Page 83 of Demon Found

“You understand we can’t have a feral aether element running around, with no appropriate training.” The Virrey sounds silky smooth and sugar sweet. “I’m sure I don’t need to explain it to you that politically this isn’t something I want to broadcast. Especially given my son’s status as her allegiance.”

The dean is nodding as if the Virrey can see him.

“One small girl, with third element aether isn’t something to worry about. But you know how the press get about things. They’d forever be in my son’s business. No. No . . . we can’t have that at all. I’m sure you agree?”

Third element? I glance at Farrell and finally, for the first time since he got here, he meets my gaze. His eyes are flat and hard. He gives a sharp shake of his head. So that’s what we’re going with—more lies. Fine. It would be nice if someone kept me in the loop.

“Of course, of course, Virrey. I’ll do everything in my power to keep it quiet. But Camille might not feel the same.”

“Her father and I have an arrangement. I’ll make the call. It won’t be an issue.”

“So good to hear. One tiny thing that could complicate matters . . .” The dean is kowtowing to the phone now. The long silence forces him to go on. “. . . Miss Smith’s grades are poor. Very poor. Her control is so erratic that I suspect when the results come through, she’ll be in the ten percent battle, sir. If she were to use her aether there, in front of an audience, I can’t guarantee we could keep it silenced.”

“Lowest ten percent?” The hiss is audible. “She’ll keep a lid on her temper and her aether, and I will talk to my son about why his allegiance is doing so poorly.”

With a click the line cuts off.

Asshole.My grades are poor because of his stupid suppressant.

Farrell runs a finger around the collar of his shirt, shifting uncomfortably. With a deep breath he looks up, fixing a smile to his face.

“Glad that’s sorted. It would be a shame to have a misunderstanding with the Virrey. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a fiancée in the infirmary.”

Without glancing in my direction, he turns on his heel and marches out the door. Shame and hurt burn in my chest in equal measure.

Chapter Forty-one: Lorelei

Camilleisdoingherdamnedest to turn the whole school against me, even without outing my aether. Her snake tongue is made for this. Every time she tells the story about how I viciously attacked her there’s another embellishment. She’s not holding back. I’m a threat, and she wants me eliminated. Must be her precious fiancé. I can’t even feel sorry that she’s got no choice in the match anymore. She obviously wants him. And she thinks I’m in her damn way.

“She’s been whoring herself out to the professors,” Camille says to a group of her worshipers directly in my path to Professor Max’s office. “How else do you explain her grades improving? I was just protecting the academy’s reputation by catching her in the act.”

“Bollocks,” I cough into my hand. Every single student in the little cluster glares at me like I’m something a satyr just shat out.

Camille looks me in the eye. “I didn’t get it on film sadly, but . . . I mean she didn’t attack me for no reason, did she? Oh, it hurt so badly!”

“Camille, you’re so brave.”

“She’s dangerous.”

Rolling my eyes, I storm past the group in the direction of the office building. Everywhere I go, the whispers and the stares follow. It’s like being the new kid all over again. Only this time I deserve everything I get. Slinking into the building, I make my way to Professor Max’s office and let myself in.

They’re right. I am a danger. I pick miserably at a thread on my blazer. It’s not that I’ve never hurt anyone before. Of course I have, I grew up in Venez. But I’ve never hurt someone and had absolutely no control over it.

My chest gives a funny tug. It’s been doing that more and more since I’ve been avoiding everyone, allegiance included. Fuck it. I’ll miss today’s allegiance meeting, then go to the next. Maybe.

I’m up my own ass with self-pity. I know it. Even I’m fed up with me. But Farrell will barely look at me, and Camille is constantly fawning all over him. Gritting my teeth, I pull out a book and try to concentrate.

It’s natural to be jealous, isn’t it? Here I am alone, isolated from my allegiance, and she’s hanging off his arm. Hellfire. The guy straight up annoys me most of the damn time. So why am I pissed off that he’s being far more attentive to his fiancée since she got injured? Since I injured her.

I want what I can’t have.

It depends on the fucking wind direction which boy I’m more attracted to. But if I get withanyof the guys it would unbalance the bond. It could shatter allthe links. I won’t do that, no matter what Naeve thinks. I see her watching me when any of the guys are around. Her beady little eyes searching for any signs of inappropriate friendliness.

Ugh. I’m being unfair. She’s looking out for me, for all of us. But on top of everything else, it really sucks to have my best friend watch me like that.

The doors to Professor Maximilian’s study burst open, and Chano marches in, dragging the prof by his sleeve. The scent of demon fire mixed with Chano’s oaky musk hits me. Slowly I uncurl my legs and lay the book I was reading to the side.

“So, this is where you’ve been hiding? And you, you’ve been keeping her from me.” Chano throws the professor toward the door. “Out. We need privacy.”

---