Hunter and I had also gotten closer. I’d shared a bit more about Nebula and how he was killed by my mother. It had forged a type of bond betweenus. I really cared for him, and I knew I could trust him.
Dex was keeping his distance, and I thought it was because he knew his shadows absolutely freaked me out. Ever since that nightmare, I had a hard time looking at him. I was sure he could feel that.
Hemlock and I continued spitting insults at each other whenever the opportunity came about. Granted, Hemlock was always the one to say something first. I was just defending myself.
What was different was that something had shifted in Skel’s gaze when he looked at me, and I couldn’t pinpoint what it was. It made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Like he knew something I didn’t want him knowing.
Dreadful and Voidfire had gotten up the courage to glare at me again, but other than that, things weren’t too bad.
“What’s amazing about ceremonial magic is that it can take the place of certain potions,” Ironwood mused, pacing the length of the classroom with his curly auburn hair bouncing with each step. “Such as the birth control potion.”
Whispers started around the classroom, and so did a few giggles because, apparently, adult demons found sexual responsibility funny.
“Okay, come on, now.” Ironwood rolled his brown eyes. “Sex is a part of life, and you areadults. It’s important to be aware of the safety precautions. Ceremonial magic can be done once a month or once a year, and all it takes is some magical essence and a piece of your hair.”
He delved into the how-to of ceremonial magic for birth control. The coolest thing was that, unlike birth control potions, ceremonial magic could prevent pregnancy for men or women. I listened intently—not that I was thinking about having sex—but if it ever happened, I’d want to be safe about it.
My face flamed with heat as I thought about Hunter and Reed, but I pushed that out of my mind faster than I had thought it.
“What’re you so focused on, brat?” Hemlock’s lip curled into a sneer as he glanced over at me. “You have nothing to worry about. No one would fuck you anyway.”
Embarrassment and irritation flared through me, and I spun to the side of my chair and scowled. “You must know how that is because l’m not seeing anyone begging to fuck a drunk either.”
Skel brought his pipe to his lips and took a long hit before blowing smoke out with a wince.
“Let’s maintain our maturity, Gravesend and Hemlock,” Ironwood called us out. “May I continue?”
My face was hot as I hid behind my hair again, facing the front of the room.
I peeked at Hemlock long enough to meet his heated glare with my own, and then I focused on Ironwood for the rest of the lecture.
After Ironwood dismissed us, I gathered my things and headed out the door, with Hemlock following close behind me and his chaos magic swirling around us.
“Why are you following me?” I glanced over my shoulder with a huff. “Are you bored?”
“Not everything’s about you,” he shot back, lifting a bottle to his lips. “Besides, I was just wondering how much of a whore you have to be to be so interested in birth control. I mean, at least you’re being safe.”
Skel followed behind Hemlock, smoking his pipe like his life depended on it. But he didn’t chime in.
My nostrils flared as irritation washed over me again. “I promise you that you’re more of a whore than I am.”
Five wolves formed from his chaos magic, leaping in front of me as we entered the lobby of Reform Hall.
I paused in my tracks. His wolves were scary, but they were almost…kind of…cute.
Hemlock chuckled and tilted a bottle back again. “Sure, brat. Doubt that.”
A couple of nobles stood to the left of us, and I recognized Voidfire immediately.
Dread hit my gut as I made eye contact with her.
Her lips curled back. “I don’t know why she insists on wearing that wrap on her thigh. It’s gross,” she told her friends, pointing my way.
A guttural growl sounded from the largest wolf in the pack of chaos wolves, and suddenly, the finger she pointed my way was gone.
My gaze widened in shock.
The knuckle of her hand sprayed blood, and she let out a horrific screech. “My finger’s gone!”
