“You killed more demons?” Blaze’s brows go up. “When?”
“The night I came here,” I say slowly, feeling like I’ve said too much.
“Holy shit, that’s awesome.” The girl’s hazel eyes widen. “Not all of us in our sixth year have even fought a demon yet. And you…you killed three already? With no training?”
I offer a humble shrug. “I just followed my instincts.”
Blaze flashes a cocky grin and gives my arm a gentle squeeze. “No wonder you got sorted into Proeliator. Fucking badass. And hot.” He sinks his teeth into his bottom lip, and I fight the urge to lick my own lips in response. “Though we shouldn’t discount beginner’s luck. We should meet up this evening to go over battle techniques.”
“Ugh,” the redheaded girl grunts as Maxon glares daggers at Blaze. She loops her arm through mine and pushes past both boys. “I’m going to borrow her for a bit,” she calls over her shoulder as she drags me away. “Before we both die of testosterone poisoning,” she mutters under her breath.
“Thanks,” I say, a little bemused as we speed down the hall. “Though I’m not sure I wanted to be rescued.”
The redhead laughs, slowing down a bit now that we’re out of earshot. “Believe me, you did. Blaze is a sweetheart, but he also fucks anything that moves. I figure you’d want to know what you were getting into before allowing him to charm your panties off.”
“Good to know.” I make a little face, the butterflies in my stomach evaporating in an instant. Blaze’s attentions were suddenly a lot less flattering, knowing that he’d probably fucked every eligible girl in this school. “Are you one of the notches on his bedpost?”
Kaia snorts. “He wishes. Whenever he asks, I just adopt a tragic look on my face and tell him I’m holding out for my one true love.”
I raise my eyebrows. “Does that actually work?”
“No.” She makes a face. “He just tells me that if I get tired of waiting he’s more than happy to sharehisone true love with me in the meantime.” She mimes grabbing a cock and stroking it, and I burst out laughing.
“I’m Kaia, by the way,” she says, grinning.
“Addy.” I wipe the tears of laughter from my eyes.
“I know.” She slips her arm from mine as we descend the staircase. “Gossip and rumors spread through this place faster than a curse,” she says in answer to my unasked question.
“There are curses?”
“Occasionally. But don’t worry. Professor Balbina is really good at undoing them with minimal lasting damage,” she says casually, as if she’s commenting about the weather. “Do you have your schedule?”
“Not yet. I’m getting it after breakfast.”
“Do you know what year you’ll be with. I’m guessing you’re what…eighteen?”
“Close. Nineteen.”
“Me too!”
“What year are you in?”
“Sixth.” She passes through a doorway I’m positive we didn’t go through last night. Everything was dark, but I think I’d remember the coffin-shaped cutout in the wall. The hallway narrows and we have to walk single-file.
“How many years do you go to Reaper Academy?”
“Seven. You start when you’re thirteen and typically graduate at twenty. At the beginning of the next semester, the seniors will be tested to see where they’ll best fit in with the families in the rest of the reaper realm. Arbiters graduate soon after finishing their sixth year, and most Magi too. Proeliators and some of the Magi who have special abilities stay for an extra semester of intense advanced training.”
The hallway comes to an abrupt stop, dead-ending in a narrow corner. Kaia puts her hand on the wall. “Aperture,” she whispers, and a hidden door pops open.
“Whoa.”
“There are a lot of hidden passageways. It really cuts down on the time it takes to get from one place to the next.”
“Yeah, I can see that.” We’re in a wonderful room that has to be the library. It’s two stories, with shelves lining every wall. I take a deep breath, inhaling the comforting smell of ink and paper.
“The library opens into a hall that leads to the main common room of the school. But the back of the library takes you right to the mess hall. Follow me.”
