“How do you know so much about dark magic?” he asked as we made our way to Respa’s class.
I nibbled on my bottom lip as we walked across the rough stone floor, but my skin crawled with the knowledge that I had been so close to dark magic. “I know a lot about it thanks to several books I read when I was under Mother’s care.”
He paused, dropping the volume of his voice. “Books about dark magic are banned in Kalista. Only supernaturals of a certain clearance have access to it. That’s above my pay grade on the Demon Council at the moment,” he told me seriously, running a hand through his dark blond locks. “Maybe you can tell me more about it.”
I nodded. What had Mother been doing with so many banned books regarding dark magic?
An image of her dripping shadows assaulted my brain, and I flinched. There was no way that was a coincidence. She must’ve been involved in some way with dark magic. Iknewthat. But how?
Mother’s words filled my head in waves.
You’re not good enough for our greater plan!
You’re nothing but a broken, worthless demon!
Darkness was injected into us, but you’re not living up to the expectations they have for you—for us!
I’m going to die because of you if you don’t fucking feed!
Worthless.
“Pandora?” Hunter murmured.
Reality whooshed back in as I blinked a few more times. We stood in front of room 103 for my Demon Basics class.
“Thanks for walking me.” I reached out and squeezed his forearm to show that I was thankful…also because, for some reason, I wanted to show him affection. Fates, I was so touch starved. “I’ll tell you anything you want to know. I remember almost everything that was in those books. Mother made me memorize them front to back.”
“You have no idea how helpful that is, but I’m sorry to make you remember things from your past.” His jaw set in a hard line as he reached out, tucking a piece of my hair behind my ear. “I’ll see you later, starlight.”
He pulled away and strode back the way we had come, and watching him leave carved out a hollow crevice in my chest.
I entered the classroom and slipped into the seat next to Reed, who was in the same spot as he was last time.
His face lit up as he noticed me, and his cotton candy scent made my heart swell with happiness. “Hey, are you okay?”
“Of course she’s okay,” Nightwind scoffed, leaning down from his seat behind us. “When are you going to stop hanging out with Nyx and upgrade to me, Gravesend?”
My nose crinkled in disgust. “With that attitude? Never. Besides, I happen to like Reed’s company.”
He huffed and leaned back in his seat. “You’ll come around. Besides, I saw that you came in with Darkmore.Thatmakes more sense than him.”
“Darkmore? The counselor that stepped in yesterday?” Reed’s tongue swept over his bottom lip. “Is everything okay?”
I rolled my eyes at Nightwind and moved my attention to Reed again. “Not necessarily.”
His gaze softened, and he put his elbows on his desk and leaned his cheek in his fist as he stared at me. “What’s going on?”
“The Demon Council is investigating a dark magic circle around Cryptic Altar,” I whispered with a frown.
Reed’s brows shot up. “So that’s why there were so many people gathered around it. I didn’t think to check it out because I didn’t want to be late, but that’s crazy.Darkmagic…”
“I know,” I murmured, cheeks heating as his violet eyes bore into mine. Reed made me feel like he saw me—like he really saw who I was. Iloved that. “By the way, I really enjoyed last night.”
Nightwind choked behind us, but I ignored him. I really didn’t know why he was trying to get close to me.
Reed’s cheeks flushed as he smiled wider. “I did, too. I’ll take you anywhere you want as long as I’m capable. I could talk to you for hours.”
“I feel the same way.”
