Courts and Cabals by G.S. D'Moore (best e reader for academics txt) 📕

maybe they focus a little mental energy on college applications. My thoughts were focused on strategy, combative tactics, and sword fighting forms. My thoughts were on staying alive through the next few hours as I fought a fucking troll who wanted my head.

“Ugh,” my stomach rebelled and emptied itself.

“How ya doing in there, champ?” Dani asked from the other side of the stall. I could hear the pity in the dwarf’s voice.

“Fan-fucking-tastic,” I shot back. I was taking my problems out on her, but I didn’t care. If Vegas odds had their way, I only had another hour to bitch at anyone before the fat lady sang.

“It’s time to head out,” her statement made my stomach gurgle, but there was nothing left inside of me. I felt weak as I finished up and washed my hands. I might be marching to my death, but I wasn’t a barbarian. Hygiene was important.

I opened the door to the stall to see my two shadows standing there. Dani was dressed in a pants suit that was probably a hair too tight. It highlighted everything, enough to give my libido a boost despite my circumstances. As I admired the outfit, I saw it wasn’t Dani that made it fill out so snuggly. A form-fitting Kevlar vest added a few extra centimeters of girth to her torso and chest. She didn’t have her sword on at the moment, but the scabbard was on her back just waiting for the blade.

I looked over and saw Xamira dressed in her MIB ensemble. She had the same vest as Dani under her blouse; but despite the blazer, I still caught the handle of the pistol in her shoulder holster. If anyone from the faculty saw her, they’d flip their shit.

“Do I get one?” I pointed at Dani’s chest. The two women shared a look, and shook their heads.

“Fae duels are old school,” Xamira replied. “The only thing that can enter the dueling circle is the weapons that were agreed upon, and when I say only, I mean only.”

It took me a second to piece that together.

“You got it,” Dani saw the light bulb go off in my head. “You get to fight a big-ass troll wearing only your smile.”

“No,” I groaned and tried to back into the bathroom stall, but the dwarf caught my arms and dragged me out of the communal restroom. She took a deep breath as we entered the hallway, which told me my stomachs rebellion had additional casualties.

I didn’t have the energy to feel embarrassed as they got the rest of my shit together. The trial by combat would begin at sunset, which Google helpfully informed me was 4:43pm.

“Stupid short days,” I cursed mother nature as the two bodyguards led me down to the main floor of my old dorm. I’d insisted on getting ready in my old room to get a little space.

I wanted to try and remember everything that had been my home for years. I could see Jerome’s door from the third-floor landing, but it was closed. I hadn’t seen my best friend in days. He’d gone home for Christmas break with nothing but a well wish that I didn’t die. I passed the second-floor window where I’d made my exit in the fight against Chloe. It was repaired now, but I could still remember the glass shards cutting into my flesh when she body checked me through it. I fought off a shiver, and tried not to think about the troll being stronger than the water nymph I’d defeated.

I wanted to take it all in, but it passed by in a blur. Before I knew it, we were out in the frigid air and heading into town. The trial would occur in the same place as the previous one; although, I had no idea where there was space to have a fight to the death in Joe’s place.

“Magic,” I shook my head. Even Lilith, standing so close her arm frequently grazed mine, wasn’t enough of a distraction for the tornado of emotions in my brain.

The succubus looked determined, but resigned. Her face was sculpted out of granite like some Renaissance statue. She didn’t say a word to me. She would occasionally touch my hand in a show of support, but most of the talking was coming from Dani and Xamira. They were trying to impart some final words of wisdom, but honestly, it was going in one ear and out the other.

“We’ve got eyes on us,” Xander informed as they crossed onto Main Street.

“Unavoidable,” Xamira communicated, as she purposefully tried not to look at a telescopic lens barely peeking out of a second-floor window across from their destination.

It didn’t take a genius to figure out what they were talking about, but judging by the unconcerned nature of the two imps, it wasn’t something I needed to worry about. Sooner than I imagined possible – I was convinced Lilith was somehow fucking with time itself – we were at the door to Joe’s. The ‘closed for private event’ sign was prominently displayed, but the big shifter was there to let us in and lock the door behind us.

The dining area looked exactly like it should. There were no tables for the prosecution and defense, or seat for a judge. It was the simple grease-stained tables with chairs stacked on top of them. Anyone looking in would think Joe was on vacation.

“This way,” sadness tinged the big shifter’s tone as he gave me an apologetic look.

That was a body blow. I’d known Joe longer than anyone else, and even he thought I was a goner. It also produced a spark of anger, but it was quickly suffocated by fear as he led the way down the side hall to the . . .

“Bathroom?” the irony was so thick I struggled to breathe. “That fucking bitch.” I grit my