Page 78 of Laid Bare

All of which Thaddeus has been working with me on. Flowers are a breeze, and the sand mermaid I made last week in the containment room would win an award if I entered a competition.

But it was when I shook the containment room without destroying the castle that Thaddeus beamed with pride.

So that’s what I choose to do now. Showcase just how much of a threat I am without coming right out and saying it.

The pink glow on my pinky draws everyone’s attention, causing them to miss the start of the tremors under them. It isn’t until the podium Mrs. Talon is standing behind starts to tremble and scoot across the floor that they realize something is amiss.

One of the girls screams, making me smile. She was there in combat class for the whole bullshit during the fight with Giles. She witnessed everything that happened, but yet she has no problem painting me in a bad light.

Mrs. Talon honest-to-gods giggles, holding her arms out at her sides and swaying with the movement.

When I’m sure she knows that was my earth element, I cut it off, letting the room settle once more.

“That! Miss Matthews! Bravo!” She urges the rest of the class to applaud me, and what do you know? It’s half-hearted at best, but I’ll take it. “Now, for the real test. If I walk out my door and check the classroom next door, and they didn’t feel anything, I’ll pass you on the spot. No more testing required.”

“Hey! How is that fair?” that same little bitch cries, still pissy that she’s one of the ones not moving forward.

“It takes a massive amount of control to shake a stone castle, especially one that’s been here for long as Stonewell has. And not once did I hear any of the alarms going off to indicate that there was a problem. So, suck it up, Betsy. You failed because you can’t even conjure a small flame in the time you’ve been here.”

Gods, I could kiss Mrs. Talon right now. But…ewww, no. Instead, I give her a mental high five and a fist bump for good measure.

When the professor leaves the room, I retreat to the corner where Zane and Bane are stationed, waiting on pins and needles for her to check the class next to ours.

“You did an amazing job, snow. There’s no way she’ll keep you back after that display.”

I grimace, a little unsure. “If they so much as felt what I was doing over here, I failed, and there’s always a possibility that I put a little too much juju into it.”

“Nah, pinky. You need to be a little more positive about it,” Zane rumbles, shaking his head, the long multi-colored strands of his hair brushing his shoulders. “You’re being a chicken shit about this because you fear failing more than anything. If you put good thoughts out in the universe, good things will happen in return.”

Aero bumps my belly with his nose, agreeing with the red demon.

He’s right. I fear failing more than anything because I know what the outcome is if I don’t master my magic, and there are too many things I still need to experience in my life before I bite the dust.

“Thank you. Both of you.” They both flash me a peek of fang as they smile, but just as quickly, those grins are wiped away, adopting their stoic masks once more.

We don’t have to wait much longer before Mrs. Talon is hustling back into the classroom. I hide my crossed fingers in the pocket of my hoodie as I wait for her announcement.

“Congratulations, Miss Matthews. That was by far the most impressive and controlled display of the earth element for such a new student. Not even our advanced students can handle earth the way you did.”Holy shit.“You are officially done with basic elements, and next week, you’ll start advanced with Professor Davis. He’s a highly decorated warlock, who’s produced some of our strongest elemental users. You can grab your things and head to your next class. It’s been a pleasure being your professor for the start of your unique journey.”

“Thank you!” Oh my gods. I did it. I’m officially one step closer to blowing this joint and getting the council off my back.

Zane grabs my bag before I have a chance and places his large palm on my lower back, ushering me and Aero out of Basic Elements for the last time. Next week will be a new professor and a new set of students to deal with, but that’s next week’s problem. Right now, I’m celebrating my win, even if I have to do it in a containment room.

With all the other students still in class, there’s no one to put a damper on my mood, so I put a little skip in my step, leaving the demons to chuckle behind me. I think it’s the most carefree I’ve seen them outside of our dorm. I kind of… like it. Okay. That’s a lie. I more than like it, and I haven’t stopped thinking about what Axel and Luka said.

We want what’s best for you, and if it means adding more to your harem, then so be it.

Only, I've been too damn scared to make that move. There’s been chances. Hell, every day in our dorm is a chance. But every time I start to muster up the courage to do it, all I can think about is the possible rejection that could accompany it. Because they’ve had their own chances to start something, but neither one of them has tried, so maybe that near-kiss with Zane was a one-off.

Plus, Zane’s an incubus. He and Bane told me about their classes of demon one night over my confinement. But there was no explanation needed. He’s a sex demon. He feeds off lust and pheromones, needs it to survive. And the only way he’s going to get it being at the academy with me is if she’s working his way through the student body already.

Fuck. Just the thought of someone else touching him makes me so damn angry. The same goes for Bane, but on a slightly smaller scale. He’s a crossroad demon, so unless these bitches are giving up their souls for one night in the sack with him, I don’t see him having as many encounters as Zane.

There better not be any… period.

Gods, who the hell is this possessive person I’ve become? The demons aren’t mine, and they can do whatever they want.

Yet. They aren’t yours, yet,my brain oh-so-helpfully supplies.

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