Page 13 of Angel Lost

Val nods at one of the posters plastered across the notice board. The face of the Angel King peers down at us.

Join the army as early as your fourth year—ask your guidance tutor today!

On the next poster the king is in full military uniform.

The best decision you will ever make—Officer Training.

Those are new.

“What’s that about?” I bend to heave up my rucksack again. “What’s he want an army for? What’s he going after—the human dimension?” I snort a laugh. Like they have anything we’d want. Pollution and constant war? No thanks.

With a huff Val grabs up her bags. “The hellions? Everyone’s pretty rattled. Venez has gotten off lightly compared to the other states.”

“I thought Venez had it bad.”

Val goggles at me. “Entire towns were wiped out in Moyatura and Sylvaria, Lorelei.”

“Were they?

“Are you joking?” Val swings a bag at me, whacking me in the chest. “People died.”

I stagger back a step. “I…uh…After the boys sent me away, I may have wallowed a bit.” I scrunch my nose up. It’s not like I did absolutely nothing. “I trained and got drunk a couple times with the fae. But I didn’t watch the news.”

Val shoulders her way into her room, sidesteps a couple of guitars, trips over a microphone stand, and finally drops my stuff in a heap on an unmade bed. “Welcome home!”

I drop my bags and flop onto the mattress. It’s comfy enough. And it doesn’t smell of talcum powder.

“Lorelei?”

“Hm?”

“No news, at all?”

“It’s depressing.”

Val yanks me upright by my wrist. “You need to catch up. It’s been amazing.”

I blink.

“Way better than any soap. Reality TV on steroids!”

Val drags me to the nearest TV. It’s like she’s come back this term more cruel fae than harpy. Although…Jess isn’t that cruel, Kai either. Mostly.

We step into the third-year common room and I flinch. It’s like a unicorn on speed vomited on the walls. The bright lights and luminous colors can’t hide the fact that, in the back corner, Chano, Farrell, and Zephyr have their heads together. I hesitate. What would Naeve do? She’d make up with them, smooth things over…

The back of Chano’s blazer sports splatters of blood, more decorating the collar of his shirt. Shit. The hada were quick with the blood bags. I press my lips together, pushing down the giggle. Val tugs me toward a vibrant pink sofa. Depressing TV it is. Give Chano some time to calm down. She yanks the remote from an unsuspecting student’s hand.

The girl bares her teeth. “Give it back, half-breed!”

My hackles rise. “What did you just say?”

“Give…” Her voice wavers, glancing toward my fingers as they twitch at my side. “Give…it—”

“Not that bit,” I warn, my aether flames flickering across my skin. “What did you call her?”

“Uh, never mind.”

“Just you remember who my friend is, angel-face,” Val crows as the girl turns and bolts for the door.

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