Page 102 of Beauty's Monstrous Demons

I don't know how he’s able to know that’s his safe zone, but I’ll take it.

“What can I do for you, President Christa?” I ask sweetly.

“So polite,” she says with a small smile. “I don’t want to keep you, I’ll walk for a bit with you instead. Are you happy to be done with the semester?”

She doesn’t seem like the type to do small talk, but I nod as I continue to walk with her.

“I am. It was a very busy semester for me,” I admit. “Between choosing my major and adding a chemistry minor, I had a full plate.”

“Well, you have work and you performed in the musical as well,” she adds. “Not to mention three boyfriends.”

She must not know about one of them, and I’m not going to tell her. Three sounds as if she’s judging me.

“Yes, I did have all of that,” I say instead.

She’s quiet as we walk, and I shift my backpack on my shoulders. It’s mostly empty today, but it’s hot and making my skin feel itchy.

“Are you going with them to the carnival?” she asks finally.

“Oh, I just heard about it,” I say. “It’s my birthday, so I’m sure they have something planned for me.”

“Are you sure? Monster males are just as bad as humans about things like that,” she sighs.

“We certainly are not,” Samael says, stepping out from a shadow. “We do have plans for our girl, though.”

“Most of the faculty is at least putting in an appearance,” President Christa says, lips thinning as she presses them against each other. “The three of you would do well to at least be seen.”

“Lorelei, how do you feel about cotton candy?” Samael asks, glancing at me. I can tell he’s not very happy about this, but I guess I could go for something sweet.

“I’ve had it once I think,” I admit. “I liked it.”

“Then we’ll go for the space of time that it takes for us to buy and consume a sweet treat,” Samael says. “It’s been a long and trying week.”

“Yes, yes. I can live with that,” she says. “Thank you, Samael.”

Turning down another sidewalk, she waves at us as she moves to accost someone else. I guess she’s making the rounds.

“She thought you were the weak link,” Samael says with a chuckle. “You don’t give two shits about campus politics.”

“No, I definitely don’t,” I sigh. “We’ll go for a little while and then leave. I will probably need coffee. I’m so tired.”

“It doesn’t start for a few hours,” he says. “I’ll snuggle you while you nap.”

“Yes, please,” I say with a smile as he wraps his arm around my shoulders.

“Anything for the birthday girl,” he says.

PHENEX

I hate crowds, but President Christa roped us in, so here we are.

“Who wants to go on the Ferris wheel with me?” Lorelei asks with a grin.

Now that we’re here, she’s in a better mood. She needed a nap and a coffee beforehand, and I don’t blame her at all. She’s been non-stop studying and completing schoolwork all week.

“That looks like a death trap, baby,” I say with a chuckle, looking up at it.

“Eh, I’ll go. If something happens, I’ll mist us away and let the rest of these fuckers die,” Samael says with a shrug, grabbing her hand.

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