Page 14 of Demon Found

“Look, Naeve. I’m sorry about your stuff. I had a really shitty day, someone pulled a crappy prank on me. I needed a few minutes to gather myself, and you were right there, in my face. I . . . I don’t know what happened. I don’t think I could do it again if I tried.”

“Goodness gracious goddesses,pleasedo not do that again. I don’t care about the clothes. But my books? My poor babies.” She lets out a stifled sob and throws herself on her freshly made bed. “And sleeping on this filth until I get new sheets? Ugh!”

Cautiously I sidle over to my own bed and run a hand over the covers. It’s freaking luxury—crisp and clean. What the hell was she sleeping on before? Silk? Actually, I don’t even want to ask. I’m never going to be able to pay her back.

“Look. If you’d just backed off a bit.” Naeve frowns and I catch myself. “This is a really crappy apology, isn’t it?”

She raises an eyebrow and purses her lips.

I change tack. “I didn’t have control and . . . shit . . . I didn’t even know I had fire! Look, I know some things were sentimental and can’t be replaced, but the rest? I’ll replace it all. No idea how, but I will. I’m sorry, alright?”

“I forgive you, if that’s what you’re asking.” She pulls herself off her bed and moves as if to give me another hug.

“Whoa. Whoa. There’s a but here, Naeve. I told you. I don’t do hugs. I’ll try to make it up to you,butI’m here to study, to graduate. I’m not here to make friends. I don’t need a ‘bestie.’ I don’t want one.”

I throw myself down on my bed, trying to ignore her hurt, and turn to face the wall.

“I said I forgave you, Lorelei Smith. I didn’t say I wanted anything else to do with you, get over yourself.”

She flings herself back onto her bed with a muffled thump.

A wry smile tugs at the corner of my mouth. So, she’s not a pushover after all. Maybe I should have apologized and left it at that.

I feel alone. I miss the roughness of my own bed covers under my fingertips, I miss the stinky-breathed panting of Dog, blissed out on pats. Dammit, the little shit better be okay.

This is my new start, my chance, and I’m screwing up. I’ve already made enemies, I don’t need another. Sitting up, I turn toward Naeve.

“Look, Naeve. Maybe we can start over?”

Quiet snoring answers me.

Tiptoeing across the room to put the light out, I stop at Naeve’s bed. She passed out. How the hell did she fall asleep so quickly? Is that . . . She rolls over, clutching harder at the ball of wool in her arms. Grinning at the absurdity, I pull the blanket up over her.

Chapter Eight : Lorelei

“Ireallyamsorry about your stuff.”

Naeve rolls her eyes. “You can stop apologizing. Some of my books live in my locker, and I forgot I’d lent a stack to Zephyr. There was only one here I’ll miss. The Real History of Eltanin, although it’s probably better it was burned than someone found it.” She sighs. “That one was precious and it’s out of print, not to mention banned. The rest? It was just stuff.”

My eyes widen. Her side of the room was overflowing when I arrived. Just stuff? Bloody hell. Rich people!

“Although . . . my poor yarn collection.” She sighs, fingering a pair of giant-assed knitting needles that are remarkably unscathed. “They were so pretty, but . . . I’ve had worse done to me. Right, it’s breakfast. Are you coming or are you worried you might catch friend vibes?”

She trips off out the room, leaving the door banging in her wake.

Sighing, I pull on the sports pants and hoodie from beside my bed. A quick peek in the mirror confirms it’s as bad as I thought. It was the only uniform the hada could find last night. Proper replacements should be ready after breakfast. But shit, the stuff they’ve left in the meantime isn’t even my size. Itmightfit an elementary school kid. I tug the hoodie down further. As soon as I release the hem, it pings stubbornly back up above my navel. I’m pretty sure this is not meant to be a crop top.

My stomach grumbles with a familiar kind of empty. Dammit, I went to sleep without eating last night. The best thing about Fates Academy is the food here is free. I don’t have to miss a meal ever again. I skip a happy little step as it sinks in.

The canteen is at least easy to find—a big glass building in the middle of the residence block, it shimmers in the early morning light. Wafts of egg and coffee float toward me. Pulling my hood lower over my face, I shuffle into line, rubbing my hands.

There is so much choice. How’s a girl supposed to make up her mind? Settling for a huge stack of pancakes draped in fruit, oozing maple syrup, and a massive mug of the most aromatic coffee ever, I glance furtively around the hall, awkwardly shuffling on the spot. Dammit it’s like being the newbie in high school again.

My gaze lands on Naeve’s plump form and messy bun just as she glances up and waves at me. Thank the heavens and hells she doesn’t seem to hold a grudge. Traipsing over to her empty ten-seater table, I give her a small smile and slide in.

“Look, it’s the hobo.”

One sip of coffee, dammit. I’ve had one sip.

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