Page 52 of Demon Found

Groaning, Itryto relax, to allow the other three to push their energy into me. I can feel it, I can feel something. Like someone’s tickling the palm of my hand, an itchiness around my pentagram. But today I can’t even share with Naeve, never mind anyone else.

I pull away and throw myself into a chair. It’s so damn frustrating. A shadow falls across me, and I look up. Naeve has exasperation written all over her face.

“You’re not even trying, Lorelei.”

“I am!”

“You barely socialize with Farrell, and you can’t stand to look at Zephyr. How are you going to trust them if you never spend time with them?” She perches opposite me and sweeps my books to the side with such exasperation a couple fall to the floor.

Part of me doesn’t want to trust them. Farrell is an entitled asshole with rich-daddy syndrome, and Zephyr . . . well . . . I could almost like Zephyr, except I’m just waiting for him to screw up again.

I scuff my toe against my chair leg.

“I came to this late. I’ve only had my magic a month. It’s too hard.”

“Oh great, yet another woe-is-me speech. You forgot the bit where you whine about us being privileged.” Farrell stalks off to the front of the class, shooting me a cold, hard glare.

I swear he actively hates me most of the time. But I still can’t tear my eyes away as he throws an arm over Camille’s shoulder and whispers in her ear. Her giggles set my teeth on edge.

“It’s not just Lorelei.” Zephyr scoops my books up, placing them on the desk gently, patting the covers. His gaze fixes on the wall somewhere over my shoulder.

“This feels forced to Lorelei. Well, what if it is? What if I’m only part of the allegiance because I’m . . . y’know . . . to Farrell.”

Shit. He thinks he’s part of the allegiance because Farrell is his master. Could that be true? A heaviness settles over me. That’s fucked up.

Naeve hisses so quietly no one else can hear. “That’s nonsense! You’re a pair of negative ninnies. Nowhere in history were slaves part of their master’s allegiance. You are in this allegiance despite that stupid bond, not because of it.” She gives the front of his blazer a slap.

“So, it’s on me, then.” I sigh. “I don’t know how to let you in, but I’ll try harder.”

I’ll talk to my brother. No matter what Farrell thinks, I’m damn certain my lack of privilege is the issue. He doesn’t get it. He’s not lived my life.

It’s notjustthe money, the things, that life has always been easy for them. It’s the relationships. Above everything else, it’s the relationships. The only person who loved me was my dad, and he died when I was four.

I’ve looked after myself, I’ve survived. Alone.

Farrell is plain cruel. The bastard knows I was orphaned. Professor Maggo was right—how the hairy hell do I trust anyone? How am I meant to find room for three whole extra people in my life? Especially when one of them is Farrell.

Seth better have answers. He was alone too, he’s been through the same shit, and he has an allegiance. It’s worth a shot.Maybe I’ll even ask him about Las Ratas, although . . . they’ve gone quiet. Perhaps there’s no need. The academy secretary must have finalized the paperwork. Just not in time to save Frank’s finger. What a shame.

Lorelei: Need to meet you. I need advice.

Seth: What now? It better not be teenage girl drama.

Lorelei: It’s about my allegiance.

Seth: Fine. Quad at 9 p.m. tonight.

Shit. That’s after curfew. The one that isn’t having any impact on drugs getting into the academy. Screw the dean and his stupid idea. His damn curfew is about as useful as a chocolate teapot. I need this, I’m going. It’s not like I follow rules normally.

I slip on my trainers, watching Naeve’s huddled frame like a hawk. Her head doesn’t even come up from her books as I sneak out the door. She’s oblivious. Too busy studying already, and the exams are ages away. Pulling my hoodie down over my stupid white hair, I creep out into the night. The air hits like a shockwave and I shiver. When did it start to get so cold at night?

The place is eerie. Not another soul is moving around campus. They must be taking the dean’s threats seriously. I didn’t think he’d drop anyone a whole grade point, but maybe I don’t know him that well. Crap. This is a shitty idea. It could have waited until tomorrow, at least . . .

I keep my head down and creep along the edge of the wood toward the quad. I’m so busy watching my own feet, trying to avoid tripping up that I walk into a wall. A wall of flesh. The hulk. Chano.

I look warily into his eyes. His demon rings are pulsing purple in the dim light, and I take a startled step back, slipping. He reaches out, steadying me before pressing a finger to his lips. His strong hand grips my shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze just as his oaky scent assaults my nostrils. He has no right smelling that good. A demon should smell of . . . I don’t know . . . sulfur and brimstone. Without thinking, I dip my head toward his hand, freezing midsniff. What the hell am I doing? Thank fuck it’s dark and he can’t see me blush.

A wicked grin flashes over Chano’s face before he slips past me into the night with a wink, blowing me a kiss as he goes.

---