Page 86 of The Fake Divination Offense
I throw another glance out the front window. The cheerleaders’ bus is still ahead of us on the highway.
With a deep breath in, I bellow out the next line of the song.
Darian grins, and soon the whole bus is back to belting out the song. Even Marlow’s signing the lyrics, bending her body dramatically to stretch the words.
Darian kicks his feet up on the chair in front of him, fingers dancing over his guitar.
Aaron and another tank getinto it, singing the chorus at each other in a way that feels like a threat.
A thought hits me square in the chest.
The Chimeras would never.
Never make fools of themselves like this. Never havefunlike this. It was serious game play,we are intense and intimidating always, or nothing. That attitude is why someone connected to Urzothshould havefit right in.
I lean over to Darian. “Your god’s happy?”
What I want to ask is,You’re happy with your god?But that answer’s obvious.
He flicks a look at me along with a slightly confused smile. “Yeah.” Aaron hits a note I wasn’t sure humans were capable of reaching, and Darian winces. “Well. Debatable.”
I watch Darian perform and I sing along with my team, and it isn’t envy that I feel. I just feel glad for him, but ultimately, nothing for me.
Because I don’t want a relationship with Urzoth like Darian has with his god. If Ihadthat kind of relationship with Urzoth, I would never have had a problem with the Chimeras.
But this? Singing all together, laughing at each other?
It’s so much better.
By the time the buses pull into the Hellhounds HQ, I’ve almost stopped worrying about Bel. About the Galaxrien news. I’m a little more centered, and as I disembark, I give fist bumps to my teammates. They all return them eagerly, making jokes about the ride or the game.
Off the bus, Darian pulls me in for a hug, which surprises me enough that when I step away, I cock my head at him.
“We got you,” he tells me, looping his guitar case over his head. “Next week, with the Chimeras. We all got you.”
My brows vault up. I haven’t told them—anyone—how I feel about the Chimeras. Is it that obvious? There were enough reports speculating about it, and the Chimeras players haven’t exactly been subtle over their feelings in interviews about losing me to the Hellhounds.
“I… thanks,” I manage. And smile. “They won’t know what hit ’em.”
“Fuck yeah!” Aaron clambers off the bus. “You’reourO Monroe now. Vegas can kiss my ass.”
Marlow follows him down the steps and winks. “They’ll need to get in line, hot stuff.”
Aaron blushes. Full-on chin-to-hairlineblushes.
Marlow seems oblivious and prances away. Darian shares ayou caught that, too, huh?look with me before he also heads off.
I smile. At all of this. And I take their assurances, the team’s parting Hellhounds barks, and tuck them safely away.
Maybe we’re not so cordial after all.
Maybe we’re almost… friendly?
Bel’s across the lot, digging through his bus’s luggage compartment for his bag. He used the illusion spray before we left, so he’s in his human form now, but his pink hair is the same.
He turns, hiking his bag over his shoulder, and his eyes lock with mine.
He smiles.
