Page 29 of Fatality on the Field

Sighing in relief as The Keeper and the various demons, finish the chant that the now humanoid Anton has to repeat. It wasn’t a long ritual—I’ve seen my mother do a few doozies in my time—but the anticipation of what it will reveal is driving us all a little crazy. Even Kat shifted back to her baggy sweats so she could watch the demons complete this and see what her caliphate friend will be accompanied by.

“I’m kind of excited, but also anxious again because who did this shit for me without me knowing?!” she whispers to Kaspar and me as we watch together. “I definitely would remember if something like this was happening out behind the Jamesons’ house.”

“You might,” Liam says mildly. “Or you might not if someone could dose you with a multitude of human or supernatural things. Living amongst them, it is beyond easy to do simple magic to convince them to assist with dirty deeds, especially if they are predisposed to whatever you’re asking.”

Kat gives him a pointed look. “You mean if I had twin foster brothers who hated me it would be easy to get them to drug me without even having to try hard? Yeah, it probably would be. And I wouldn’t put it past those assholes, but… I just don’t think it’s something that happened after Dottie showed. I sort of wonder if they sent her, and once she was in the house, did it? I don’t know except that I could see her the moment I caught her in the safe.”

“Which doesn’t sound right for someone without an awakened demon based on what these folks have told us,” I say grimly. “You need to do some serious research into those fosters, their town, and anything else in that area, Kat. I have this nagging feeling that it’s going to tell you more than you think.”

“Are ye all ready to meet the newly accepted familiar of Master Anton Aldaric of the Pride line?”

Blinking as Arces calls out to us, I turn to see all the demons standing in line in front of the rainbow-haired guy. Our current host is standing like a proud papa as he waits for an answer, so I reply, “Yes?”

“That’s not enough! A familiar has been adopted in Hell. It is a joyous celebration!”

My eyes dart to Kat and she shrugs, her smile widening before she waves her hands and says, “Yay!!!!”

That seems to get the big Viking demon going, so I elbow Kas and give the others a look until they clap or make noise. We’re all wound too tightly to be too effusive at the moment, but I’d prefer not to offend the big demon who is helping us. Also, his excitement is a bit cute if you look past the grandiose expectations for a desolate corral. However, once we’ve made enough noise for him, Arces steps aside and Anton strolls out from behind him to stand stiffly in front of the crowd.

I squint as a coal-black, tiny furry thing jankily stumbles out from behind the demon’s legs. It’s definitely not something I’d recognize from the surface like Kat’s familiar, but I guess it’s something indigenous to the realm. Leaning in to Kat, I whisper, “What is it?”

“I have no idea, but doesn’t it sort of look like a Goth⁠—”

“—kangaroo,” Liam says as he watches the thing try to move without falling over its big feet. “You’re right, Kat; that’s exactly what it looks like.”

Anton harrumphs at our words, his eyes flashing in indignation even though he doesn’t look very sure himself. “Not a Goth kangaroo—the learning up there is abysmal.”

“Aye, it’s true. This here is a cacodaemaroo,” The Keeper says as his chest puffs up. “They’re very selective buggers and I don’t have very many in my pens because they choose a person so rarely. This one is the very first one I took in, and it took me quite a long time to find him a friend so he wouldn’t glare at me from a corner for years on end.”

“But… Arces… he seems like a baby?” Kat says as she scrunches her face up. “Does that mean all the animals here that we can’t see are babies? And why wasn’t Dottie a baby when she showed up?”

“Sounds like your familiar was planted. Right?” Archie looks to Lucas for support as he returns from the lineup. “I mean, it’s possible.”

“I actually believed that from the beginning, if you’ll remember,” Jasper says as he looks at his caliphate brothers and then at my friend. “But we did check her out, and Arces has since cleared the little rat as well. Whoever raised and trained her to the age she was when she broke into your human house wasn’t looking to harm you, I suppose. That doesn’t mean I’m not watching.”

I roll my eyes. “Her kinkajou is not a sleeper agent. Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Agreed. Prince Pissypants has definitely hopped on the crazy train with that one,” Salem adds before he walks over to Kat. “Besides, I live with KK and Dottie. Other than eating my food and lounging in the living room while Kat obsesses over studies, I don’t see either of them do much that anyone would worry about. Well, also she gets injured a lot. Don’t want to forget that.”

“And whose fault is that?” Kaspar mutters darkly. His fury at their lack of knowledge about training a new shifter is getting more hysterical by the minute. “If you’d focus less on how she’s a spy and more on how to help her survive your stupid games, that might not be the case.”

“Well, well!” Arces says as he dusts his hands off dramatically. “Since I am redundant here now that the caco pup is bonded with its new companion, I will head into the house. Aldaric, once they release the upcoming schedules, I will shift yours to include familiar work. Until then, you may join Kat if she allows it.”

With that, the big man and his metal bird stomp across the pen toward the large house without another word.

I can’t figure out if he’s just allergic to the bickering of the demons, or if he’s ensuring that he doesn’t have to fight the Prince of Hell for defending my new friend—either way, I like his style.

* I accept our fate and your loyalty until the fires go out, may it never be so.

eighteen

LUCAS

The fancy demon looks completely distraught as his eyes land on the tiny baby animal. It’s obvious he has a few issues with… well, probably everything. But all the Hell folks think it’s a big deal, and unlike at home, it’s not a common occurrence. He’s gonna need to work that shit out and accept the little guy or… I don’t know, actually. I’m not sure what would happen other than the Keeper man being pretty brassed off.

I’m a polar bear and I wouldn’t want that guy on my ass.

My mate’s new friend is the one who breaks the silence now that we’re in the pen without the Viking demon. “Annie? Are you okay? You look… disturbed.”