Page 81 of Demon Found

Shit.

“Enough.” Chano’s voice echoes through the cafeteria, startling the few kids that are perched at the milk bar at the far end of the room. “We will talk about this in private, Max. Now.”

Professor Maximilian’s fierce look wavers, and his Adam’s apple bobs. Dammit, I can’t help but be impressed at how easily Chano took charge of this fucking disaster. Thank the gods and demons he rocked up.

Only once we’re all tucked into Professor Max’s office does Chano let the professor speak again.

“I know what I saw. She was using earth magic in the arena, Mr. Maverik, sir.”

Chano rolls his eyes and rounds on us. “Are you shitting me? You were practicing in the open? Are you all insane?”

Now that he puts it like that, it doesn’t seem our most sensible idea. Farrell’s jaw tenses but he keeps quiet.

“Max. Keep this to yourself, you hear? She’s my—”

“No.” I slap my palms on his broad chest.

“Keep your mouth shut!” Farrell growls.

The clamoring that breaks out around him does nothing to stop Chano. He merely wafts a hand before outing the whole allegiance to Professor Maxandmy status as an aether.What the fuck is he thinking?I sink down into one of the office chairs. This has gone from bad to worse. I take it back—I wish Chano hadn’t shown up.

“Enough. Max is my man. He’ll keep his mouth shut and provide us with somewhere saferto practice than an outdoor arena literallybuiltfor people to watch. Won’t you, Max?” Chano’s arm is around the professor who’s deadly white and perspiring profusely. “I wouldn’t want to have to let your little secret out now, would I?”

The professor shakes his head so rapidly he looks like a rag doll.

“Chano, Mr. Chano . . . It would be an honor to provide safe haven for your allegiance.”

Pursing my lips, I peer between the two of them. Chano obviously has decent leverage on this guy. I’d kill to know what it is, to be sure it’s enough. I’m pissed though, pissed he didn’t talk it through first. Pissed he made this decision on my behalf.

I haven’t admitted it out loud, but I’m scared. More scared than I’ve ever been. More scared than when Frank broke both my legs in foster care, more scared than when I woke up in Frank’s cellar naked with a bunch of rats for company, more scared than when I faced down two gang members, alone at sixteen.

Scratch that. I’m not scared, I’m fucking terrified. No one is an aether elemental but me. What if that makes me an oddity to be studied? What if the Collectivo come for me? A crossbreedandan aether. They’d be creaming their pants to have me in one of their fucking labs. To study me.

What if being aether makes me a target, or worse . . . valuable to some nutter who wants to use my abilities, my power? Maybe that’s what Farrell and Zephyr were talking about earlier. Dammit, everyone is keeping shit from me, making decisions for me. My worry consolidates into a hot, sharp anger.

Who the hell does he think he is?

“Asshole,” I hiss, stalking away. Chano’s eyes flash with hurt. He thought I’d be grateful? My whole childhood was controlled by other people. Damned if I’m going to be happy about him making decisions for me.

Chapter Forty: Lorelei

GrinningtomyselfIspin a tornado out of air and set it alight with my fire before sending it around the room. Today is a good day.

My element control is improving, even the professors are noticing. I half thought it was just Professor Max brownnosing Chano but my grades are going up in other classes too. It’s still sporadic, but hellfire, it’s so much better.

Professor Max and Farrell are arguing in the corner of the classroom, ignoring me entirely. There’s only so much doom and gloom about the Angel King a girl can take. The whole point of this session was that they’d guide my magic, not get bogged down in political bullshit again.

With a smirk, I send a fire ball and a tornado directly at the pair of them, concentrating on using my aether to control both at once. Professor Max smiles indulgently and steps back, clearing Farrell’s line of sight. Farrell scrambles inelegantly out of the way. His icy look would freeze the damn dessert. He needs to lighten up, dammit.

He stares daggers in my direction before his eyes fix somewhere over my shoulder. Worry scores across his normally carefully schooled face. Dread pools in the pit of my stomach and I turn around infinitesimally slowly. My feet are lead, glued to the floor.

I don’t recognize it, until it moves. There, at the classroom door, is a long lens camera. The door swings open with a bang, and Camille strides in, gleeful malice painted across her face.

“I thought she was sucking your cock, Farrell, and the professor’s too, in your little ‘private lessons.’ I had to get it on tape. Had to get her thrown out.”

The professor raps a fist on the desk and steps forward. “Excuseme, Camille—”

Hugging the camera to her chest, she doesn’t even look his direction. “But this? This is so much better! Hiding an element? A dangerous element.” Her smile widens, showing far too many teeth, and she laughs.

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