My mother hadn’t exactly taught me common demon manners.
Still, it wasn’t like demons were universally polite. Dreadful surely wasn’t, and she was nobility.
I scowled as I remembered all of the cruel things she said about Hemlock and Grimshaw. Oh, Kalista, why did I want to know their first names so badly? I already knew they wouldn’t want anything to do with me after the way my ring kept turning black around them. That meant they wanted to do me harm, and I couldn’t help wanting to know them anyway.
What did that say about me? Did Mother screw me up that badly?
“And make sure you read the second chapter by Wednesday.” Respa’s words cut through my thoughts, and I jolted.
Students gathered their supplies and left the room en masse. I carefully put my tablet in my bag without hitting Nebula and stood up.
Reed was standing in front of my desk with a gentle smile. “Ready?”
I nodded shyly, my heart hammering in mychest so hard I knew he could hear it. “Serpentine Stadium, right?”
“Yes.” His violet eyes shone with something like excitement, and we walked side by side out of Reform Hall and headed toward the academy’s training hall for Demonic Feeding.
I clutched my bag on my shoulder, thankful I had Nebula with me. My nerves frayed at the edges even thinking about the practicality of feeding. I’d been magically starved for so long that when my magic reserves had filled, I didn’t recognize the feeling. Why did I feel invincible as my mutilated body healed almost instantly from my mother’s shadows? Was that how all demons felt all of the time? And was that due to magical reserves being filled?
My magic reserves were running very low. I could feel an emptiness within my body and soul I hadn’t noticed until it had been filled. It was weird, but I knew it was because Ineededto feed. But how could I? The one and only time I managed to feed, I devoured a soul and snuffed out a life, and it was so easy—too easy.
The scorching sun beat down on us as we left Reform Hall, and we strode across the dusty expanse of the campus toward Serpentine Stadium, our feet leaving impressions in the sand. Reed’s were more pronounced than mine, but I liked that they were together.
“Is that a freakingNyxwith a Gravesend?” a few demons giggled in a larger group next to Occult Arch as we passed by.
“His mom’s a fucking human, you know,” another spat.
“Duh,” another chuckled. “Don’t forget what happened to his dad. Like, what a fucked up family…”
“Hedefinitelyhas mommy issues,” another joked.
Anger swept down my spine, but he kept walking. I wanted so badly to tell them to shut their mouths, but he knew more about demonic socialization than I did. I didn’t want to make anything worse for him, so I followed his lead until we stood in front of Serpentine Stadium.
Above the entrance of the sandstone building loomed an enchanted skull statue that thrummed with magic. Its hollow sockets pulsed with an eerie glow, and it set off an illusion of lava flowing from the skull's mouth, cascading down in molten rivulets that even sizzled as they met the hot sand-covered stairs.
“I’m sorry.” Reed’s jaw was clenched, and he tightened his fists at his sides. “You’ll hear a lot of talk about me and my family if you hang around me.”
“I don’t care what anyone says.” I reached out and grabbed his forearm to give him a reassuringsqueeze before pulling back quickly and fidgeting with my ring. I wasn’t used to physical touch so I shouldn’t be touching anyone like that, even if I craved it. “I mean, my mom was a monster, so I understandmommy issuesmore than anyone.”
A self-deprecating laugh let loose from deep within his chest. “My mom has been just a shell ever since Dad died. My issues with her aren’t because she’s human but because she checked out on being my mom.”
“You shouldn’t warn me from hanging out with you. I mean, I ate my mother’s soul.” A nervous laugh bubbled from my throat, but it was strained from my vocal cord damage. I hated the constant reminder of the abuse from my mother. “Are you sureyouwant to hang aroundme?”
His mouth dropped as he did a double take, and the air seemed to crackle around us. “You…ate your mother’s soul?”
“Yes,” I rasped, admitting my sin without an ounce of guilt.
A maniacal laugh pierced the air as a shadow demon stepped out from the darkness of the looming building.
Every muscle in my body froze at the sheer sense of foreboding surrounding the man. Shadow demons were a common demon subtype, but seeing shadow magic messed with my head. It almost transported me back to that small cellarwhere I was at my mother’s mercy. I couldalmosttaste the blood.
He moved toward me like a predator, closing the distance with an unnerving confidence. His presence pressed in on me, making my chest tighten with fear. Despite my instincts screaming at me that he was dangerous, something kept me rooted to the spot.
It wasn’t only fear making me freeze. It was as if Iwantedto see what he was going to do.
Fates, how screwed up was that?
As he invaded my personal space, a coppery tang clung to him, and it didn’t take long for me to realize that he smelled of blood. His scent literally embodied violence and danger, yet a thrill of excitement coursed through me.
