Page 105 of Demon Found

“The Virrey won’t let her wander off.” Zephyr sighs. “He’s been keeping tabs, demanding updates from the professors. He can’t have her reaching her full potential. Not now he knows about your little . . . thing.” He gestures at our disguised mating bands. “Now that Lorelei can’t be married off to Farrell, the Virrey’s plans have altered.”

“How would he know about us?” I ask, accusation in my tone. “Farrell?”

Chano clears his throat. “Ah. That . . . that might have been me. I may have let it slip to Seth that you were my Aeternum. The little weasel got under my skin.”

I gape at them. What the actual hell. Chano told Seth? Satyr shit. And the Virrey wanted me to marry Farrell? One glance at Farrell’s pursed lips and it hits me. He knew. He knew about this, about his father’s desire to marry me to his son. Keep my magic for their use. For whatever the fuck their grand plan is. Was Farrell planning to go along with it? Did he think he could trick me, or force me . . .

Zephyr shrugs, like between them they haven’t just destroyed my world. “At this point, I’m betting the Virrey wants her out of the academy, out of public sight. Then she’ll ‘disappear’ like all the other missing crossbreeds.”

Chano lifts me up and deposits me in his lap, facing him, dragging me into a bear hug. How can they talk about this like it’s nothing? It’s my damn life. I’m not a pawn. I hate these power freaks. These politicians and their corruption. A hand rubs circles on my back and citrus and pine floats in the air.

Farrell. I stiffen, flinching away from his touch.

“Whatever you’re thinking . . . it’s not like that, Lori.”

“You don’t get to tell me that!” I bat his hand away.

“It gave me an out, Lorelei, bought me more time. I would never have forced you. I was just playing along with my father, letting him think that I was pursuing you. It gave me breathing space. He wanted me to marry Camille, soon. She’s a beautiful woman but it was an arrangement, not a choice.”

He didn’t want me. He just wanted out.It makes no sense that I’m disappointed. I have Chano. My emotions are all over the place. My genus has been cooped up for so long, I’m still adjusting. That’s it. I’m adjusting, and I’m emotional because of it. Nothing else.

I peer guiltily at Chano from under my lashes. What would he think if he knew that days after we bonded, I’m pining after someone else?

Naeve stands and stretches before pacing toward me. “Farrell might be a lot of things, Lorelei, but he would never trick you into something like that.”

I nod distractedly as all our tablets ping.

Ten Percent Battle: Contestants will be drawn in thirty minutes in the Great Hall. Celebratory hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be served.

“I’m not going.”

“We’re going.” Farrell overrides me, and I scowl. “We’ll show them all you’re not afraid.”

“C’mon, chica. Let’s go see which unfortunate you’re going to annihilate.” Chano’s eyes have a wicked gleam, and it ignites a steely determination inside me.

“Fine. But not becauseFarrellsays so. Because there’s snacks.”

Chapter Fifty-three: Lorelei

TheGreatHallisfar less fancy than during the Solstice Ball, but the chimneys are still roaring with fire. The walls have been decorated with a collection of ancient weapons, each more deadly than the last. A three-bladed magic-infused katar catches my eye and my fingers itch to take it down from the wall. The dull glint of the metal calls to me like a damn siren.The Blade of Hiraethreads the inscription below it.

Students are milling around, chattering, enjoying the party atmosphere. It’s easy to spot the other contestants—tight-lipped, drawn, and being comforted by friends. Hewie stands in the corner nearest the door, occasionally letting out small screeches of distress.

“Someone expel the wailer already,” Camille calls. “He shouldn’t be at Fates. He’s so weak he’s essentially human.” Hewie flinches, and his shoulders draw up toward his ears.

“You’remarryingthat bitch?” I hiss in Farrell’s ear. He raises one shoulder in a shrug and tugs at his shirt cuffs, face impassive.

That does it. Fuck that bully. Storming over to Hewie I pull him into a half hug, slapping him on the back. He stiffens briefly before relaxing into my shoulder. Chano awkwardly pats his head, and Naeve, Zephyr, and even Farrell reach for him too, squeezing his hands and arms.

“Th—thanks,” he gets out. “I’m sorry you’re stuck in the battle too, Lorelei. It’s not fair. You passed and everything.”

It’s amazing how quickly news spreads around here.

The dean arrives on stage with his entourage. They’re dressed up like it’s a freaking party. I suppose it is if your future isn’t on the line. His gaze sweeps the crowd; he’s searching for something. I swear even from here I can see the malicious glint in his eyes as he picks me out. Dean Emrick peers over the top of his horn-rimmed spectacles silencing the crowd.

“Doesn’t even need glasses the pretentious tit,” Hewie hisses. “He’s a vampire. He has perfect eyesight. He just wears them because they’re made from Qilin horn.”

I raise an eyebrow. Maybe the kid just needs some friends, and he might grow a backbone after all.

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