Page 88 of Dragon Unleashed

“You and I have very different life experiences. The P.I.G. areneverthe good guys.”

I bend and scoop up my towel. My top sticks to my back and a small rivulet of sweat trickles between my ass cheeks. Ugh. Silas’ sessions are not normally that brutal, but hellfire, I needed it. For two whole hours I’ve not thought about anything except how to get more air into my lungs and when my muscles will stop burning.

Sadness washes over me. Our last training session. For once the whole allegiance showed up. They’ll be heading home for Solstice soon; they’re already later than everyone else in leaving. And I might not be here when they get back. I pick up my things from a pile in the corner of the gym and turn my tablet back on. Alerts pour in and I wince, glancing guiltily at Silas. The various heaps of clothes the others have spread around start to vibrate.

Ignoring Silas’ scowl, I tap my screen.

NewShift News Alert: Did Lorelei Bal kill Professor Alice Allegra?

Did the slum-rat turned academy student have it in for the pretty professor?

Read about their feud here.

A picture of me, nose to nose with Allegra, sits smack center of the page. Holy hags. My gaze flicks to the newsagent again. NewShift. They’re in Chano’s pocket. He did this?

The others are flicking through their own devices.

“What the hell, Chano?” Farrell explodes.

Naeve strains up into Chano’s face. “You undo this right now, mister! Don’t you think yourAeternumhas enough to deal with already?”

Chano holds his hands up. “Not guilty. I had nothing to do with what thoseidiotashave printed.”

He folds his arms in front of his chest and squares his body to the rest of the room.

“Satyr shit.”

“Like hell you didn’t, Maverik scum,” Farrell says.

“You big fat liar! You’re such an…an…” Naeve flails around desperately, avoiding swearing.

“Asshole,” I finish, and the corner of my mouth twitches.

I watch Chano carefully. He looked genuinely shocked when he turned his screen on. Now I see the worry lines on his face, the dark circles under his eyes. How long has he looked like this? Chewing my lip, I take a hesitant step toward him, my feet picking up pace the closer I get. Squeezing in front of Naeve, I place my hand on Chano’s arm and turn to face the others.

He tenses.

“I believe him,” I say quietly.

Chano uncrosses his arms. His hand drifts to the small of my back as he leans in.

“Thank you, chica,” he whispers over my shoulder.

An instant later, he’s gone.

Chapter Forty-one: Chano

The hurt look on Lorelei’s face as I left was nearly enough for me to turn my ass around and march straight back into that gym. Nearly. But I haveputasto track down. This was an insider job. Someone okayed that article. Someone commissioned it. And I will not tolerate traitors.

Muerte a los traidores, la familia es la vida. Death to traitors, family is life.

It’s the family motto. They all know it. Someone inmi familiais going to pay.

Alarick appears at my side like a psychic. He paws at my arm. Bloody shifter touchy-feely nonsense. I bat him off, snarling when Raff appears at my other side.Did that asshole just try to lick me?Snarling my displeasure has them both flinching, backing off. They hover on my heels, inches from touching me, worried glances flying between them.

The portal comes into view. Lorelei and her hurt feelings have to wait.

Back on Maverik turf there’s no messing around; someone is going to pay. The door to the Den is no match for my anger,ricocheting off the wall with a crack. Those inside stand and whirl, chairs falling with exaggerated clattering.

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