Chapter 456: If You Can Fight Hydras, You Can Do Burpees
The ferry ride back to the Atoll took longer than usual.
So kind of engine trouble.
Which ant I got to spend an extra forty-five minutes sitting between Natalia and Celeste while trying not to think about how Reyna Cabana had just challenged
to a duel.
In three days.
At the Crucible.
Where everyone would watch
get my ass kicked by the Crimson Cot herself.
Fantastic.
"You’re spiraling," Natalia said without looking up from her phone.
"I’m not spiraling."
"Your jaw’s doing that thing."
"What thing?"
"The thing where you grind your teeth when you’re planning sothing stupid."
Celeste glanced over.
Noticed my jaw.
Went back to her tablet without comnt.
But her lips twitched.
Just barely.
The smallest hint of a smile.
I forced myself to relax.
"I’m fine."
"Liar."
"I’m excellent."
"Worse."
Natalia finally looked at .
Purple eyes cataloging every micro-expression.
The white streaks in her hair caught the afternoon light coming through the ferry windows.
Made her look ethereal and dangerous.
"Reyna’s fast," she said. "Faster than anyone we’ve fought except maybe Braxton. And her Aspect counters yours."
"I know."
"Her marionettes can box you in while she attacks from range. You’ll never get close enough to hit her."
"I know."
"So what’s your plan?"
I didn’t have one yet.
But admitting that would just make her more anxious.
"Still working on it."
She stared at
for three full seconds.
Then went back to her phone.
"You’re going to do sothing reckless."
"Probably."
"And I’m going to have to watch."
"You could stay ho."
Her hand found my thigh under the coat draped across our laps.
Squeezed hard enough to hurt.
"Try again."
"You could root for
from the stands."
"Better."
The ferry finally docked.
We filed off with everyone else, Noah leading the way while Celeste stayed close to my other side.
The walk back to Onyx House felt longer than usual.
Probably because every step reminded
that I had three days to figure out how to not die against soone who could solo most C-Rank Gates before breakfast.
Braxton was waiting on the front steps.
Synth-cigarette dangling from his lips.
Eyes like a disappointed father at a PTA eting.
"You fought an A-Rank Boss."
"Technically yes."
"With a baseball bat."
"It’s a very good bat."
"You’re an idiot."
"Also yes."
He stood.
Stretched his back with an audible crack.
"Training at 1900. Don’t be late."
"We just got back from—"
"1900. Sharp. If you can fight Hydras, you can do burpees."
He walked inside.
Carn leaned out from the doorway behind him, flask in hand.
"Welco back, heroes. Try not to bleed on the carpet this ti."
The house was quieter than usual.
Most of the team was still on the mainland.
Only the stragglers remained.
Juan asleep on the couch despite it being barely past lunch.
Jacob at the dining table, typing furiously on his datapad with that manic energy that ant he’d found a new conspiracy thread to pull.
Monica in the corner by the window, whispering to a potted fern that had started growing copper leaves since she got back from the Arboretum.
The girl was having full conversations with plants now.
I wasn’t sure if that was concerning or convenient.
Probably both.
Skylar sat on the kitchen counter, legs swinging, eating an apple while scrolling through her phone.
Her violet eyes flicked toward
when I entered.
Held for a beat.
Then returned to the screen.
But her expression changed.
Sothing warr beneath the usual indifference.
Emi erged from the kitchen carrying a tray of sandwiches, her blue hair in a ssy ponytail and her antenna strands bobbing with each step.
She spotted .
Her entire face lit up.
"Satori! You’re okay!"
She set the tray down on the coffee table, nearly tripping over Juan’s foot, and crossed the room in three quick steps.
Hugged
without warning.
Arms around my waist, face pressed against my chest.
I caught Natalia’s eye over Emi’s shoulder.
She was watching.
Calculating.
But she didn’t intervene.
Just tilted her head toward the stairs in a silent command.
Go. I’ll handle this.
"Missed you too, Emi."
She pulled back, cheeks pink.
"Was it scary? The Hydra?"
"Little bit."
"Liar. Marco texted . He said it breathed fire and lightning and ice and nearly killed everyone."
"Marco exaggerates."
"He sent pictures."
Damn.
"Okay, it was very scary. Happy?"
She nodded.
Smiled.
That stupidly genuine smile that made my chest feel weird.
"I made sandwiches. You should eat."
"I will. Later."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Satisfied, she returned to the kitchen.
Skylar caught my eye.
Mouthed sothing that looked like smooth.
I flipped her off.
She grinned.
Upstairs, my room looked exactly like I’d left it.
Which ant it looked like a cri scene.
Sheets still tangled from last night’s disaster.
Clothes scattered across the floor.
Bartholow judging
silently from his terrarium.
And Maki.
Human form.
Sprawled across my bed wearing absolutely nothing.
She’d been sleeping, apparently.
Her black hair fanned across the pillow, one of her tails curled around her waist like a blanket, the other draped over the side of the mattress.
Her ears twitched when I closed the door.
Hazel eyes cracked open.
Vertical pupils contracted against the light.
"Master’s ho."
She stretched.
The movent was obscene.
Deliberate.
She knew exactly what she was doing.
"You were supposed to stay out of sight."
"I did stay out of sight. Nobody ca in here except Bartholow. And he doesn’t count."
"Put on clothes."
"Why? You’re just going to take them off again."
"Maki."
"Fine, fine."
She rolled off the bed with feline grace.
Found my hoodie on the floor.
Pulled it on without bothering with anything underneath.
The hoodie barely covered her.
Stopped mid-thigh, leaving her legs completely exposed.
"Better?"
"Marginally."
She padded over, bare feet silent on the hardwood.
Pressed herself against my chest.
Wrapped her arms around my waist.
Purred.
The vibration traveled through both of us.
"Missed you, Master."
"I was gone for three hours."
"Three hours is forever when you’re trapped in a room with only a snail for company. No offense, Bartholow."
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