Page 25 of Demon Found

Camille and her bunch of little bitches are openly laughing. The professor glances at them and back to me.

“Let’s make it simpler for you. Perhaps you need it to be simple. What is this class about?”

This isn’t fair, it’s my first damn day. Of course, I don’t know what it’s all about. I shrug, trying to make it as nonchalant as possible.

He sighs, turning away, before projecting his voice again. “Everyone, books open to Chapter Four – Allegiances and How to Make Them.” He pauses. “Miss Lorelei, a definition of allegiance, if you please?”

Alarmed, my eyes fly back to the professor. This feels like a trap. What the hell else would allegiance mean?

“Loyalty to someone, a group or . . . a cause?” My voice sounds hesitant, even to me.

“Tell me, are you human?”

The students closest to me laugh louder, not even trying to hide it. I shake my head, pressing my lips together. He’s a damn teacher. He shouldn’t be encouraging this.

“If you were a human, I would accept a human definition. Butapparentlyyou are a supe, although I’m yet to be convinced.” He points to one of the wolf shifters. “Raff, you arrived late to the year too. A definition, please.”

The shifter gives a tiny growl before replying. Maybe no one likes this professor. Heisa griffin, they have a rep for being grumpy.

“Ifthe Fates shine on you, you can can form a fancy-ass bond with other supes—an allegiance. No telling when or who it’ll happen with. Each allegiance member has a different primary element. Earth, air, fire, water, aether . . .” Raff glances at me and I get the impression he’s actually trying to help. “Obviouslythere are no true aether supes, not anymore. So allegiances are four people, max. An allegiance with four supes isdamnstrong, even the Angel King only just found his fourth! Your allegiances are your best-est buddies ever. Like a pack on steroids.” He grins, delighted at his analogy.

I blink, furrowing my brow and staring at the professor. Okay, it’s a buddy system. Fine. What’s so special about that?

“Language, Raff. No swearing in my room,” the professor booms. “However, you captured the essence of it. In preparation for the kind of power share you can do in an allegiance we will practice more basic versions in this class. Naeve, Lorelei, I understand you are roommates? That should be enough of a connection. Please come to the front and demonstrate a power share. It need only be rudimentary at this stage.”

A rush of nausea washes over me. Power share? Lend someone my abilities? Let them into my head? What kind of fucked-up shit is this guy on? I don’t care that it’s Naeve. I might trust her more than anyone else here, but . . .

“No.”

The whole class takes a breath.Never tell a griffin no, not directly. Dammit. I forgot the most basic lesson any kindergarten kid could tell you.

I bluster on. “If this is a thing, why haven’t I heard about it before? It sounds dangerous. I’m not doing it.”

“Don’t dare defy me.” The professor’s face has taken on a funny mottled expression.Shit, is he going to shift?

“You will fail my class if you don’t grasp this concept, Miss Smith. Venez citizens aren’t noted for their smarts, or their power. Do you evenknowsomeone who’s ascended?”

Cringing at the sniggers, I shake my head.

“No man is an island. No supernatural can ascend without having at least one allegiance.” The professor seems to be getting himself back under control, but his words hit me like a minotaur.I can’t ascend if . . . No, he has to be wrong.

“I’m not aman.” The words are out before I can stop them. “And I wouldn’t trust this lot as far as I can throw them, never mind let them into my head.”

“Detention, Miss Smith.”

I throw my hands in the air. It’s an academy, not school. What are they doing having detentions?! I slouch down in my seat, pretending not to see the dirty looks being thrown my way from the other students. It’s true—I don’t trust them. They haven’t exactly shown me their best side.

The professor turns away and starts lecturing.

“Miss Smith hits on an important point. You need to trust those around you. Your first-year exam will involve working with others. To ascend, you must have at least one true allegiance. To pass my class, you simply need to play nicely with others—we will learn how to share power and take that from a basic to intermediate level.”

I groan and bury my head in my hands. I must have zoned out. When I look up, everyone is concentrating on their forearms.

“The pentagram gracing the wrist of every supe isn’tjusta beautiful mark. Gain an allegiance member and one of the points will fill with a symbol representing them. More bonds equal more symbols. You may or may not find your allegiances in this class, this academy, or this life, but you should always be searching.” The professor’s beady eyes latch onto mine. “However distasteful you may find the concept. Open your books—if you’ve not reached chapter six by the end of class today, that’s your homework. Practicals begin next lesson.”

Shit. I have so much catch-up to do, and I’m simply not doing this power-sharing crap. End of story. It’s just wrong.

My head is pounding. There’s so much to take in. Slowly I gather my things and trail after the other students as they scuttle out of class. A hand grasps my arm, halting me. The professor. I shake him off.

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