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He ignored my side-eye when I said, “Of course you’d prioritize your enjoyment.”
“Who wouldn’t? It’s scary when I’m bored. I start doing destructive things.”
“Like tampering with a nice administrative manager’s desk?” I suggested.
“And spreading rumors that Clave has a secret succubus lover.”
I snorted. “As funny as that is, that’s not a convincing enough rumor. You need to do better.”
He turned and held me by the shoulders with that hopeful, pleading expression again. “Really? What do you think I can do better?”
This man was pure chaos. I knew what to expect from him and yet he was still so unpredictable. “Like anyone would believe a succubus would try to cross the Gate for Clave, of all people. He’d be a terrible lay. No chance has Clave fucked in any way that’s interesting.”
“I don’t know about that,” Razai said as we continued forward. “He could be a closet dom. Maybe a bondage type of man. He’s all about control and having his way.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Okay, let’s not give me that image or talk about how much you’ve thought this through.”
“So many hours spent awake wondering,” Razai said evilly.
Then, someone else caught my eye. Nathaniel Harlock, dressed in his athletic gear and his black baseball hat, warmed up near the weight room.
“Hey, Razai? Would you mind letting me hang out for a little? I want to see how Ember does.”
“And I’ll pretend like you don’t want to get closer to a certain attack victim in the class?” he replied. “Sure! But you better be ready to assist.”
“I’ll get changed.”
Fifteen minutes later, I jogged over to Razai in my leggings, running shoes, and sweatshirt.
He was in a white tank top and black pants, yelling out that the time limit was almost up. The students running and climbing through Betty were already covered in sweat and mud. Everyone’s hair was damp from the foggy air. The sound of pounding feet, rattling chains, grunts, and gasps made it seem like the torture chamber it truly was.
Ember currently slogged herself through a mud pit alongside three other people. Her magenta hair now half-brown, she looked determined as hell even though she clearly lagged behind.
“Come on, Ellis,” a cruel voice sneered. “Thought you deserved to be here!”
I muttered, “Fucking Cole Highland needs to shut the fuck up for once in his life.”
“What? Did you think filing that report would actually scare him?” Razai asked, nudging me with an arm.
I glared. “How did you know about that?”
He grinned. “Everyone knows about it. Teachers, that is. The little new community coordinator reporting the son of a board member like she’s bulletproof. You’ve got balls, Detective. I’ll give you that.”
“Why wouldn’t I be bulletproof?” I asked. “I’m not even going to be here next month. Might as well do whatever the hell I want, which happens to be the right thing in this case.”
“You’re not wrong, but you have to be smart about these types of things. Like pairing him up with Darby Holland for one-on-one combat. She’s the one with black hair at the top of the climbing wall.”
My mouth fell open when Darby came into view. She was stacked—tall and built like a warrior with bulging triceps I could see all the way from here.
“Oh hell yes,” I breathed. “Put him with her.”
But Cole had a different idea. All it took was a flash of my failed attention. All the students made it to the grass, waiting for Razai to find the role sheet he’d lost in his office. They panted and groaned and generally looked terrified, especially the new students.
I took my eyes off Ember for only a second. When I tried to find her again, she was gone. And in that second, Cole had moved to the back of the group. He stared down, hunched, his body jerking like he was—
No. No fucking way.
Students around him averted their eyes and turned their backs to him. I ran like the fucking devil, and sure enough, there she was.
