Page 21 of Demon Found

The chattering dies down, replaced seconds later by snickers. Shit. Why did somanyof them have to miss the first elemental reveal? What were they . . . too hungover to go? There’s no way all of them started term late. The dean made such a big deal of it.

I slink toward the back and sink into a seat. I trace my cheeks with the tips of my fingers. At least my face is clear of fur now. My hands, however, are another damn story.

Other than banshee boy, there’s an ethereal-looking girl to my right and beside her a shifty-looking dude who must be an imp, or maybe a jinn. He’s got the same faint purple demon rings around his irises as my brother. It’s one of the few things I know about Seth—he hates that the faintness of his rings gives away how weak he is magically. Some demons even pay thousands for eye enhancements toappearmore powerful. Pathetic. It won’t save them in a fight.

The hulk in front of me appears to be sleeping. The two other guys in his row must be lovers, or pack shifters. Maybe both. They’re way too tactile for public. Catching me staring, the taller of the two leers in my direction.

“Come sit here, pretty girl. I don’t mind a bit of fluff between my teeth.”

The snarl directly in front of me has me recoiling in my seat. Hulk is awake.

“Shut the fuck up, Raff, you fleabag. We’re already stuck here until the asshole professor gets back from tattling to the dean. We don’t need your drool everywhere too.”

Shit a brick. Someone stood up for me. Someone I don’t even know.

The hulk sits up to his full height and turns to stare directly at me. Holy hell. I have never seen anything so freaking mesmerizing. Fierce gray eyes stare right back at me, highlighted by massive luminescent demon rings. I swear those bad boys are swirling in circles. It’s hypnotic. He shifts in his seat, muscles tensing under my gaze.

“If these furballs give you any trouble, let me know, chica.Seems like you made enough enemies already without my gang weighing in. Raff, you hearing me?”

“Yes, boss.”

I scratch at the slowly receding hair on my hands and squeak out an acknowledgment. This guy must be my age, but he’s built like a leviathan. His broad face contemplates me for a second longer before he turns back around. That is one intense dude. Hot, but intense.

“Right. It seems we’re all here now. Thank you for gracing us with your presence, Miss Smith. We can begin.”

Startled, I glance up. I must have been too caught up in gazing at hulk to notice the professor arrive. He’s sitting, slouched in a high-backed chair off to the side.

“Don’t see why we have to be here anyway. Who in Hades doesn’t know their elements by now?” Hulk grumbles. “Just cut the crap and dismiss us already, Prof.”

“Uh. I . . .” The professor pales. “I don’t think I should do that, Chano.”

“We talked about this, Max. It’s Mr. Chano to you.” The hulk lurches forward and the professor nearly falls out of his chair. “And, like I said, who doesn’t know this shit?”

“As . . . as you wish, Mr. Chano.”

“This is bullshit,” I blurt. “Who doesn’t know? Me, that’s who. Ijustemerged. So can you please shut up and let the professor do his job.”

Chano turns slowly around to face me, and the banshee lets out a trembling shriek, ducking behind his chair. Shit. Maybe no one talks back to this dude for a reason. Chano looms over me before letting out a belly laugh.

“And why have you only emerged now, chica? You’re of a legally fuckable age, aren’t you? You should have emerged years ago.” His tone is a mockingly slow drawl, highlighting his heavily accented English.

He doesn’t believe me? The cheek of this guy. Trying to rush everyone just because he knows it all already. He thinks everyone just emergespopat sixteen? Just because his parents probably paid for his emergence to be early and private.

Before I can stop myself, the words are flying out my mouth. “We’re not all privileged,Mr.Chano. Some of us had to rely on the government system.”

He shrugs, crooking an eyebrow at me, the side of his mouth pulling down like he’s unimpressed.

“Some of us had asshole guardians who denied us our magic because it suited their twisted plans.”

Chano’s expression hardens.

“That’s me. I’m some of us. I damn well fought to emerge, I fought to get into Fates Academy. And if you want to stop me coming to grips with my elements, I’ll fight you too.”

Raising my gaze to take in the rest of the room, I finally spot Professor Maximillion’s hand flapping, signaling me to shut up.Ah, shit.

Chano glares down, jutting his jaw out and clenching his teeth. Taking a big breath, I watch him carefully.

I’ve done it now.

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