Page 69 of Demon of Dreams

“Right now, I’m planning on applying to History, and statistically speaking, the odds are good that I’ll be accepted. It has a higher than average percentage of paranormal members and generally encourages the type of scholarship I’m already inclined to. As Ash would say, if it’s a subject you could write a six-hundred page book about that nobody will ever read, it belongs in History Haven.”

“I wouldneversay something that cruel,” Ash said. “How dare you besmirch my reputation in front of Cory?”

“You said that to me last week.”

“Well, Cory wasn’t here then. It was a different world entirely. Anyway,” Ash added, “you’re basically a lock for History because the head of the haven is in love with you.”

He sounded a little…jealous, maybe? That was new.

“Ash, we’ve been over this,” Felix said, giving him a long look.

“I know, I know.” He raised his hands up. “You’ll have to forgive me for not being the man’s biggest fan, but given the way he treats you—”

“Just drop it, please?” Felix said, and after a moment, Ash rolled his eyes and sighed theatrically.

“Fine,” he said. “If you insist.”

But I couldn’t help thinking there was an undercurrent of bitterness there.

“What about you, Ash?” I asked, hoping a change in subject would cheer him up. “What haven are you going to apply to?”

“Oh darling, how could I possibly choose upon which to bestow the gift of my perfection?” he said, waving his fingers through the air. “With whom to share the knowledge of my sweet beneficence and favor?”

I shot Felix a look. “I’m assuming that means he hasn’t picked one yet?”

Felix laughed and nodded.

“Sue me for not being thrilled about shackling my future to a group of witches who’ll only grudgingly tolerate my presence,” Ash grumbled.

“History would be happy to have you,” Felix said. “Harmony too, if you could learn to curb the sarcasm for thirty seconds.”

“Ugh, but I’d be soboredin History, surrounded by all you bookworms. And can you seriously see me fitting in with all the holier-than-thou do-gooders in Harmony?”

“You’re the one always saying that witches need to see that paranormal beings aren’t so different from them. That’s basically Harmony’s mission.”

“Yeah, that and sitting around in sharing circles, dredging up our deepest shames so the group can ‘hold us in beloved community.’” Ash made a retching sound. “I don’t know if I could stomach that.”

He looked at me. “Not that that should stop you ifyouwant to apply to them, Cory. Just because I’m a hater doesn’t mean you have to be. Besides, you could choose any of them, no limits.”

I shrugged uncomfortably. Both Felix and Ash assumed I was a witch. But in truth, Hex or Hunt or Heal would probably want me just as much—which was to say, just as little—as they wanted my friends. And I barely had any idea of what the other havens were like.

“I don’t know. Maybe I’ll just pick whichever one gets me out of Combat the soonest,” I said, half-serious.

Felix’s nose crinkled. “Unfortunately, you can’t. Combat’s mandatory all four years. A hold-over from the old days.”

“Four years?” I said. It was almost a wail. “You’re telling me I have to go through four more years of this torture?”

I didn’t know which was worse—the thought of having to share that class with Sean for the next four years of my life, or the thought of Noah teaching it.

“It probably won’t be as awful as it was yesterday,” Ash said quickly. “I don’t know why Noah did that. Sean, I can understand—he’s a dick to everyone. But Noah—”

“You know how Professor Braverman is, though,” Felix said. “Always talking about self-control and respect. And he hates it when people don’t pay attention. He says it’s the surest way to get yourself hurt. He probably saw Cory trying to find the bathroom and wanted to make sure he didn’t miss anything.”

“But he still didn’t have to pair him withSean,” Ash said with a shudder. “That was just cruel.”

“Yeah, but he let Cory partner with me today. Anyway, it was Sean who ended up taking the heat. I heard he’s been ordered to clean the gym every night for a week.”

Ash waved his hand dismissively. “He’ll probably just get Rekha to do it with a spell.” He looked over at me. “She’s the girl who looks like Sean’s attack dog. Always wearing an expression that says she’s considering whether strangling you with your entrails or feeding them to you would give her more pleasure.”

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