Page 45 of Demon Found

Naeve dumps her knitting project and scrabbles through my notes like a squirrel with a nut. It’s worth it just to see a smile on her face. How someone can be so pleased by homework is beyond me. Pulling my bag off my shoulders, I upend it on her desk. “Don’t thank me yet, there’s more. Here’s the stuff from your genus class. Zephyr managed to wrangle those out of your tutor. He wouldn’t give it to a lowly cross like me.”

Naeve freezes, chewing on her cheek.

“Don’t look at me like that. I haven’t forgiven him. I can’t even work with him in Combined Magic. The one time we tried I blasted him through the ceiling.”

A smirk tugs at the corner of Naeve’s mouth and she starts up her knitting again. The needles clacking sound a little quicker, a little lighter. “He deserves it.”

I pluck the whole lot from her—needles, wool, the lot, and grab her hands in mine.

“He does. But we can’t keep going like this. When you’re ready, we need to meet the boys and hash it out.” I rush on, seeing her hurt look. “I’m not asking you to forgive him, Naeve. But we need to work out our options.”

She nods slowly, lips firming in a line before jumping up off her bed.

“You’re right. Let’s do it. I’ve been stuck in here all week, recovering from that stupid drug, and . . . hiding.” She glances at me sideways. “I’ve been hiding so I don’t run into him, or Hunter. It should be them hiding!”

“Well, Hunter’s vanished. No one knows where he is. Farrell’s pissed. He wanted to make an example of Hunter. And Zephyr doesn’t deserve you to give a rat’s ass about him. Are you sure you want to do this now?”

“Yep. But not here. I don’t want him in our room.”

Ali-G Chat

Hairy Harpy: Naeve wants to talk. Meet in Farrell’s room.

Farrell: FFS. Shouldn’t I be the one inviting people here?

Hairy Harpy: Are you seriously telling me we’re not invited?

Farrell: Fine.

Space Cadet: Me too?

Hairy Harpy: Yes. Unfortunately.

Naeve shuffles into Farrell’s room behind me. Her whole body is tense, and she’s wringing her hands. She seemed confident in our dorm, but now she’s the exact opposite. Fuck, I shouldn’t be surprised—she’s traumatized.

Farrell barrels past me and sweeps her up in a hug.

So, he’s not antitouching. It’s just my touch he abhors. Nice.

Chapter Twenty-three: Lorelei

Zephyr’scurleduplikea cat on one of the luxurious sofas, his long limbs tucked under him. He’s watching Naeve and Farrell hungrily. Any fool could tell he desperately wants to be part of their easy friendship again. Serves the fucker right. She needed him and he abandoned her.

“I’m no grass, Naeve, but this is different,” I say. “We need to tell someone. Whatever Hunter used on you was cut with SupeZ. Our resident expert here is sure, given the aftereffects you described. And Zephyr’s got enough fucking experience with that shit to tell.”

Zephyr ducks his head, pulling in a breath of air through his teeth.

“I don’t know, Lorelei,” Naeve replies. “You weren’t so sure about tattling either, when you saw Zephyr’s dealer.”

Zephyr’s head shoots up and his piercing green eyes bore into me. I shrug. He doesn’t deserve an explanation. I didn’t mean to spy on him.

“Yeah, well, at the time, I thought Zephyr was just destroying himself, I didn’t know he’d use up our magic when he ran out of his own . . . And what Hunter did, or tried to do? That needs retribution.”

“Right. So, we agree.” Farrell pulls his shoulders back, straining the material of his pristine blue suit. “You go to the dean, with the date rape and the SupeZ.”

Naeve worries at her cheek before nodding her agreement. It’s probably better coming from us than an addict, but it feels like Zephyr’s getting off lightly.

“I’m in. Now, what about the allegiance? What are our options?” I turn to Farrell. If anyone’s going to know, it’s him.

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