked flesh, piercings and the hot Irish human down the hall demand my attention.

My core clenches at the memory and my temperature rises as my skin becomes sensitive in all the places he touched, kissed, and sucked. My hand moves involuntarily between my thighs, slipping below the waistband of the leggings I couldn’t be bothered to remove last night, and into my underwear. Wetness coats my fingers from how aroused I already am.

This is ridiculous. He’s a human. He was a means to an end. A delicious one granted, but a human none the less.

Although, he won’t be human much longer if he survives this thing. The thought of Wyatt with powers sends a shiver down my spine. If I could place a bet, I’d put good money on him becoming a shifter. He’s much too over zealous and not nearly bookish enough to become a witch.