Page 106 of Demon Found

“Without further ado,” the professor’s magically amplified voice booms across the hall, “I present to you the ten percent contestants draw. Each student will be paired at random. No redos. The lineup will stand, even if you don’t happen to like it.”

An orb of light, so bright it hurts to look at, floats onto the middle of the stage. It dips and bobs, searing the sigil of the academy into my eyeballs. Finally, a high-pitched humming fills the hall and the previously empty board beside the dean starts to fill with names.

Looking as close to happy as I’ve ever seen the jumped-up turd, the dean begins to read out the pairings. I rub my hand down the front of my trousers before slipping it into Chano’s. Zephyr slings an arm around my other shoulder and the rest huddle closer.

“Lorelei Smith versus—” the dean pauses dramatically, seeking me out again, “—Seth Smith.” A slight smirk plays at the corner of his mouth, one pointed canine poking over his lip. The hall breaks out in excited chatter.

Waves of distress flow from me, battering at our allegiance bond.That can’t be right. This can’t be happening.I turn toward Farrell, then swing back to Chano. My chest tightens and my breathing speeds up. Seth’s still my stepbrother. I can’t . . . and he’s a damn fourth year.

“It’s never happened before. Never.” Naeve turns and points a finger at Farrell. “Year groups are always paired. It’s your father’s doing. Undo it. Lorelei can’t lose the battle. She can’t.” Her bottom lip trembles.

Chano’s large hands grip both my shoulders, and I steady myself against him, trying to ignore the curious stares. I will not give these bloodthirsty assholes a show. I won’t. A prickle of awareness creeps over me and I look up, searching the crowd.

Standing in the back corner, staring at me, is Seth. He grins, showing far too many teeth, before sending me a creepy little wave and melting away into the crowd.

“Before the break I’ll put a formal appeal to the board of directors,” Farrell announces. “This is unprecedented. It can’t be allowed. A first year and a fourth year. It’s unacceptable. Someone tampered with the draw.” Farrell storms up and down our tiny room, barely making it five paces before swinging the other way.

He’s right to be pissed. It’s a set up. It has to be. There’s no way I can fight Seth and win. Maybe with more time at the academy. Maybe. He’s not a very strong supe, but he’s got years on me. He’s an unofficial member of the Collectivo, for fuck’s sake. He’salreadydone jobs for them. How am I supposed to compete with militia training?

“You’ll have to use your aether,” Naeve bursts out.

“Too dangerous. It would draw attention to you guys.” And if someone looked too closely, and realized . . . An allegiance of five? It wouldn’t just be me they’d want to study.I’m not putting them in danger.

“The allegiance is fucked if you lose, chica. We’d need to disappear, you and me. Keep running. No guarantee we’d stay ahead of the Collectivo.” Chano rubs his allegiance mark, looking tired.

“Uh, guys? I’m not entirely sure you realize I’m still here.” Seconds later Hewie is pinned to the wall by the other three men.

“What did you hear?” Chano growls, a flick knife hard against the banshee’s throat.

Hewie’s voice comes out barely a whisper. “Whoa. Whoa. Okay, for a start this isn’t Hewie’s fault.”

Images of the night Seth killed the imp flash through my mind, and I elbow my way to Hewie, shoving the boys back, placing myself between them. This is not happening again. “He’s right. This is not his fault.”Even if he’s a weirdo who talks about himself in the third person.

“I . . . I . . .” Hewie lets out a wail.

Farrell rounds on him. “The truth. Whatdidyou hear?”

Hewie wipes his sleeve across his face, dislodging snotters. “Too much.” He hangs his head. “Do what you have to. I . . . I understand. You . . . you’re going to kill me, aren’t you?”

I angle myself entirely in front of him, ready to push anyone back who dares fucking try. Naeve slides in to stand beside me. The corner of Farrell’s mouth twitches up, and Chano snorts beside him. My eyes narrow.

“Maybe we ought to.”

“I’d do it just for fun.”

“You have to protect the aether.” Hewie’s voice rings out, stronger, clearer. “Hewie doesn’t blame you. Just, do it quickly, if you please.”

I swing around to face him. “The aether has a name thank you! And no one is killing Hewie. Shit. You. No one is killingyou.”

“The Royals and the aethers. They must be protected. I’m a liability.” His voice wobbles slightly. “You’ve seen me. I wouldn’t withstand torture. No. You have to.” He peers beseechingly around me at Chano.

Are you shitting me? The guy is now begging to be killed. I tug my hair distractedly before pushing him back.

“Or we could do a binding spell?” Zephyr pipes up. “If Hewie agrees . . . I can do one. Easy.”

“You what?” Farrell bellows. “No bindings! Look what it’s done to you!”

Chano glances at me and cocks his head to one side. Shit, he doesn’t know about Zephyr’s bond.

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