Hell on Wheels (Faetal Attraction #1)

Bad Feeling

The ride to the arena is fairly chill, despite Reb’s disapproval of the outing. He’s worried about Rogue, I know, but she’s also right. She and Archie have commitments they can’t just slough off because we’re worried about secret enemies and shit. There’s only so long excuses about illness can hold off the inevitable; life has to go on.

Truthfully, I think it’s a good thing.

“The meeting is next week, and we’ve got everything ready, right?” Rogue says as her fingers tap out the rhythm of the music on the radio.

Archie nods, whipping into the lot of the arena the derby uses for practice. “Rebel says we have everything ready on his side. D, have you two heard from Guillermo yet?”

I frown, looking at my phone to check. Nothing yet, but the old arachnid wouldn’t dare be late for an event of this caliber. “No word yet, but I’ll give Angelo a poke. It’s better if he contacts Guillermo’s assistant for progress because he’s the big kahuna.”

Rogue turns in her seat, looking at me seriously. “Speaking of kahunas…”

I snort. “Nothing from Tracer, either. But he’s like a bad penny; he always comes back. If it was dire enough for the street gangs to contact the mafia outside of formal channels, I assume he will not let this drop.”

“You know, this is all ridiculously convenient in terms of timing.” Archie pulls up in front of the doors, then cuts the motor. “I don’t like it. And if I don’t like it, imagine how edgy your step-brother is.”

Growling, Rogue crosses her arms over her chest. “For the love of sparkly Fae dust, please let the step thing go. It’s in words only, and we weren’t even a little together. It’s weird.”

“I dunno,” I say with a smirk. “Don’t you like feeling a little taboo?”

“ No ,” she says adamantly. “Plus, if I let you joke about it when we’re alone, you’re going to slip in public. I have zero interest in having that splashed everywhere on social media.”

Archie gives me a look that says she’s nuts for thinking it won’t anyway, then leans in to give her a kiss. “Have a good practice, Wheels. Kick ass and take names. I’m sure Javi will bring us delicious things home from the restaurant for dinner.”

I bat my lashes at him. “None for me?”

His face turns a delectable pink as he leans back, letting me bridge the gap to kiss him goodbye. Rogue sighs, and he ducks his head when I pull back. “I’m learning; give me a break, guys.”

“I’m a good teacher,” I shoot back with a wink. “Now we have to go.”

The handsome hockey player waves his hand, shooing us out of the car. I hop out and open the door for Rogue, watching her slip into the public persona of the bad ass derby team captain the second her foot hits the ground. She stands still for a moment, looking around the lot before she nods at me. The sound of Archie’s car revving before he peels out is the last thing I hear before I follow my girl toward the arena.

Time to watch my girl vent her frustration on some unsuspecting teammates.

“Take it easy, Kelly!”

I cover my mouth as the coach has to call Rogue out for the umpteenth time since practice began. She’s not aiming to hurt anyone, but she’s not pulling punches, either. I think she knows their next match against the Danton Diesel Chicks will be tough, especially if Mina is infecting teams other than the Sickos and the Mounties. Some of the ‘B-team’ skaters aren’t as skilled and if they get pulled in because of an injury or fouls, it could cost them the match.

Rogue curls her lip up as she skates by me, a sure sign that she’s irritated at the direction to hold back. I can’t decide if she should tell the coach they could face hostile players or if that would make things worse. The last thing she needs is to be put on some sort of ‘leave.’ It would make Sparkles crazy, and we’d all regret that choice in the end.

That is, if she and Reb didn’t kill one another by the end.

My pocket buzzes and I roll my eyes to the ceiling in supplication. I know who it is and I’m about ready to kill him myself.

BroodyBrother: Status.

FeatheredTwin: Calm down, it’s just practice.

BroodyBrother: That’s not what I asked.

HornyTwin: Man, you gotta slow your roll. D has this covered.

BroodyBrother: Forgive me if I’m worried given the stakes.

HornyTwin: There’s worried and there’s obsessive, Rebel.

BroodyBrother: So what if I am? You both know how long?—

FeatheredTwin: As long as the rest of us, bruh. And none of us are flipping our shit.

They both shut up and I shove my phone back in my pocket. I know Reb isn’t questioning my ability to protect Rogue, but if he doesn’t give her some space, she’s going to beat his ass. The rest of us would enjoy seeing it, but also, their truce is fragile right now. I don’t want to see him fuck it up and neither does anyone else.

Suddenly, my phone goes off again, and I almost ignore it, but being beholden to Luca prevents me from doing so. I squint at the message on the screen for a moment in disbelief. It’s not from Rebel—thank fuck—but it’s just as concerning. My father sent a link to a news story from the depths regarding the re-instatement of the Games. The last time the Games were held in Hell was centuries ago when the current King and his court ascended to power.

What the fuck is going on down there?

Following the link, I scan the article about the announcement being made at our alma mater, Discordia U. Lucian Darkstar is beaming at the cameras as he makes the fateful decree in the arena, and it sets every nerve in my body on edge. His presence at Luca’s meeting recently made me wonder what he was up to, but this is so much worse. They discontinued the tradition because the current rulers were intent on staying in the spots they wrested away in the war after their team won the Games.

Something tells me shit is about to get very interesting in demon-land.

“So this… Games… thing is like some sort of cross between the Olympics and the Hunger Games?” Rogue asks as she twists her damp hair into twin braids.

It’s cute as hell and it distracts me for a moment before I find my tongue. Nodding, I rake my hand through my hair as she finishes getting herself changed. “Yeah. It’s pretty ugly, and they banned them after the current rulers took over, for obvious reasons. The citizens of Hell get really into it, and it’s very easy to use that idolatry to make a play for the throne. In fact, that’s exactly what they did in the last Games.”

Her brow furrows, and she gives me a curious look. “Does that really matter if it’s all contained up here? I’m not being dumb, I just don’t get why it’s significant.”

“Because power grabs don’t exist in a vacuum, Sparkles. If the leadership there turns over because of a violent decades long war, the chances of refugees, squabbles, and shifting alliance not rising beyond the surface is nil.”

Angelo will be better at explaining, whereas I’m gifted in seeing the picture; it’s why we work as two halves of a whole.

“You’re worried that because the dude in the article was at your dad’s party, Luca is involved, right?”

“That’s it on the nose.” I sigh and shake my head ruefully. “Luca has lived up here for a very long time because he does not get along with King Eversore. Something about an indiscretion with the Queen around the Renaissance.”

She snorts, shaking her head as she puts her skates away. Rogue is meticulous about her gear, and I watch her as she makes sure everything is in its place. “If men could control their cocks, the world would be a very different place—no matter what realm we’re in.”

I pretend to pout at her generalization, but I know she’s right. Luca’s acceptance of a position up here has been fucking fantastic for Angelo and me, but I’ve also been aware that should we be called back, that would change quickly. He’s stayed on the King’s good side for long enough that I think that’s changed, but my father holds grudges like no one I’ve ever known. He very well could be conspiring with that dilettante Darkstar.

Which would make it more dangerous than usual to be our mate—that motherfucker.

“Damon, what’s going through your head?” Rogue asks as she slings her bag over her shoulder. “You seem a little pissed.”

Taking her arm, I smile crookedly as we head out of the locker room. “I am. If any of this supposition is true, it’s like a sixth layer of fucking problems. It makes me mad as hell that Luca could be double dealing and putting every demon allied to him in the crossfire, including Ang and me.”

Rogue pats my hand with a wicked smirk. “Don’t worry, little D. I’ll protect you from the asshole traitors.”

Chuckling, I hold the door open for her and follow her into the waning sunlight. “Good to know. I suppose you’ve got just as much chance of keeping me safe as I do you when you’re able to borrow some of my tricks.”

“I have tricks of my own; don’t forget.” Her eyes are dark and I think about the dying shifter in the alley for a moment before I nod.

“You do, and we have an entire family to help. That’s something schemers won’t have, you know. They may have minions, but when the chips fall, people bought with fame or fortune will act in their own self-interest, not their employer’s.”

“Exactly. Luca hasn’t done shit to cultivate true loyalty, D. You and Ang will do that someday, but if he’s depending on his goons to stick by him if it’s gets hot, he’ll be sorely disappointed.” She puts her hand up, looking for our ride. “Ah, there he is.”

Archie roars up, grinning like a loon as he skids to a stop in front of our girl. She laughs, handing me her bag to stow before she hops in. The trunk pops and I stow her gear, then worm my way into the back. “Have a good time, babes?”

My chest flutters a bit at that shared endearment and I feel my skin heat. “She kicked ass.”

Rogue rolls her eyes, then sighs. “Coach keeps making me pull back and I think it’s a bad plan. I’m not sure if Mina can get to the other supe league teams like she did the Mounties, but I’m worried some of the girls aren’t tough enough to take it.”

“Oddly, I had a similar problem, but in the opposite direction. Fucking benchwarmers get ice time and they kept coming for me today. I’ve never seen anything like it.” Archie frowns. “And my Coach didn’t say shit.”

A snarl escapes my lips as it comes to me. “They’re coming at Archie now. They tried you, then Reb, and now it’s his turn.”

“Dude, I’m in pads and I’m built like a brick shithouse. I’ll be fine.”

I glare at him, annoyed as hell. “Arch, your feet have knives on them. Be pretty easy to slit someone’s throat ‘by mistake’ in a pile-up.”

“Didn’t something like that happen on a college team recently?” Rogue pulls out her phone, looking frustrated. “I think there was a Guardian bulletin about it. They’re saying it was murder and some hockey kid is being accused.”

The lion snaps his fingers. “Oh, yeah, the Wolfenberg heir. That poor kid. I can’t imagine.”

“Well, I can, especially since we already had a beat down and sniper. You need to talk to the Coach, Archie.” He gives me a look that says he’ll do no such thing, and I arch a brow. “You’re not a solo act anymore, man. People give a shit if you die.”

Me. I mean, me. I’m people—and so is our girl, so I’m not letting him off the hook.