Page 120 of Vicious Princess
I glance at Xander and the fae flanking his sides. “We have Ezkai spies here with us. We get them to change out of their leathers into civilian clothes and find a way inside the gabling parlor to identify the potential targets. I’m surprised you haven’t done that yet. I’d have had the spies stationed inside the gambling parlor weeks prior to today.”
Ezkai Xander’s mouth curves up. “We did have the spies infiltrate earlier, posing as the staff in the gambling parlor.Unfortunately, we were compromised, and the Caligos running the show eliminated our spies before we could get the full report from them.”
“Still, you must have learned something,” I insist.
Ezkai Xander nods. “We have, yes. There are a number of gambling tables that use trained Caligos to ensure whoever plays never wins. Pretty standard practice amongst gambling establishments. What makes this particular establishment problematic are the more dangerous activities they dabble in—they run a number ofgames, for lack of better word, that encourage placing high bets on dangerous acts. There’s a weaponless brawl until death. There’s a dagger-throwing competition, archery show, and other similar skill-related bets that are entertaining for the crowd and make up a significant portion of the revenue.”
The image strikes hard. Fae chained to the walls. Arrows between their eyes.
“How’s this information useful for you, cadets?” Ezkai Gavriel asks.
“We don’t try to infiltrate the staff this time around. We become the show,” Roman says. Ezkai Xander’s eyebrows rise. “I bet they won’t see that one coming.”
I blink at him. It’s a damn dangerous, reckless idea.
Roman shrugs. “They want blood. Give them blood. Standout champions get attention—this is our ticket to the leadership.”
“It’s risky. But it might work,” I say.
“Or we die fast and ugly,” Fern says, scrunching her nose.
Those shady figures in the lodge above the floor, watching over their domain, I bet they’re the ones we need.
“Maybe,” I say. “But if we do it right, we become valuable. Dangerous. They’ll want to meet us, and that’s when we strike.”
Silence. Then:
“Ruthless,” Ezkai August says with a smirk.
“Strategic,” Ezkai Xander says. “But high stakes.”
“Fine. Let’s see what you can accomplish,” Ezkai Gavriel says. “Split your teams. Who goes in and who stays out?”
“Spy and Executioner Units go inside. Protector and Mender Units scout the outside,” says an Ezkai with a buzz cut and haunted eyes—Ezkai Aelfric—who’s been silent up until now.
His square jaw is set tight, eyes determined. Clearly, he earned his rank in the field. Ezkai Gavriel nods.
Roman turns to me. Waits.
Right.I’m leading the cadet squad.
“Roman, Fern, Bloom, Julian, and Catalina with me,” I say. “We go in. The rest assist the Protector and Mender Units outside—scout escape routes and stand as backup if it goes to shit.”
Ezkai Gavriel doesn’t react. But Ezkai Cassandra’s gaze lingers on me with something like approval.
I turn to Ezkai Xander. “What kind of event is scheduled tonight?”
He shakes his head. “We won’t know until we’re inside. It rotates weekly.”
“Then we stay flexible. Assign roles based on skills,” I say.
Ezkai Xander jerks his chin at Ezkai Gavriel. “Any thoughts on that, friend?”
Roman steps forwards. “Weaponless brawls are mine.”
I nod. “Agreed.”
He can take anyone out with his reflexology skills.
