Page 87 of Demon Found

Wait. Heknowsthat they’re gaining gang members from a government scheme. And he has enough influence to stop them doing that, but has chosen not to. That’s messed up.

The common room door crashes open, the walls reverberating in protest as Chano barges in. Farrell frowns and rolls the pool cue in his hands. I turn back to him. I'll be damned if I even acknowledge Chano.

“Thank you. I’m not sure I deserve your help after Camille. But, Idoappreciate it.”

Farrell stares me down, his face an icy mask. “I’m doing this because you’re allegiance. That’s all.” He pots his last ball with pinpoint precision, shrugs back into his suit jacket, and elbows his way past Chano. “I’ll sort it now.”

Shit. I should have asked him weeks ago. Then I wouldn't have needed Chano to rescue me. And he wouldn't have tried to humiliate me.

I stomp toward a giant love seats and flick the TV on. I won't run, I'm not weak, but anything to avoid talking. A large, rough hand covers mine on the remote, and the TV dies.

“You’re letting Farrell save you from whatever shit you got yourself in? Gang shit. But you wouldn’t ask me? The Maverik boss.”

I yank my hand out and scoot away from Chano’s massive frame, escaping the heat that’s radiating from him.

“I saved myself. He’s facilitating. You?” I poke a finger angrily into his chest. “You jumped to conclusions. You saved me from Las Ratas, only to attack me yourself. You stripped me to my bra in themiddleof campus. Treated me like garbage without evenaskingfor my story. And now what? You think I'd still want your help? Get real.”

Chano recoils as I spit my words into his face.

“Iamsorry, chica. I don’t normally apologize, but I was wrong.”

I press my lips together and hug a cushion to my chest. Not good enough.

“I’ve brought you the best apology I could think of.”

Despite myself, my grip on the cushion loosens slightly and I edge closer. Chano offers me a tentative smile.

“Uh. Not here with me. In the woods. Your attackers aren't dead, not yet. I only let the boys rough them up a bit. I thought you might like to be the one to end them?”

Only Chano. Only he would think that offering me the kill would be a decent apology. My magic flares. Maybe he’s not so wrong.

His apology shouldn’t be sweet. It should be terrifying.

Chapter Forty-three: Lorelei

“Interesting,”ProfessorPythiascroonsover my shoulder. I start, sending my scrying bowl flying, upending itself in my crotch. Titters echo around the class as he moves away. Great. Now I look like I’ve pissed myself.

Mopping the spilled water, I glare at the back of his head before scraping the candle wax off the desk. Caromacy is the only divination skill I can get my head around and even then, the interpretation takes forever. Professor Pythias never helps, just mutters something obscure and vague before drifting off. I stab my pen into the page of my notebook. What did I see? Flames. A dragon. A funny sword thingy. And a mean-looking angel. Flicking through the textbook, I try to piece it together. Interpretation is so unscientific it blows my mind. There’s no damn way Divination should be classed as a science. It’s one hundred percent an art.

I’m too tired for this shit today. We spent all last night in the Potions lab. Zephyr persuaded Professor Allegra to leave it open so I could execute my revenge. Dammit, I don’t want to think about how he persuaded her. She shouldn’t be involved with a student. But it worked in my favor, I guess. We got in.

Between Naeve and I we managed to create a shape-shifting elixir. One that’s irreversible. And this morning before class I sent two sweet red-eyed rats off in a box to Las Ratas headquarters, with my regards.

I couldn’t kill them. Not when I really thought about it. They probably had shitty upbringings just like me, and they made some poor choices. Well, now they’ll live the rest of their lives as rats. Just not as Las Ratas.

Beside me Naeve sighs, and her shoulders slump. She hates not excelling. She’s still in the top half of the class but I can virtually see her beating her little brain cells up over not being the best. Jabbing her in the ribs with my elbow I offer her a grin.

“Cheer up, dunce. At least this is the last class today, Combined Magic is canceled.”

And hell am I forever grateful for that. Another class in close and very awkward proximity with all the guys? No thanks. Things arereallyweird between us all. I’msoover getting palpitations whenever any of them are close.

Naeve slams her book shut.

“You’re right. I have just the idea. Girly night!”

I roll my eyes. Naeve’s girly nights are a disaster. So far, we’ve had a food tasting where she forgot I’m vegetarian so I starved, and a tea party. A fricking tea party. We’re eighteen not eighty. There wasn’t even coffee in sight.

“No. This’ll be good—I promise. Just girls though.” She gives me a knowing look.

---