Silence fell over the table, shocked faces turning toward me, their expressions a mix of surprise, disdain, and fear.
Taking a deep breath, I clutched the side of the table to steady myself. "Do you have any idea how privileged you all are to sit here and mockothers for things they have no control over? It's messed up.”
Voidfire's mocking smirk faltered, replaced by a dark flicker of hatred. “I don’t like your roommate,” she told Dreadful.
Dreadful’s face turned red as she glared at me. “I invited you to sit with us because you’re a Gravesend. You’re a fuckingsoul eater. But you’re bitching at us over some bottom-feeding dick?”
“Fates, Dreadful!” I exclaimed, tossing my hands up in exasperation. Irritation and anger rolled off me in waves, and I knew any shadow demon in a mile radius had to be getting their fill of it. “There is more to life than sex! I know you’re a succubus, but not everyone thinks that way. I don’t. I’m not standing up for them because I want to sleep with them. I’m being nice to them because I don’t think they’re beneath me. This high and mighty behavior this group of nobles is spouting, though? Thatisbeneath me.”
The atmosphere grew tense, and with a final glance around the table, I adjusted my bag over my shoulder, turned on my heels, and strode out of the cafeteria. I was happy to leave behind the stifling table of judgment and ridicule, and I refused to glance back as a pit grew in my stomach.
All of the demons in the cafeteria stared at meas I stormed out, but as I stepped into the hallway, the anger started to ebb away. It probably wasn’t smart to stand up to an entire group of noble demons, but it was the right thing to do. I wondered if Reed had heard all of that before he’d left, but then I realized there was no way hehadn’theard it.
Lost in my thoughts, I descended the stairs and rounded a corner to the lobby before almost colliding with Reed.
His strong hands clamped over my shoulders to keep me steady, and his violet gaze scanned over me as if to check for injuries. I had no doubt that he took note of my flushed cheeks and clenched fists. “Hey, are you okay?”
“No…No. Not really,” I stammered, my voice raspy and tinged with frustration. "Just...some drama with the other nobles.”
Reed nodded, a soft smile on his lips as he let go of my shoulders. “I was actually coming back to check on you. Do you always hang out with demons like that?"
I shook my head, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "No, not really. I mean, I've never really hung out with anyone until the academy," I admitted, feeling a pang of loneliness similar to the one that used to haunt me in that cellar. “Even if I’m a noble because of Daryl, my dad, I mean…I donotcondonetheir behavior. I don't think anyone's beneath me."
A flicker of understanding crossed Reed's face, and he nodded slowly. "I get it. You did the right thing, standing up to them."
His assuring words washed over me like a soothing balm, easing the tension in my muscles and quieting the turmoil in my mind in a way nobody had been able to do before. Hunter had managed to talk me through a panic attack, and now Reed was able to assure me with a single sentence.
It was a stark difference from the way Nebula was able to help me. Though, his presence was more than needed as well.
“Thank you,” I murmured, tucking my hair behind my ear. “I needed to hear that."
“That’s bullshit,” a rough voice barked from behind me.
I jolted forward into Reed’s chest, and his arm slid behind me in a protective hold as I whipped my head around and saw Dex, Hemlock, and Grimshaw standing in front of us.
“All Gravesend is is a spoiled brat just like the nobles she was sitting with.” Hemlock crossed his arms, glaring his red eyes at me. “I’m not falling for this act.”
Dex and Grimshaw flanked him with matching smirks on their lips.
Fear spiked through my chest, but I untangled from Reed and took a step forward. “No. I’m not like them.”
“Oh?” Grimshaw quirked a brow up.
“Your daddy is a noble and on the council,” Hemlock drew out the words slowly. “You’re a noble, too.”
“Fucking fates,” Dex and Grimshaw moaned at the same time.
The sound made my blood hot, and I trembled.
“What the fuck is wrong with you two?” Hemlock looked back and forth between his friends.
“I’m getting drunk off her.” Grimshaw’s shoulders sagged as he inhaled deeply. His green eyes glowed, and I couldfeelhim eating the fear I was emanating.
“Not just her fear…something more than that.” Dex moaned again, and his shadows whipped around him like the branches of gnarled trees.
“Stop it,” I rasped.
“Speak up, brat,” Hemlock purred. “I can’t hear you.”
