After another shitty test run of the new earplugs, Sush dragged her exhausted self to the elevator, intending to head to the archers’ floor to blow off some steam at their gun range. When the elevator arrived, she already felt better that the octopuses who looked like they were waiting to ascend said they were waiting for another two of their own from the restrooms before they ascended together, so Sush had the space all to herself and tried not to look too happy about not needing to share and make small talk with anyone on the ride up.
Right before the metal doors closed, a hand came between them, making both doors part before Greg stepped inside.
“Are you out of your mind?” Sush reprimanded.
“Give me a minute,” he urged in his usual monotone a
The fact that Greg didn’t use Hazel’s nickname was not a good sign.“What about her?” Sush asked, though - as her mind recalled there being suspects earlier - she already had a good idea of what was coming next.Swallowing a lump in his throat, he disclosed, “Jade found things on her encrypted phone. Sh—”Sush’s eyes drew shut and her hand held up to a stop sign when she interjected, “Pause right there. Her what?”Greg stared at her for a good second before murmuring under his breath, “Well, at least we know the encrypted phone isn’t common knowledge.”“It’s not,
‘Boss!’ Ella linked in panic.Greg heaved a frustrated sigh, pulled away from Sush, who was about to protest before noticing his glazed-over eyes, so she fell silent and waited patiently as he replied, ‘You’d better make sure someone is dying or you’re going to lose an organ, Tristan. I don’t care if your husband would eventually get the queen to extract one of my own later.”Ella’s panic hit the next notch. ‘SomeONE dying? Boss! The archers ARE DYING! IT’S MORE THAN ONE! THEY’RE TRAPPED! WHATEVER IS IN THERE IS MAKING OUR PEOPLE DIZZY AND SOME ARE CLOSE TO PASSING OUT! THE HUNTERS ARE ALREADY DROPPING LIKE FLIES! JADE STILL CAN’T HACK HIMSELF IN. WHERE THE HELL IS SUSH? HAVE YOU SEEN HER?’Shit.
“I was in a meeting with the defense ministry,” Valor disclosed in his office, his voice speaking for his displeasure at Sush’s tone when she demanded to know his whereabouts during the attack. Sush and Greg had easily deciphered most of the animal code from Hazel’s secret correspondence after the catastrophe. The Great Horned Owls was code for the archers, sacrificed. Rat with a capital R being let off from above? Sush herself, let off from above when the elevator malfunctioned. She and Greg speculated that his presence in the elevator was most likely not considered since he forced himself in at the last minute. The next code - other rats wouldn’t know how to save the owls - meant no octopus knew how to save the archers. Because none of them knew the codes. The next one - data leaked when the sun rose - took them a little more time, but they eventually figured it out. The sun rose from the east. Data that someone didn’t want being found had been leaked from the attack in the east. T
The hunter-lycan gala was a once a year affair, attended by the highest officials from both sides. Xandar and Lucy attended every alternate year, taking turns with Christian and Annie. Although guised as an event to raise funds for equipment and manpower to train new recruits and solidify the public image that everything was well and good with the neighboring kingdom, the attendees knew full well it was a show. Behind the cameras and smiles, both species had still been keeping to themselves to a significant extent.It had been exactly three days since the call was made and the lycan and wolves had begun standing guard. Because of the “generous contribution from the kingdom” the media reported, Ferdinand - who attended once every three to four years - had to show his face at the gala this year despite having already attended the previous year.
Sush was in an ash gray dress that hung from her shoulders by thin straps, the length of her skin stretching from her neck, down her arms and hands was on full display. Her hair was loose from her usual ponytail, the pink headband no longer in sight but her necklace still sat in its usual place.She hadn’t seen Greg yet but felt a buzz in her purse and her footsteps slowed as she dug through it. Her knitted brows eased into a soft line when she saw the caller ID, swiping to answer as her head swung around, looking for him, which was when their eyes locked and the corner of her lips lifted naturally.The background blurred away as they took steps toward each other, closing their distance. When they were six feet apart, a figure appeared from Sush’s right and a hand stopped her by her elbow. Sush’s defenses took
The woman in red stood on the steps, introducing herself as the wife of the Minister of Defense, Larissa Ferdinand, and - as if on cue - Ferdinand beamed emptily as his wife of fair skin and dark hair with a winged eyeliner brought the room back to herself.Flashing those pearly-white teeth with a depth of a smile that mirrored her husband’s own, she began, “On behalf of the ministry, I’d like to thank all of you for attending this year. Yes, that includes my own husband.”Barks of laughter followed as Ferdinand feigned embarrassment.By Sush’s ear, Greg muttered, “Can they get anymore perfect for each other?”Her finger came up, subtly. “You haven’t seen e
His octopus’s usually confident frame and posture now shrunk, like she was trying to keep to herself as her eyes - though pinned on Larissa Ferdinand in shock - amplified a need to leave.Greg’s eyes turned onyx and he shot the Ferdinands a glare - which neither of them noticed - before he positioned himself in front of the only one in the room who mattered, blocking her view of the sharks out to gobble her, though he couldn’t understand how or why yet.His hand reached for her face, cupping her cheek, and his voice came in an assuring whisper, “Sush, this is not an obligation. No one is going to die if you refuse. And you’re not a politician. You can refuse.”His large frame shadowing over hers offered her cover, made her feel protected,
“Come, darling.” The queen’s voice, loud and jubilant, filled with just the right level of hypocrisy and a shard of scorn sucked all attention away from the Red Devil. Hands gently tugging her husband’s bicep with a mischievous smile, Lucy announced, “It’s time to join the show: this ministerial-organized circus.”The human ministers flinched, Ferdinand included - a sight witnessed by the majority of the room. The Ferdinands’ forced smiles withered. The only difference was that Larissa’s smile withered under the spotlight, her mask falling a little too long.With bright eyes and a broad smile, Xandar bowed low and offered his wife his hand like he was still courting her, knowing the game she was playing as he responded with a glint in his eye that matched hers, “Yes, wouldn&