Page 4 of Wrath's Call

“Cannibal Carryout, where your ex is always on the menu. What can I get you?”

Awesome, my best bitch bestie Ness was in a good mood. Now, it's time to ruin it.

I tapped the mouthpiece thrice and heard her laugh with her rich, tinkling charm that had captivated many a hopeless romantic over the years. I had no doubt she was currently swarmed by different guild scouts at the Academy lounge, telling them enchanted tales while planning how to rob them blind. “Sorry darling, all out of balls tonight. But I have a nice slice of ass in the back that I can fry up for you,” I tapped three times again and heard her push back a chair and call out her apologies because her clingy roommate couldn’t decide what to wear to dinner that night.

Thanks for that glowing endorsement; I love you too.

“I need your help.”

“Well, no shit,” I could figuratively hear Ness roll her bright forest green eyes as the door to our old academy apartment opened on its squeaky hinges that no amount of WD40 had been able to fix. “What the fuck did Zane get you into this time? He wouldn’t say.”

I sighed and quickly explained as I turned on the water, leaving out the part where I nearly got scored by claws because I again wore loose flannel instead of her preferred leather attire.

“Whatever. That guy is a lucky bastard. Hopefully, he won’t be trying to bag any more quick trophies in the future. Although I did, I heard from Bells that babies can fetch a pretty penny. I wonder if I could…”

“Vanessa Hawthorne!” I snapped sharply. Her draw to greed was palpable then, and I needed her to focus back on me.

“Zane better have paid you a pretty fucking penny, girl. Rescuing a man from three beasts is more than your normal quota.” Ness ignored me. “And Tange better not have ripped you off again. I swear to the Gods above that I will tear him…” I growled, and she quickly tapped her toe against our tiny bathroom floor. “What? I don't believe that it’s my fault you decided to go off and play superhero again. It was fucking irresponsible today.”

“We made vows, if you recall. It’s our job to protect all our fellow casters from harm. I get it; it’s not like it’s been ingrained in us for the last twenty-four years or anything...”

“It’s not our job to save people from themselves, Chicky, especially when they wander onto pack lands. It doesn’t sound like that beast was rogue; it was naturally defending itself and its cubs. Or am I wrong?”

Gods above and Hells below, did I hate when she made sense?

“Does it matter?" I muttered, frustration lacing my voice. "He's alive, and our hands are clean.”

“Your hands, you mean,” she retorted, her tone edging with annoyance.

“Sure, my hands,” I conceded, a note of resignation creeping into my words.

She huffed this time, exasperation and impatience tingeing the sound. “Alright, so what do you need help with?”

“I need back into the keep," I admitted, a trace of vulnerability in my voice. "Can you get me a distraction?”

That perked my beloved Ness up right away. If there was anything she liked more than pretty things that didn’t belong to her, it was wreaking havoc.

“I’ve got some ideas, be back here in an hour. I’ll get you inside.”

Chapter Two - To the Victors

Marik

“Next, for your consideration, is number twenty-six. Twenty-six is a compliant light brown-haired female with level three chartreuse eyes. Her primary specialization is Loyalty, class three, with a minor class one affinity for Patience. Her primary talent is…”

By the Gods, did the Guild council have to provide the most pretentious-sounding douchebags in the world to do their announcing? I mentally projected to my two companions.

I could feel Felix's bemusement and Irish lilt cross the psychic link, his thoughts intertwining with mine.I don't get why everyone is so excited,he mused.It's bad enough they're telling everyone she's never had a cock between those too-skinny thighs, but she looks Gods damned terrified.His mental voice was laced with disbelief.And do you see her cheeks? She doesn't look like she's eaten in a month.

They’re using a spell to pump lust through the smoke on the floor. I replied, brushing my highly polished oxfords through the smoke, which perfectly matched the eyes of the girl on the stage.

It’s an old trick many Academies use to ramp up the excitement for the initial interest inquiries.Came Drew’s much quieter voice, his psychic link to us much weaker due to being a mortal caster.

Do they all do it?Felix inquired.

At least my academy did. And she probably hasn’t eaten much. Many of the covens nearly starve their interns before their selections. It’s supposed to strengthen their connection to humility to improve their gifts and grant them better selection prospects.

What the hell is wrong with a cheeseburger?He exclaimed incredulously, a touch of frustration in his voice.I'd known Felix for a long time and was well aware that his dislike for archaic caster traditions ran nearly as deep as my own. It was one of the many reasons he was one of the few people I truly considered a friend.

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