Page 62 of Demon Found

Slipping quietly into the lab, I look around.

Professor Allegra’s head is bent over the workbench next to Zephyr, her hand resting lightly on his arm. They’re both so focused on their conversation neither of them notices me. Her laugh tinkles around the room. This wasmyidea, withmychildhood heroine. And now he calls her fucking Alice for Hades’s sake, and he’s been spending time in the teachers’ residence.

Zephyr smiles and gently brushes the professor’s hair out her face as they lean forward together, peering at a notebook between them. Fuck Zephyr and fuck his screw-everything-that-moves attitude.

Striding forward, I knock into a stool, and it falls with a loud clatter. They spring apart like guilty children.I’m not jealous. I’m not.Hell, I don’t even know what to do with the attention from Chano, but still. Seeing these two so close puts my hackles up.

It takes only a split second—the words are out before I can stop them.

“Allegiance meeting, Zephyr. We better do it now before curfew.” I smile sweetly at the professor. “Sorry to drag Zephyr away, although I’m sure you have far better ways to spend your evening.”

Professor Allegra looks at me for a long beat before nudging Zephyr. “Not at all, we have a lot of fun, don’t we? I’ll catch up with you later, Zephy, don’t forget our plans.”

Zephy?There’s another damn letter in his name.

I want to scream, but instead I force a smile and steer Zephyr out of the lab.

We do need to meet up. The boys can’t just keep ignoring one another. My question about the gang can wait.

Plus, Chano has some news.

Chano’s the last to arrive in our dorm. He pauses on the threshold, eyeing Farrell, his irises flaring a brilliant purple.

“Thought it was just me and you, chica.”

He wanted to be with me, alone. He’s a murderous demon gang leader, so why the hell does that give me butterflies? What iswrongwith me?

Smiling slightly, I shrug. “You said it was important. I figured everyone should hear.”

“You sure?” If I didn’t know better, I’d say he was worried. Surely nothing worries Chano-fucking-Maverik?

“Spill,” Farrell insists.

I reach out and squeeze Chano’s hand. He glances down before sighing and scrubbing a hand over his buzz cut.

“Fine, but . . . I’m sorry, chica.”

This can’t be good. I jut my chin at him to continue.

“I’ve been following Seth. Last night I overheard something you won’t like.” He glares at Farrell. “Seth had a visitor. An unexpected visitor. Virrey Cuelebre to be precise.”

“Bullshit,” Farrell bursts out. “My father would have told me if he was here.”

“They were talking about you, Lorelei. The Virrey was furious. He was angry that some of your genetic paperwork had reached the dean. I couldn’t make the whole conversation out, but he thought you’d lose faith in Seth if you learned—” Chano takes a deep breath and I wait. “If you learned Seth wasn’t related to you.”

My thoughts rush at a million miles an hour. What’s Seth got to do with my paperwork? Even I’ve not been told any of my genetic testing is ready, and surely the deanshouldhave my results, not Seth.

Everyone’s staring at me.

Finally, it sinks in. Seth’s not my half brother. My stepmom, Shelly, always implied Dad had some tawdry affair. Calledmymom the home-wrecker. She told me Mom didn’t want me, that she dumped me on Dad after I was born. It’s not the kind of shit you forget, even as a little kid. I just assumed... Dad called him son. Shit. Seth’s not even my half brother. I’m even more alone than I thought.

An arm encircles me, and I’m pressed into Chano’s chest, face buried in his shirt. Naeve hugs me from behind while Zephyr pats my arm awkwardly. Farrell reaches out, but I shrink away from him.How much did he know?

A pained look flashes over Farrell’s face. He pulls his hand back and crosses his arms over the front of his immaculate shirt, grunting.

“I suppose we don’t look alike, Seth and me. But why would anyone care?” I direct my question at Farrell. “Why would the Virrey care?”

Chano pushes Farrell back a step and puts himself between us.

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