Page 24 of Demon Found

Naeve, and the harpy on my other side, still.

“I don’t appreciate being forced to choose. You’re both arrogant assholes. I don’t need either of you or your stupid cliques.”

Chano scowls so hard I swear his face is going to permanently crease. Shit. His eyes aren’t gray anymore. His demon rings have completely obliterated the iris. Is that a bad sign? It feels like a bad sign. Heat radiates from him in a wave, and I flinch away. Suddenly he turns on his heel and vanishes, leaving such a cold blast of air in his wake I almost wish he’d come back.

I drag my eyes away from the furious demon’s departure only to find Farrell’s also vanished.

“That was amazing! I like you,” a little voice at my elbow pipes up. Glancing at the harpy, I offer her a thin smile. If it was amazing, why do I feel like I screwed up?

My brother strides over, facial expression unreadable. I can’t hack more drama today.Please let him be in a good mood.

“What’s up, Seth?”

“Checking in, Lorelei. You got my delivery this morning?”

I nod enthusiastically.

“And what elements do you have, little sister?”

I can’t help the smile that pulls at my lips. Hearing him claim me as his sister, his family, it does funny things to me. The foster system split us up only a few years after our parents died. I’ve spent most of my childhood withoutanyfamily.

“Fire, air, and . . .” I pause dramatically “. . . and Professor Maximilian thinks I have a third element. Although we don’t know what yet.”

His eyebrows shoot up, and I wait for his congratulations. This is big.

“Hm.Potentialfor a third element. You’ll need to work hard to develop it. I’m seriously doubting you can keep your head down for that. You’re all over Maga, Lorelei!”

I open my mouth like a goldfish out of water.

“That’s not exactly by choice, Seth.”

“I will disown you if you keep causing such a damn fuss. We’re crossbreeds, Lorelei, we stay under the radar for a reason. I have a job with the Collectivo lined up after graduation. It requires discretion, from meandmy family. Donotshame me.”

He struts away without waiting for my response. Shit, I’m tired of people today.

“Can you disown him first?” asks the harpy next to me. “I’m Val. I think we’re going to be good friends. I have to scoot now, but catch you later!” She grins as her papery brown wings pop out her back, and she flaps quickly away.

One look at Naeve beside me is enough. She’s red in the face and hyperventilating, flapping her hands in front of her face like a demented butterfly. As soon as she catches my eye, she lets out an explosive laugh.

“Oh, it’s too good, Lori! The ‘I don’t want any friends’ girl has the top dogs fighting over herandanother girlfriend demanding attention on top of her roomie—and bestie.”

She’s crying with laughter now, doubled up and gasping for breath. It’s not funny, and I’m not her damn bestie.

“Alright, let’s not forget I turned down both boys’ oh-so-generous offers. If you don’t watch it, I’ll change my mind about you too!”

Chapter Thirteen: Lorelei

Mytwoclassesafterlunch pass quickly with no major disasters. Supernatural Geography is a breeze, although I have weeks of reading to catch up on, and Magical Combat wasalmostfun. The adrenaline from scrapping in the massive outdoor arena made me feel alive. I can fight. Shit, I grew up fighting. I just have to work magic into my brawl. It’s one of the most practical classes on my timetable, and a bloody godsend for letting my frustration out.

My last class is Combined Magic. I’m damned if I know what that entails.

“Quiet down!” The voice booms across the hall, magically amplified. It reverberates around my skull like a small earthquake. It doesn’t help that the professor is right next to me. He’s a short, dumpy man in a flowing black cloak. I swear his feet aren’t on the ground.

“Naeve, is he floating?” My whisper-shout echoes around the room just as everyone else shuts up.

The professor’s head snaps around and his eyes glow with an icy rage.

“I see our newest pupil hasn’t learned much yet. It’s called levitation. Tell me, what else have you failed to learn?”

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