Page 26 of Touched By Death

“That’s hardly a rumor,” I blurt, then shrink back when she narrows her eyes at me.

“We pride ourselves on teaching the children of some of Hell’s most important residents.”

Figuring it’s best to stay silent, I wait for her to continue, trying my best to keep any more misbehaving retorts from escaping my mouth.

“I will not see anything threaten the excellence that we have achieved at this academy.”

“Look,” I start. “I’m excelling in my classes. You can ask the tea—”

“This isn’t about your studies,” she interrupts, and I snap my mouth shut.

“Then what?”

Her blood-red nails trace the silver pendant between her ample breasts. “Lucifer’s son and his nephew cannot afford distractions.”

Laughter outside the door drifts in through the thin wood as I stare up at the headmistress. My mouth opens and closes, but how am I supposed to respond? “Daemon and Dmitriy?”

“I’m sure you’re aware of the rivalry between their fathers. Hell’s future is in their hands, and I will not allow a female to come between the cousins and endanger the fragile peace that exists.”

“Look…” I rise from my seat but sit back down when she silently glares at me. “I don’t know what you’ve heard, but I can assure you that I’m not doing anything to entice a rift between Daemon and Dmitriy.”

Moving around my chair, like a siren floating on water, she makes her way back and slides in behind her desk. “That is all. You’re dismissed.”

When I don’t immediately move, she pins her eyes on me. “Or is there something else you’d like to discuss?”

I jump up and shake my head. “No, that’s all.”

“Good,” she responds, flicking through the paperwork. As I open the door, she says, without looking up at me, “I want you to stay away from the heir, understood? I don’t want to have to punish you. Not when you show such promise in classes.”

The sinister undertones of her threat don’t go unnoticed. I slip through the door and walk as fast as I can, weaving through thick crowds of students. I need to put as much distance between the headteacher and me as possible.

As I turn the corner, I collide with a hard chest and stumble back, but firm hands clamp down on my shoulders to stop me from falling on my ass. I don’t need to trail my gaze up that defined chest hidden beneath the black T-shirt to know who it is. His masculine scent wraps me up like a warm hug, and I release a sharp gasp, but it’s too late. His brown eyes capture mine like a thief in the night, and just like that, my heart leaps from my chest.

“I’m sorry,” I blurt, and he drops me like the feel of my bare shoulders burns him. Stumbling back, I frown.

Daemon barely spares me a glance as he walks past, his wings stretching behind him before settling back.

With my heart lodged in my throat, I watch the crowds part for him before he turns the corner and disappears from view. What was that? Why did he walk past me?

Unbidden tears prick my eyes. I can’t fucking help it. It’s not like I want him anymore now that I know he lied to me, but to watch him walk away from me without even trying to win me back? Did I mean so little to him?

Sniffling pathetically, I swipe at my wet cheeks, then turn to continue to class. I pause, and my breath gets caught in my throat at the sight of the hooded figure at the end of the hallway. Black wings stretch tall behind him as he slinks away. Without thinking it through, I take chase, determined to confront him once and for all.

I bump shoulders in my pursuit, cursing the thick crowds. Turning the corner, I slow to a halt. A single torch lights up the dark hallway that seems to stretch on for miles without a single soul in sight. Shadows crawl closer on the stone floor, stretching and elongating, reaching for me. I swallow thickly, backtracking. Peering into the darkness, I see nothing. My eyes seek out the other torches, but they’re missing from the brackets on the walls.

A shiver splashes down my spine. I look behind me quickly, but it’s quiet down at this end. Swallowing down my fear, I press forward, blending with the shadows that wrap me up, slithering over my skin like serpents. “Hello?”

Just as I’m about to abandon the mission and turn back, the lone torch behind me flickers out, snuffing out the last sliver of light. My breath trembles as I slowly turn in a circle, trying and failing to wrangle my rising panic. “Who’s there?”

My wings erupt from my back, and I take a single step back, only to gasp when my spine meets the cold, damp stone wall. I press a palm over my mouth, my breaths gusting between my fingers. As my knees threaten to buckle from beneath me, I place my other hand over my mouth and squeeze my eyes shut. Icy, cold panic trails like sharp claws down my neck and spine.

“Aurelia…”

I yelp, eyes flying open. Sharp, erratic breaths escape my lips and dampen my palms. I lower my hands and walk sideways, skimming the gritty, cold stone wall beneath my fingers. If I can trace the grooves, I’ll find my way out eventually.

“Aurelia…”

I let out a scream and whirl around. My hair sticks to the salty tears on my cheeks, so I swipe the strands away and reach my hand out in front of me, meeting empty air. “Show yourself.”

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