Page 104 of Demon Found

I shuffle forward, my attention on Hewie as he steps up beside the professor. His hand trembles, and he swallows hard. A klaxon sounds as his grades are displayed, and a board I hadn’t noticed flashes neon pink off to the side.

Ten Percent Battle Entrant: Hewie Ugo

Listed underneath are the rest of the students registered in the ten percent so far. I barely notice Hewie’s wail of distress as I see the nameSeth Smith.Holy shit. After all his posturing, he’s fucked up. In his final year? I can’t help it, I feel a twinge of sympathy.

Chano nudges me, and I stumble forward. Taking a deep breath, I jut my chin out and hold Professor Hannya’s gaze. I place my hand firmly on the glass ball and hold my breath. A buzz filters up my arm, making the hair on my neck stand on end.

One by one my grades appear.

Have I done it? Have I actually dragged everything up enough?!

The dean appears beside Professor Hannya, barely rippling the air around us as he passes with vampire speed. That guy is scary fast. Professor Hannya frowns at the dean. He mutters into her ear, and she grimaces.

Something’s wrong.

The dean’s gone again before I blink, leaving me shuffling from foot to foot in front of Hannya.

“Lorelei Smith.” Her voice drops. “Or should I say Lorelei Bal? The Bal’s were always trouble. Lorelei, with your grades you should pass, just. However, I’ve just been informed the academy is upholding a complaint of grievous bodily harm. You are to enter the ten percent battle regardless. You must prove you’re worthy of your place here.”

I yank my hand from the glass and turn in time to see my name added to the board.That’s not fair.

“Do your father proud. Give them hell.”

The echo of a voice fades quietly in my head, and the professor winks and turns to face the next student.

“This has the Virrey written all over it.” Zephyr’s hiss filters out into the corridor.

Why would the Virrey be involved? He wanted to hide my aether, not showcase it. I shuffle closer to Farrell’s door, Chano pressed hard at my back, both of us straining to hear.

“I know.”

Wait. What? Farrell isn’t arguing, denying his father’s part in this. Chano’s rage boils over and he lunges past me, shoving the door fully open. His horns are out, and his eyes are violently purple.

Chano grips Farrell by the shirt collar and hauls him close. “What. The. Fuck?”

“Fuck off, Maverik. I am not my father. How many times do I have to say it? Why the hell were you eavesdropping anyway?”

“Don’t divert. What did Zephyr mean?”

Farrell shrugs himself out of Chano’s grasp. “My father has an idea of how powerful you might be, Lorelei. He doesn’t like anyone with the potential to upset his plans.”

“What plans? He’s the one that wanted me here to begin with!”

“My father has many plans.”

Zephyr turns and belts Farrell over the back of the head. Farrell’s mouth opens and closes before he launches himself at Zephyr and the two roll back and forth on the floor, wrestling like kids. Farrell quickly pins Zephyr, grinning triumphantly before composing himself and standing up rapidly, brushing his trousers down.

“Fine.” He sighs. “You’re a commodity, Lorelei. My father wanted you here, protected from the sight of the Angel King.”

Zephyr must see my confusion because he takes over. “The Angel King wants an aether bride, Lori. Heneedsan aether bride to keep the balance and maintain rule across all of Eltanin. He’s had feelers out for years, has been secreting away all the supes with second and even third element aether. There are even rumors of him forcibly breeding second aether supes in the hope of them producing a true aether. Until you, there weren’t any left.”

Farrell clears his throat. “My father doesn’t much like the Angel King. And—” He takes a deep breath. “The Virrey has been trying to keep you hidden. Stop you from attracting the king’s attention, from being forcibly made his wife. So, you see, there are some things I agree with him on.”

I blink stupidly. It had never occurred to me. Of course, I knew some of that, but the Angel King and the rest of Eltanin were so far from my reality in Venez. Hellfire, I only just found out I’m an aether. The Angle King’s bride? He’s old enough to be my father. I shiver at the thought.

Chano snakes a hand possessively around my waist. I lean into him, glad of the support.

“Not happening.” He grunts. “And putting Lorelei in the ten percent battle, trying to have her expelled, it doesn’t make sense. Then she’s back out in the big bad world. The Angel King could find her. How does that fit with the Virrey’s plans?”

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