Page 17 of Laid Bare

With that thought in mind, I finally pull open the door, only to lose every ounce of air in my lungs.

Holy demons, Batman.

“Hi,” I wheeze, unable to tear my eyes away from the two hulking ass men kitted out in all black.

Fuck. Breathe, Bailey. In and out. In and out.

My magic flares, a quick pop of pink lighting up my skin from the inside out, and I stumble back, trying to put distance between myself and the demons.

Their eyes flare with interest, maybe even a little bit of heat, but stone wings expand into view, blocking the demons from my eye-line. Relief from the lack of their stares, if only for a moment, courses through me.

I have no clue why my magic reacted like that, or why two demons have rendered me practically mute. Either way, Headmaster Stonewell’s intervention is appreciated. Only a little bit.

Rocks shift as Jasper steps into my room, followed by the demons at his back. Their large statures, coupled with the other three in the room, make me woozy from the overstimulation of testosterone.

Fuck. Abort. Abort. This is just way too damn much.

A slight tremor runs through my limbs as I take respite behind Luka’s wide frame from where he now stands near the couch, the carefree slouch from earlier all but abandoned. My fingers curl into his hoodie, holding him like a lifeline, like a savior from the two unknowns in the room.

“Mr. Pennington, Mr. Luka, Professor Winterton,” he nods at all three, “it’s good to see you all.” Pfft. I blow a raspberry at his civility. The damn rock acts like he didn’t have a hand in the detrimental shift of my life last night. “Miss Matthews, I hope you slept well last night.”

“I slept just fine, Councilman,” I hiss through gritted teeth, relishing in the sharp intake of breath from my left. Shocking. Even Thaddeus had no clue Jasper was on the council.

Jasper ignores my ire and continues like we’re all the best of friends having a chat.Bastard.“I’d like to introduce you to Zane and Bane Acheron. They’ll be your personal bodyguards until the time that Councilman Cassian feels you can hold your own without being a threat to those around you.”

I snort and shake my head. There it is. The truth laid bare for everyone in the room. They aren’t here to protect me. They’re here to protect everyone else. From me. Fucking beautiful.

“Miss Matthews.” Holy crap balls. His voice. Good-gods-damned. It’s all freaking rumbly and does funny things to my stomach. The demon that steps forward instantly ensnares me in his gaze, and no matter how hard I try, I can’t look away. But damn, what a nice sight he is. If I had to pick a phrase to describe him, it’d be easy. Sex on a freaking stick.

Red flesh pops against the dark cargo pants molded to his tree-trunk thighs and the tight T-shirt that stretches across his large chest. Black, soulless eyes bore into mine, and a combination of red and onyx hair falls around his chiseled face. Wings in the same bloody hue extend from his back, with inky-colored veins streaking through them, and both are topped with what looks like a wicked sharp point at the tip. Horns curve upward from his forehead, making his massive stature look even larger. And there’s no missing the red tail that methodically sways back and forth behind him like a metronome keeping the beat of his heart.

All in all, the man—-demon—is beautiful.

“Bailey.”

“Bailey,” he murmurs, rolling my name around on his tongue. “Fitting.” He flashes a quick smile, a hint of fang visible among the blinding white. “I’m Zane, and Jasper misspoke on our intentions. So, please don’t take offense to his callous words. We’re not here to protect the student body. We—” he waves the other demon forward, “—are here to protectyou. The other students could rip themselves apart for all we care. As long as you stay in one perfect,” the purr in that one word is unmistakable, “piece.”

I flush hotly at his comment. Is he saying I’m perfect? If he is, well, he’ll quickly change that thought of his when—if—he gets to knowme. The real me. The imperfect, curiomancer who always seems to find trouble without even looking.

Honestly, these two demons have their work cut out for them.

The other demon takes his chance to move closer, his movements controlled and sharp, nothing like the easy swagger Zane exudes.

Bane, if I remember correctly, matches Zane in attire, but features? Not so much. There are a few similarities—the dark eyes, the same slope in their noses, and full plump lips. But that’s where it ends. A dusting of dark hair covers his face in the semblance of a 5 o’clock shadow, and the same deep color falls across his forehead, but the sides are shaved down to the skin. Unlike Zane’s red flesh, Bane’s is a gray, like concrete on the sidewalk. His coloring is close to Jasper’s stone, but a shade or two lighter. Black horns curl from his forehead, wrapping around the sides of his head resembling a Ram. Gray streaked with white vein wings are tucked tightly into his back, also sporting a wicked point. His height rivals Zane’s, though if it weren’t for Zane’s horns, I’d say they were the same.

Bane stops in front of me and extends his hand, waiting patiently for me to reciprocate. There’s a war fighting itself in my body of whether I should reach out too or back away in fear and hide behind my men.

The new strong woman I’m trying to be wins, and I reach out, clasping his hand in mine. The once stoic facade on Bane’s face slips for a moment as his lips tilt up on the edges, revealing a different side to the quiet demon he’s presented since he walked into my room.

Bane steps back, not going far, and slips his hands into his pockets. The small smile is long gone, and in its place is the stern demon once again.

“Now, Bailey. I’m going to be honest,” Bane murmurs, the first words he’s said since he’s arrived. “We’re at a bit of a loss here. While we will definitely do everything we can to protect you, no one has explained why.”

My brows furrow in confusion, but then my lips part on a gasp before I shoot Jasper a scathing glare.

These demons have agreed to protect me, and they have no damn clue what I am?Ridiculous.

Jasper pointedly ignores my ire, focusing somewhere above my head.Fucking prick. But I’m wrong, it’s his next words that really solidify his prick status.

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