Page 34 of Demon Found

“Can’t I just refuse them? Reject them, like shifters can a mate?”

He tuts so loudly his bum levitates off his pile of cushions.

“You will accept this, Lorelei Smith.” His voice softens slightly. “You are aknowncrossbreed. Life will be difficult enough. If you refuse to accept your allegiances, there is precisely zero chance of you passing this year, never mind graduating.”

The silence strings out between us. Staring at my hands, I swallow hard. Maybe I am behaving like a child. Here’s an easier ride being offered to me, and I’m thumbing my nose at it. Why? I want my independence more?

Dammit, I’m going to get myself flung out because I can’t swallow my damn pride. But what if I accept it? What if I get reliant on these guys and they screw up? Peoplearescrew-ups.

It doesn’t sound like I have much choice. Andhehas the power to fail me. Pulling my mouth into a thin line, I finally meet the professor’s eye and give him a small nod.

“Good. That’s settled. You’ll work with all three students in Combined Magic. Now, is there anything else you want to talk about?”

I peer at him more closely. Can he tell? Between this allegiance shit, the Las Ratas calling card, and Zephyr’s addiction I’m strung the hell out.

“Hypothetically speaking if saysomeonehad been signed up with an apprenticeship program but then accepted an academy place . . . would that someone be obligated to the program anyway?”

Maggo puffs out his cheeks, his mustache bristling. “No obligation, with the correct paperwork. But the academy’s secretary could check that all the formalities were dealt with . . . if someone was worried. Is everything okay, Lorelei?”

I nod.

It is now. Well, it will be. So long as I’m not getting dragged out of here by the fucking scum that is Las Ratas, then I can cope with anything.

I still don’t know what to do about Zephyr getting SupeZ into the academy. It was different when I wasn’t tied to him. It wasn’t my damn business. Now . . . now I have to do something, don’t I? Maggo might be growing on me a teeny tiny bit, but Zephyr’s addiction isn’t my problem to spill. I’ll speak to Naeve. She’s been dealing with Zephyr’s shit far longer than I have.

“Books out, then. The rest of the session will act as your detention.”

Wafting a cloaked arm at me, he floats up off his chair and busies himself with a coffee grinder. The asshole is going to drink his morning coffee right in front of me. I could be curled up in bed reading or, even better, in the cafeteria with my own damn coffee. Groaning, I heft out my Supernatural Historyand start trudging through it.

The aroma of dark-roasted beans hits my nostrils and I glance up, peeved. A small espresso cup sits balanced beside me, the dark liquid calling to me. There’s no damn sight of the professor.

“Dammit, Naeve. What do you want from me?”

“More than words, Lorelei. You have to mean it.”

“I’m trying!”

“Try harder—let the rest of us in.”

“Pffft, that went well in class. I blasted you and Farrell across the room, and I nearly gave Zephyr third-degree burns. Not that he noticed.”

Naeve drops onto my bed beside me, and I squeeze up so we’re sitting shoulder to shoulder.

“Maybe it’s him. Zephyr. Maybe he’s the problem.” Her voice is soft, strained.

“It’s me. We both know it’s me. But you’re worried about him, aren’t you?”

She nods, blinking rapidly.

“I . . . I’ve something I need to tell you, Naeve. I’ve been trying to find the right minute to talk to you for days.”

Naeve’s eyes narrow. “Talk.”

“It’s Zephyr. I caught him getting SupeZ onto campus.”

She shrugs. “I mean, we knew he was managing to get a little occasionally.”

“Yeah.” I run my fingers through my hair. “This wasn’t a little. And his dealer said that they’d secured the supply or something.”

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