Page 61 of Demon Found

“Going to write a letter of complaint, Mr. Karen?” I growl.

“I don’t even understand why he’s here. We can discuss this perfectly well without him.” Farrell jabs a finger in my direction. The first time he’s even acknowledged I’m in the same room.

“Unlike you, I respect the Fates,” I reply. “We’re in this together.”

“Bullshit. You respect nothing. You’re a trumped-up drug cartel boss who’ll be rotting in jail by the time we graduate.”

“I don’t deal drugs. Ever. You think I want to be stuck with a pompous little asswipe like you, Farrell? Someone who’d strangle his own grandmother for a chance in government, and his little druggy sidekick?”

Zephyr’s back is to me as he stares out the window across campus, but his shoulders pull up before he swings around.

“I’m clean, you jerk.” Zephyr tucks himself onto the end of Lorelei’s bed, looking far too comfortable there. Just how well do these guys know her? “Your drug ruined what little control I have over my life. As for Farrell—he isnothis father.”

I pause, looking to Lorelei. Why isn’t Zephyr in control of his life?

“Until I see it with my own eyes . . . words mean nothing. Maybe the Virrey’s son isn’t such a power-hungry leech as his daddy, butmaybethat’s bullshit. Andmaybeyou’re clean. For now.”

My horns prickle my skin, threatening to erupt. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I take a deep breath.

“Look, I have nothing to do with SupeZ. But . . .” I glance to the ceiling. Why the fuck am I even considering opening myself up here?

Lorelei steps forward, placing a hand on my arm, and Naeve cocks her head to one side, pausing the incessant click of her knitting needles.

“But . . . someone in the Maveriks did,” I finish.

Arguing breaks out around me, and I stare into space. I’ve done it now. If Cuelebre wants to take advantage of this, I’ve opened myself right up. But if we have a chance in hell of this allegiance working then someone had to make the first move. Dammit, mi mami would be proud.

“Someone?” Farrell says. There’s less derision in his voice than I was expecting.

“I’m investigating. We’re not a drug cartel. We do high-end jobs. We get people into and out of places, we ‘redistribute’ things, expensive things, and we’re very very good at fake documents. We do not do drugs.”

“Deago—” Zephyr starts.

“Deago is currently indisposed. In fact, when Lorelei met me this morning I’d just come from a meeting with Deago.”

Lorelei’s eyebrows rise. “A very bloody meeting . . .” She steps toward me, slipping a hand into mine. “I believe him.”

Those three little words mean so fucking much, and she doesn’t even know it. I squeeze her hand, warmth sliding up my arm, my heart thumping louder.

“Chano’s trying,” Naeve pipes up, surprising me. “Either we disband this allegiance and none of us ascends, or we all try.”

“There hasn’t been an allegiance of five in a whole generation,” Farrell says with a growl. “How the hell are we meant to keep this quiet? I don’t like it. And I don’t like him.”

“Feeling’s mutual, daddy’s boy.”

Chapter Thirty-one: Lorelei

StretchingmylimbsoutI close my book, resting my forehead on the cool cover. Exams are coming, and my little brain is fried. I only have so much bandwidth. What with needing to cram, stopping Farrell and Chano from killing each other, keeping our extra allegiance member a secret, and avoiding Camille and her crew, I’m about to explode.

At least I finally worked out what her beef with me is. How the fuck did I miss she was dating Farrell? Even if they’re on-again, off-again. No wonder she was pissed we’d kissed. Three whole months at the damn academy and I didn’t know. I didn’twantto know. What the hell he sees in that bitch is beyond me. I slap my hand on the desk.

The librarian tuts loudly, muttering under her breath as my phone chooses this exact moment to start vibrating. Another anonymous caller. Great. Ignoring it, I gather my shit and scuttle out—there’s no way I can focus again today.

I have to do something about the calls, soon. If I answer, there’s only heavy breathing on the line. It’s beginning to freak me out. I assumed it was Camille, but it’s so fucking persistent. Surely Camille would have gotten bored by now. Which leaves Las Ratas.

I kick at the leaves piling up on the ground, I can’t even enjoy the stunning autumnal colors. This shit with the gang is beginning to stain everything. The uncertainty of it all is killing me. If they’d just damn well confront me properly . . .

Looking up, I find my feet have taken me toward Professor Allegra’s lab. Maybe we’re not on the best of terms, but . . . it’s not like I’m really talking to Seth. And she’s the only other person here I know that grew up in the same streets I did. Perhaps I could run it past her. We’re at least on speaking terms again, although not nearly as cozy as she is with Zephyr. But she’d listen, right? And she’s likely to be a damn sight more practical about gang issues than the dean.

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