Chapter 574

"Yes," he says with a sigh, "and you know me, always searching for the bigger and better responsibility. Always looking for another weight on my shoulders, like the obligation to defy the God of Darkness...just because I can."

"You don't fool me, Jess," I say quietly, making him look at me. "Given the choice between something like this and something silly like...a magical gift that made you really good at puns -"

“That would have been amazing,” he interrupts, his eyes narrowed.

I laugh, but just shake my head at him. "Jesse. Deep down? We all know what you would have chosen."

"Yeah, well," he sighs, slumping against the wall, "puns were never really part of my sense of humor anyway."noveldrama

I lean against him then and Jesse wraps an arm around my shoulders. "You're a good guy, Jess," I say quietly. "You saved me yesterday. Even if you're not comfortable with your powers...I'm grateful for them."

"Well, if they let me save you even once, cousin," he says, pulling me a little closer. "Then I'll deal with these shadows and call it a done deal." I smile, leaning against my favorite cousin a little more.

But Jesse just sighs, looking again out into the distance. "Did you hear what the God said, though?" he asks, his voice curious and hesitant.

"He dropped a lot of sneaky little hints," I say, derisive. "Which one are you thinking of?"

"When he said his girl found me," Jesse says, shaking his head like he's trying to see how the pieces fit together. He blinks, refocusing his eyes on me. "What the hell did he mean by that?"

"I have no idea, Jess," I say quietly, shaking my own head as we look at each other, both of us battled and disconcerted by it.

My cousin just sighs, leaning his weight on me, and I do my best to stand still and prop him up - because honestly, right now, the only thing I can offer my cousin is support. Even if I desperately wish I had some answers.

Luca, Ben, Jesse and I all sit up straight, turning towards the door to the breakfast room as we see Jackson and Rafe walk in. The room bursts into whispers, because of course the rest of the Cadets in our year know that they're two of the six captains working together in this round of Games. But still, they're the first to come into the room - which means the draft must be over.

I almost jump out of my chair, desperate to dash over to them and get the information even faster, but Luca puts a hand on my knee.

"Be cool, Shrimp," he says, one corner of his mouth curling into a grin.

"I don't know if we've met, Luca?" I say, my eyebrows going up. "But 'cool' has never been one of the descriptors that anyone has ever applied to me."

Luca laughs, shaking his head at me a bit - but either way, his plan worked, because Jackson and Rafe settle into the two empty chairs across the table from us. Jackson shoots a little glare at Ben, who is seated on my right between us.

Ben just laughs, shaking his head. He reaches for the coffee pot, passing it to Jackson as a peace offering. "You don't get your preferred seat if you don't show up to breakfast on time," Ben says, grinning.

Jackson just narrows his eyes at Ben before turning them to me, a warm greeting coming down our

bond as well as a little whine fromet

his wolf that he's not seated next to me one I'm not sure he meant me to hear. I smile at Jackson, delighted, which just makes him laugh.

Rafe looks between the two of us but then rolls his eyes.

"How'd it go?" Jesse asks eagerly, passing Rafe the basket of muffins and baked goods, looking between our two Captains.

"The draft went well enough,"

Jackson says with a shrug before looking around at everyone at the table. “We did our best, made what negotiations and offers we could. I don't think that it's likely we'll get everyone we wanted but," he shrugs again. "I don't think it will be bad."

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"Wait, so," I say, sitting up straight and peering at Jacks, not really missing the fact that Luca's hand tightens on my knee as I give my other mate my undivided attention. "You guys don't like...know what the teams are? It's not already decided?"

“We make our case,” Rafe says, “and then the Captain makes the final decision when Cadets are claimed by multiple teams.” His eyes move around the table then. "Which all of you were, by the way."

"Really?" I squeak, delighted and thrilled. "Even me?"