Page 50 of Demon Found

Littered across the rug is a crumpled note, a piece of string and a small plastic bag containing unmistakable blue powder.

Farrell swings around, punching a hole straight through the wall.

Zephyr holds up his hands. “It isnotwhat you think.”

“What is it, then? You’re just buying some for old time’s sake? Going to frame it and put it on the wall?” Farrell roars and steam erupts from his nose.

“I should have told you before I went to see Deago.”

“So itisMaverik getting SupeZ in here. And he was so high and mighty about how he has nothing to do with drugs.” Farrell starts pacing, a deep rumbling emitting from his chest.

“I’m not going to take this. I can prove it.”

I want to believe Zephyr. I so want all the hard work of this past week not to be for nothing. But how the hell can he explain this away?

“Ask Alice.”

Alice? When did she stop being Professor-fucking-Allegra to him?

“Alice wanted SupeZ. She needed more product to check the antidote with. She’s so damn close.” He shrugs. “We’ve been hanging out since Lorelei sent her those pictures of my vision. I knew she needed it, I knew where to buy . . . Anyway, I don’t think I could use, even if I wanted to. Not with Farrell’s compulsion.”

Naeve flies across the room, barreling into Zephyr and wrapping herself around him. Farrell joins her in two quick strides, slapping Zephyr on the back and muttering apologies.

It makes sodding sense that he can’t get past a slave compulsion. Why didn’t I think of that?

I shuffle from foot to foot, his words slowly sinking in. Professor Allegra came through. Shehasbeen working on the SupeZ antidote. That’s . . . that’s fucking amazing. I feel suddenly small. Why was it Zephyr she reached out to? I took the photos of his vision-induced formula. I sent her them in an email. Even after she slapped me. And nowI’mthe bad guy for doubting him? Great.

I didn’t want to believe it. But he was buying.

Scrunching up my nose, I take a hesitant step toward them. Zephyr’s long arm reaches out, scoops me up and squashes me into the group hug. Slowly the heat from their bodies seeps into me. Farrell’s citrusy scent mingles with Zephyr’s distinct vanilla; there’s something innately calming about it. I let out a sigh.

Maybe, just maybe, our allegiance will survive.

Chapter Twenty-five: Chano

Thisclosetothebig-eyed chica, the heat radiates from her, thrumming through the air, setting my nerve endings alight. I don’t understand why the hell she’s struggling with her fire. She’s got shitloads of potential, I can taste it. So why is my tutoring making no difference? We’vebarelyprogressed.

Letting out a hiss of frustration, I turn back to Lorelei. “From the heart, chica, you have to feel it burn then let it out.” I press my hand to her sternum, the way I did when I helped Lottie train. She takes a startled breath, her chest heaving under my hand, staring at me from under her lashes. I lick my lips, leaning in, towering over her, her scent filling my head. She’s so close I could capture those lips in an instant . . .

A bellow erupts from the opposite side of the classroom. “Get your filthy hands off my allegiance, Maverik scum.”

A fireball shoots toward us, and I shove Lorelei out the way. What the hell is that idiota thinking? Growling, I send a jet of fire back at Farrell, keeping Lorelei behind me. He shields at the last moment before ducking behind a desk.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Professor Maximilian hurrying toward us. Better make this count before he forces us to stop. I shut my eyes briefly and concentrate on pulling the energy in my core. On a loud exhale I release my fire in a white-hot blast straight at Farrell. In the same instant, his flames come spiraling toward me.

“Stop! Both of you!” Lorelei jumps between us.

I wrench my element sideways, almost too late. The tips of her snow-white hair frizzle in the heat, scorching black, and she flinches.

“What the blazing nymphs are you doing?” Farrell yells at her.

“I’m not afraid of you, either of you. Stop, before someone gets killed.” Her chin juts out in adorable defiance.

Cursing, I power down, directing the last of my sputtering fire into the ground.

“Chica, that was dangerous. And hot.” I shift uncomfortably, rearranging the semi before she notices. I’m damn sure getting an erection at wildly bolshy behavior isn’t something a girl would see as cute.

“You stay away, Maverik. You and your damn drugs have done enough damage.”

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