Page 59 of Angel Lost

“You’re not one of us, Lorelei. You shouldn’t be here.” Her eyes have a hard glint.

Dammit, and I thought we had some kind of truce going on. The passing students slow to gawk. “I don’t have time. Move.”

“I belong here, aether. You and your creepy cult robes don’t. Not anymore.” Camille clearly enjoys being in the limelight. Her companions—a couple of students with the angel insignia sewn on their uniforms—step up beside her.

“New friends? Everyone else tired of your bullshit, Camille?”

“Angels are the it kids, didn’t you hear?” Camille strokes her manicured nails down the arms of the boys on either side of her and winks at Zephyr,blowing him a kiss. “If you don’t want that one, he’s welcome to come join me…”

The crowd is thickening by the minute. “Get. Out. Of. My. Way.”

“No one wants you here, aether. You’re dangerous.”

Hecate, I don’t have time. My magic surges in my chest. I throw my arm out, sending fire and aether at all three assholes. They fly backward, hitting the dirt a hundred yards away. Camille’s head makes a sickening crack as it connects with the stone of the archway, and she lies unnaturally still.

No, no, no.

The crack. The boy, crumpled. Dead.

Eventually, Camille groans, and my heart starts beating again. She rolls over, staggering to her feet, a trickle of blood running down her neck, staining her white shirt. Her eyes are vague, unfocused. The crowd mutters.Shewas in my way. She was the bully. By the goddesses we are both adults.

The hair at the nape of my neck prickles as the dean materializes a few yards away. The angels fill him in quickly. Their expressions light up, anticipating my punishment. A flicker of annoyance crosses the dean’s features, but, surprisingly, he forces a smile.

“Just this once, Aether Lorelei has a pass. She is, after all, such a promising student. She’s under the tutelage of the king’s own sister. This is just a silly misunderstanding.”

The muttering from the crowd grows louder. Several students point to where Camille is still tottering around, dramatically swooning every few seconds.

“Run along now, Lorelei.” The dean peers past me at Farrell, blinking at the unfamiliar female student.

I lick my lips. “Thanks. I’ll let Dean Davina know you helped. She…uh…sanctioned my coming back to Fates.”

He nods, then vanishes as quickly as he arrived. The crowd slowly disperses, cutting nasty glances at me. Hecate, I hate being teacher’s favorite.How did Naeve deal with this shit? I glance uncertainly at Camille and her little entourage. I should check she’s okay…

No. I’m wasting time. I square my shoulders. This wasn’t my fault. I didn’t start it.

“Let’s go,” I say, elbowing my way forward.

Zephyr pauses. “You okay, Gabe?” The angel sets his jaw, and Zephyr looks uncomfortable. “Sorry, dude.”

“Not your fault,” Gabe mutters, sending a meaningful look in my direction. “You don’t need to follow after her, y’know.”

Zephyr frowns, shaking his head.

I hustle them all through the arch, casting a last look over my shoulder. Gabe and the other angel are standing, arms crossed, watching us leave. They are beyond pissed.

Chapter Twenty: Chano

The momentmi amorsets one sassy boot on my turf, I know.

Even without the portal screaming a warning, I’d feel her. The sharp spark of her presence—too bright, too bold—sets my instincts howling. Not safe. Not here.

A growl rumbles in my chest. My demon bucking against my skin, raging at the risk, at our failure to keep our Aeternum protected. My horns itch to break free. I shove the fury down. No time. No slipups. Not whenmi tiosare circling like vultures.

Lorelei waltzes in, all heat and recklessness. Grabbing her, I crush her against me, and inhale the proof that she’s real. Safe. For now.

“You came,” I whisper into her silky hair.

She stares up at me. “Of course!” Her brow furrows and I smooth it with a finger. “You needed me, you needed us…didn’t you?”

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