Page 23 of Hell on Wheels

I turn, smiling as I see Betsy Sue waving at me excitedly. The siren looks small, but she can knock a bigger opponent clear across the floor, especially when the supe teams are playing with modified rules. “Your sis iswailing. I’m so glad I ditched the guys so I could find you!”

She doesn’t need to know about any of the drama with Mina or staying with the guys if it hasn’t gotten around yet.

“God, your step issoannoying yet mind-blowinglyhot,” Betsy gushes as we walk over to where the rest of the team is hanging out.

Something about that doesn’t sit right with me, but I’m not in a position to pick fights with the few people I have left. Well, except for the guys—they can suck it. I chuckle, pretending I find her fawning hilarious. “I agree with the annoying part. He’s like a dark shadow trying to steal all the joy from my world sometimes.”

“Maybe, but I wouldn’t say no to that shadow clinging to me!” Drusilla Banks slinks over to us, batting her lashes over the golden eyes of her cougar. “Especially if he brought his friends.”

“Hela, havemercy,” Anita adds when she joins us. “I would ride those boys dry and put them awaysoaked.”

I momentarily forgot why I don’t have many female friends, butnowI remember.

“Guys…” I sigh.

“What? I say twin sandwiches all around, ladies!” Drusilla practically purrs her suggestion as she swivels her hips and something snaps inside of me.

My wings emerge, glowing eerily as the cans by the stage fade to black light. The change in the light spectrum illuminates the Fae dust and tattoos all over my form as my hand shoots out to grab Dru by her collar. She cants her head downward submissively as I get in her face. “Stay away from Reb and his friends.”

“What do you care?” Betsy asks. “Dru’s not looking for anything serious, and they’re all known for short-term fun.”

I yank Dru forward, getting into her face as my magic crackles in my veins. “Did I stutter? Was I unclear?”

“N-n-n-no, Ca-Captain.”

Pain shoots through my injured wings as I flex them, but I ignore it. Dru is shaking like a leaf now, and I’m pretty sure we’ll be replacing two skaters on the first string team after this is over. I drop the cougar on the ground and turn to Betsy with a macabre smirk. “Did you have something to add, Intoxiskate?”

Her eyes widen at the use of her Derby call sign, and she backs away slowly. “No. You’re being very clear. Captain.”

“Anita?” I turn to see the wolf shifter leaning against a wall, giving me an amused look. “Do we understand each other?”

“Oh, I thinkweunderstand each other perfectly, Rainbow Smite. However, I’m not sureyouunderstand what’s going on.” I lift my hand, and she watches the black sparks travel from finger to finger. “No need for theatrics. You’ve marked your territory.”

A slow clap sounds behind me, and I whirl around, my temper so close to the edge that I can’t control my reactions. The tension seeps out of my body when I see Angelo and Damon strolling towards us with their own wings stretched high. My eyes narrow at the sight of the cowardly demon from this morning. I have no intention of letting him think they saved the day by showing up.

“What did I tell you assholes aboutleaving me alone?” I cross my arms over my chest, trying to figure out why, even though I got the team to submit, I’m still lit up like a Yule display.

“Nothing. You yelled at Rebel,” they sing-song.

Not the point, cockwaffles.

Reigning in the rage still gripping me, I flip them off. “Now I’m telling you:Fuck. Off.”

Angelo’s feathery wings fan out, his obsidian feathers ruffling as he does the full spread. I roll my eyes at him as he walks closer with a devilish grin on his lush lips. “I’d like to see you make me, Princess.”

Why does he keep calling me that?

I open my mouth to shoot back a snarky retort, but Damon used my distraction to flank me. I feel the heat before he steps within inches of my back and I twist to give him a death stare. His eyes are full of familiar flames and the large, leathery bat wings of his demon are displayed as fully as his twin’s. I don't know what game they’re playing, but they don’t scare me, even with their wings and horns.

“You must be found deaf, boys.” I angle myself so I can see their dumbass pincer move as I give my own appendages a few test flaps. When it feels like they’re stable enough to use, I let them pitch backward and down until I’m hovering a few feet off the ground. The ache is excruciating, but I grit my teeth so they can’t tell. “It’s beenrealfun playing with you, but smell you later.”

The whirlwind created by the rowing motions of my wings allows them to feather and slice quickly. I’m off like a rocket once I find the bay wind, using each set of wings to accelerate as they flap in and out of phase. The sound of frustrated growls and larger wings reaches me, so I know they’re chasing me.

Neither of them flies very often, and they aren’t as aerodynamic as me, so good fucking luck, jerks.

Unfortunately, my glory is short-lived as I catch a hard crosswind and have to bank along the edge of the rave. It puts me in a heavier dive than I’d like and with the injuries; I have to switch to flapping out of phase. Within a few minutes, I’m forced to touch down on a hill just a few feet behind the main stage.

I lean against the huge blue gum eucalyptus tree there, panting as stabbing pains arc through the muscles at the base of my wings. The band on the stage has changed to the sultry, thumping bass ofBlood Reign. My succubus side adores the sexydrum and bass music the vampire triplets spin, but I hurt too much to enjoy it.

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