Page 15 of Demon Found

“At least you have someone to sit with now, Naeve. I don’t know who to feel sorrier for.” Belinda lets out a high-pitched laugh. “The radical or the scholarship.”

The chattering of the cafeteria settles into an awkward silence, students nudging each other and staring in our direction.

My hands ball into fists and my teeth clench. I scrape my chair back and stand up slowly, deliberately.

“Scholarshiphas a name. Where I come from if you disrespect someone more powerful than you, you reap the rewards.”

My voice is only slightly raised but it carries in the silence of the glass cafeteria. Belinda gapes at me, mouth opening and shutting like a fish out of water. This girl trash-talks people and gets away with it because, what, she’s popular? She’s friends with Camille? She’s a freaking succubus, andnota strong one. Hard luck, sugar, I’m not afraid of you.

“New girl, you shouldn’t be issuing threats. You should be grateful you’re here at all.” The deep voice right behind me makes me whirl around. Farrell. Of course he’d get involved.

“You owe me, new girl.”

Zephyr flings an arm around Farrell’s shoulders, grinning like an idiot. “Oh, looky here. You found the little harpy.”

“The lizard and his sidekick, awesome. My day just got better.”

The startled gasps from the students around me make it totally worth it, but the snarl from Farrell has the hairs on my arms standing on end.

“I’ll give you a pass, this once. Don’t slander me again.” Farrell’s eyes glitter and harden, and I take a hesitant step back. Suddenly he seems more than just some soft rich kid. There’s something hard and unbending underneath. “You’re here at the academy aren’t you, new girl? I made sure you got in. You owe me.”

“You’re due my thanks, but that is it. You got your payment.” I fold my arms across my chest to stop myself from fidgeting.

“One kiss, broken off halfway through? Doesn’t count.”

A screech shreds my ear drums. Camille. Her face is puce, a vein standing out on her forehead like a damn snake.

“Iknewit!” Camille screams. “Scholarship is a slut. She whored herself out to get into the academy!”

Not a chance anyone missed that little gem. Brilliant.

She flies straight at me, her posse of girls right behind.Shit. Shit. Shit.I might technically have access to my powers now, but I’ve no idea how to use them. I flinch back, diving around the other side of the table.

Zephyr steps languidly in front of me.

“That’ll do, Cam. Call your hellhounds off and leave new girl alone. At least let Farrell get a coffee before you tear someone’s face off, hm?” He sends me a wink, then tucks her under his arm. Zephyr steers Camille toward Farrell, who flanks her other side, wrapping an arm around her waist. Murmuring calming words, the two of them stroll away with her between them.

Now who’s the damn whore?

“Catch up soon, Naeve, we’ve missed you,” Farrell calls over his shoulder. His eyes narrow as they settle on me. “We’ll continue this later, new girl.”

The three of them saunter off, Belinda trailing behind, leaving me to sink back into my chair and put my head in my hands. Why did they all have to be friends? Shit. I’m going to get myself killed. I glance up at Naeve. She’s sitting, her breakfast mostly untouched, staring at me.

“Jeepers. You weren’t kidding when you said you didn’t want to make friends. What did you do to piss Farrell off? He’s not a bad guy. And Camille? Sheesh. Camille’s queen bee around here.”

“Queen bitch more like,” I grumble, diving into my still warm pancakes. Naeve lets out a nervous giggle, glancing quickly over her shoulder.

“Keep it down. She has groupies everywhere.” Naeve chews on a strand of hair before catching my eye again. “How did you get Zephyr on your side? He’s normally too high to notice if he’s about to walk into a wall, never mindcareenough to break up a fight.”

“Didn’t you hear?” I say, my mouth full. “I whored myself out.”

For a long beat Naeve just stares at me before a grin splits her face.

“Come on, Lorelei. Let’s go get into some clothes that don’t flash your slutty stomach.”

Stuffing the last of my pancakes into my mouth, I trail after her. I get why they’re picking on me—I’m new, I’m different. But what’s their problem with Naeve?

She bustles around our room, sorting out the uniforms that have miraculously arrived. I’m itching to ask, but dammit, I don’t want to encourage her. I donotneed a prissy, nerdy friend. I don’t.

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