The Raven King (All for the Game, #2)

by Nora Sakavic

An orange bandana got his hair out of his face and he hooked it tight at the back.

Nicky was happy to return it until Wymack swatted him upside his head. The

He carried his massive racquet across his shoulders as he headed for goal.

"Destroy him," he said.

"Thank you for being so predictable, Neil. You just

scored me ten bucks with two words."

"Some people are just hardwired to be stupid," Wymack said.

floor for an indent. The rest of the team fell in around them, bringing the celebration to their strikers and forming an impromptu barricade around their fallen goalkeeper.

"Kid, you're killing me," Nicky said. "Why do you always get that deer-in-headlights look when someone does something nice for you?"

As he listened to them, Neil realized he was happy. It was such an unexpected and unfamiliar feeling he lost track of the conversation for a minute.

"Stop being a bad influence," Kevin told Nicky. "I am going to make him Court. It'll be easier if he remains heterosexual.

"We aren't really having this conversation," Neil said.

Andrew threw his hands up. "Newsflash, Nicky: Neil isn't normal!"

Neil crouched and pressed his hands to the orange paint. "I don't want to run. I don't want to be a Raven. I don't want to be Nathaniel. I want to be Neil Josten. I want to be a Fox. I want to play with you this year and I want us to make it to championships.

Kevin was silent for an endless minute, then said, "You should be Court."

Kevin was quiet again, but not for long this time. "Every night."

but you're family, so I can tell you."

Neil thought about Renee's bruised knuckles, Dan's fierce spirit, and Allison holding her ground on the court a week after Seth's death. He thought about his mother standing unflinching in the face of his father's violent anger and her ruthlessly leaving bodies in their wake. He felt

compelled to say, "Some of the strongest people I've known are women."

Andrew, though, nodded in the face of it and told Neil to stay. He stood his ground when Neil asked him for murder and gave him a key to their house.

But that didn't count, because Andrew was Andrew, and this was definitely the last turn he needed his thoughts to take. He dragged his attention back to the task at hand and vowed never to listen to Nicky again.

Andrew, for once in your miserable midgety life play like you want us to win, would you?"

"Let's do this," he said. "The sooner we kill these bastards, the sooner we can get roaring drunk at Abby's place. I spent all damned morning stocking her fridge."

Andrew beat his racquet against the goal a second time in warning. Kevin got the hint and yanked his helmet on.

Neil contemplated throwing his racquet at the man's head,

but Andrew slammed the ball away from his goal as hard as he could. Neil used his intense rush of relief as extra fuel to chase after the ball.

Kevin's smile was fleeting but fierce. He didn't say anything, but

he didn't have to. It was the first sign of approval Neil had gotten from him since they'd met and Neil felt it like an adrenaline boost.

Kevin didn't say anything, but he rested his racquet against one shoulder and paced Neil all the way down the court. They were the last to the Foxes' huddle but their teammates made room for them easily. Neil answered the tired smiles sent his way with an exhausted one of his own. Kevin had eyes only for

"I'm satisfied," Kevin said. It was the last response any of the Foxes expected from him. They forgot about Riko in favor of gaping at Kevin. "Not with their score or performance, but with their spirit. I was right. There's more than enough here for me to work with."

"Then simplify it," Neil cut

"Andrew knows," Neil said. "He left me his key."

"Oh, hell no," Nicky said, and jerked a thumb at Neil. "I'mma leave that one to him. Thanks for taking one for the team, Neil. You're a real friend." Nicky grinned over at Neil, but his amusement didn't last. He seemed confused by whatever he saw on Neil's face and backpedaled with,

She wasn't the first to say that, but Neil wondered if Andrew's opinion of him would change when he was off his medication.

"First you steal Andrew's car, then you steal his girl..." Matt slipped a gloved hand into Dan's and looked at Neil. "Oh, and you've pretty much corrupted the rest of the monsters into hanging out with us outside of practice. Let me know if you need backup when you've got to explain all this to him."

"We noticed," Dan said dryly, and tugged Matt with her down the sidewalk.

"Don't you dare 'Coach?' me, you malfunctioning retard."

Facing Riko like this went against everything his mother taught him. He'd been raised to run, to sacrifice everything and everyone to ensure his own survival. His mother had never given him ground to stand on. Maybe that was why he hadn't been strong enough to save her in the end. A jumble of lies had nothing to fight for. But Neil Josten was a Fox. Andrew called this home; Nicky called him family. Neil wasn't going to lose any of it. If two weeks with Riko was the price to keep his team safe, Neil would pay it.

Neil smiled. It felt like it tore his face open. "No. No, I'm not. I know it's kind of sudden, but can you come get me? I'm at the airport."

He was their family. They were his. They were worth every cut and bruise and scream.