Page 78 of Demon Found

The others are full-on arguing about what the Virrey wants with me, but I can’t muster the enthusiasm. I’m alone. I have a gift I didn’t even know about, and I’ve not the first clue where it came from. From my dad? My mom?

A slim, smooth hand slips into mine, and I peer up at Zephyr through my fringe. He hands me a cup of hot chocolate wordlessly and skims a thumb gently over my cheek.

Swallowing a mouthful, I try the phrase out for size. I’m an aether. Iaman aether. I’m anaether.

Whatever that means.

Who do I learn from? The odd elderly supe with third element aether magic? The true aethers died out at the time of the Royals. Where the hell does that leave me?

“The Virrey wants me hidden. My aether could be lethal in the wrong hands, right?”

Farrell nods.

“Then I’m putting all of you in danger. As my allegiance—you’re in the firing line.” My cup sloshes dangerously as I slam it down on my desk. The last thing I want is to get the people I care about hurt. And dammit, I do care about them.

“You’re worth it,” Naeve chirps.

“You are,” Zephyr says. He’s barely shown any real indication he likes me, never mind values me and I can’t help but raise an eyebrow at him. He shrugs. “And we’ll make sure the Virrey never learns you’ve discovered Seth was feeding you suppressant.”

“Agreed,” Farrell chimes in. “Chano caught Seth poisoning you. I led you to believe that Seth wanted you gone because you witnessed him kill that kid. You were a loose end he was tying up. That’s the line I’ll feed my father.” Farrell cracks his knuckles, clearly more comfortable now he’s taking charge again. “Since Seth’s cover is blown, I’ll dose you with suppressant instead.”

“The fuck you will,” Chano growls.

For someone who hated me only yesterday, Chano is suddenly very damn protective. I don’t hate the change.

“Calm down, demon boy. That’s what I’ll tell my father. She’s not a complete idiot. Of course she won’t take suppressant. She’ll learn to control her aether, and we’ll help.”

“Sheis right here,” I snap. The whole thing is a shock, but they don’t get to make decisions for me, or talk about me like I’m a child. “Andsheis hungry. Let’s pack this in for now and go eat.”

Zephyr whoops like a madman, scooping me up and throwing me in the air.

“This is the lady to lead. She doesn’t starve us. You’re deposed, Farrell.”

Giggling, I fight him off.

I shoo the other’s out, pulling Chano back. He’s more angel than demon this man—he didn’t hesitate when he thought Seth was trying to kill me.

“I’m sorry.” He goes to speak but I hold a finger to his lips. “No. Let me say this. I shouldn’t have chosen Seth over you. Not once I knew you, knew you were allegiance. I should have told you. Once we kissed, I should have told you. I just . . . I was worried you’d hate me. I couldn’t think of anything worse than that. The longer I waited, the more awful it got.”

Chano drops his forehead to mine, silencing me.

“It’s okay, chica. I get it now. I was mad. Hell, I wasreallymad. But today it got through my thick skull—I have to have you in my life. When my demon realized that Seth could have poisoned you. Fuck.”

I blink, my mouth open but no sound coming out.

“I forgave you that instant. Don’t cry. It’s okay, chica.”

Smearing the tears across my face, I frown.

“It’s not okay. I was trying to trust people, and I trusted the wrong person. I trusted Seth.”

“You’ve got me now.” He straightens, correcting himself. “You’ve got us. That boy doesn’t deserve to call you family. I wouldneverbetray Lottie like that. No man worthy of his family should. If you change your mind about killing him, let me know. I want that pleasure.”

He grins wickedly, his muscles flexing with the promise. It should scare me that he means that with his entire being. Instead, a warm glow lights me up inside.

The shelves tower up on either side of me, cocooning me in a temple of knowledge. There’s something peaceful here that takes the edge off my nervousness. Stacks of books disappear into the distance, row on row of ancient words. It’s a haven I wish I could spend more time in. I take a few quick snaps of the dusty book in front of me. It’s a magnificent leather-bound monstrosity that gives off a vague waft of almond. It’s also in the protected books section, an area I can’t damn well sneak it out of. Technically an area where technology is forbidden too but what harm is a photo?

There are several books that mention aether elementals, but there are really few that pinpoint the practicalities. I need a damn “how to aether for idiots” book. I shut the tome with a smack and get a cloud of dust in my face, making me splutter. We’ve spent hours in here, Naeve and I, and as much as I love it, I am a hundred percent over inhaling lungfuls of crap.

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