Page 91 of Demon Found

Pain sheers through my back. My wings force their way out, spreading out behind me. A headache like a thunderclap bounces around my skull, and I scream in agony. The pain adds to my rage, and I turn it on the one person here who really fucking deserves it.

Belinda.

Purple flames shoot toward her. They catch her up, spin her around, and carry her up the air, far out of Chano’s reach. She hangs suspended for a moment, high above the crowd, a startled look on her face. Then she starts to scream. Flames lick over her, destroying her clothes, charring her skin.

A hand falls on my arm. “Enough, chica. You’ve made your point, little demon. Enough.”

What did I do?I let Belinda drop, a strangled sob wrenching from my throat.

Chano reaches behind me. He drags a finger over my wings, sending a tremble through my whole body.

“The wings make sense now, but I do like the little additions.” He fingers the tips, making me start and stare. A tiny horn pokes out among the feathers, I swing wildly to look at my other wing. The same.What the hell?

Chano takes hold of my face and peers into my eyes.

“The rings look good on you. Why were you pretending to be a harpy? Hmm?”

I barely register his words, too caught up in the horror of the moment. Screams rip the air again as the medics try to move Belinda. The stench of burned flesh hits me so hard I retch.What did I do? What the fuck am I?

The room spins, and I let go into darkness.

Chapter Forty-five: Chano

She’sademon,myLorelei. Why in all the nine levels of hell would she hidethat? She’s a powerful one too—her demon rings swirled around her eyes like an inferno. Oh, she’s fucking powerful.

My pulse roars. I was right. She’s mine, she’s my Aeternum. She just doesn’t know it yet.

Rolling my shoulders, I revel in the chaos. People mill everywhere. Medics are shouting instructions to each other. The room is in uproar.

Belinda’s screams fade into the background as I take in Lorelei flopped on the floor. A bouncer stands over her, scuffing one shoe, glancing over his shoulder at his companions.

Right, she hurt someone, with magic. Normally they’d throw her in one of the secure cells until the dean arrived. Normally they’re dealing with raging shifted supes. Not a passed-out girl.

Surging forward I shoulder the guy out the way. Lorelei is not waking up alone inside a cell. The dean will need to deal with this, but she’s not waiting for that asshole. I’ll fucking take her to him myself.

A raw guilt washes over me. I caused this. I bated her with Belinda. Deliberately. I had to know she felt something too . . . but now? Hellfire. She’s making me soft, this girl.

With a snarl, I scoop Lorelei up, flinging her over my shoulder, and turn, elbowing my way to the door. The bouncers flank me, eyes wide. Not one of them is going to dare stop me.

As I shoulder the dean’s office door, it splinters and cracks, busting off its hinges. It was locked. Of course. The guy is going to lose his shit at us both tonight. I shrug Lorelei off my shoulder onto the dean’s desk as gently as I can.

Prowling around the room, I kick out at the furniture. Rubbing my chest, I glance at Lori every few seconds. The damn hollowness inside won’t fucking go. I don’t like it.

The dean arrives within minutes. His shirt is half untucked, his precious glasses are nowhere to be seen, and his gray hair sticks up at odd angles. He pauses in the doorway, taking in Lorelei sprawled out across his exquisite desk.

Without thinking, I step in front of her, blocking his view.

“What precisely is the meaning of this, Mr. Maverik?”

I shrug, staring him down.

“I’ve had reports Miss Smith attempted to murder someone.” His voice rises. “Why then, is she not in a cell, but in my office, on my desk, asleep?”

“Unconscious,” I correct him. “Drained herself.”

He of all people should understand that. She’s untrained. She used too much power, too quickly. Her body shut down. It’s a coping mechanism.

“That doesn’t answer my question. And why is my beautiful door in a million pieces?”

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