Page 32 of Quiet Burn

“Sure it will.” He sounds even more amused as I lower myself to the cushions with a whimper of pain and put my feet up on the big ottoman. “Thank fuck Salem is so compulsive about his kitchen. I’m not a cook, but I can read.”

I don’t answer him; it’s his own fault for being an ass about me punching him. If he needs to figure shit out in there, he’ll have to do it on his own. It’s petulant, but I’m not feeling very generous at the moment. I should have been able to celebrate my victory,but instead, I’m stuck waiting for Dank while Slash snarks at me. His bullshit isn’t nearly as sharp as Prince Prickface, but I’m not going to ask him to back off and let me calm down.

Fuck that noise; I’m no swooning damsel.

“You realize that I am not babying you for a reason, yes?”

“Are you a fucking mind reader?” I stroke my fingers over Dottie’s head, pouting at my pet. “I didn’t even say that out loud.”

He snorts, shaking his head as he puts dishes in the microwave. “No, little demon. I am not a mind reader, but you are not disguising your emotions well right now. Your face is an open book.”

Dammit.

“I’m usually very good at that,” I grumble as I close my eyes. “But it’s harder here, and somehow harder with you dipshits in general. Is that a thing?”

“Caliphate-wise?” I hear the fridge open again and glasses clink, then steps approaching. When I pry my lids open again, the shark shifter is standing in front of me with a tray that has a glass of fruity smelling liquid and two small pills on it. “Somewhat, I believe. It’s been a long time since I was inducted, so my memory of the first few months where effects might be multiplied is vague. Take your medicine; I saw the reminder you left yourself.”

My eyes narrow, but I take the pills and what I think is juice from him. “I don’t need you to wait on me hand and foot. I’m fully capable of doing things for myself.”

The knock at the door keeps him from replying, but I can tell by the look on the big guy’s face that it wasn’t going to make me happy. He sets the tray on a table, then stomps over to the entry to my room, pressing his face against it to see who is there. Once he’s satisfied, Slash pushes the button on the panel, and Dank floats in, plague mask and all.

“Master Kit,” he says as he moves across the room to get to me. “I am displeased to hear you have been injured again so soon after your last visit.”

Dottie chitters at the weird demon, dancing a bit on my lap, and I give him a helpless shrug. “Arms class got a bit out of hand. It wasn’t anyone's fault, but the members of my caliphate insisted that I be seen—despite my protests.”

The demon pulls his mask off, setting it on the table before he joins me on the couch. “They are right to ensure your health, Master Kit. After your attack, and knowing your physiology is quite fragile in this stage… you could do more harm than you think by ignoring minor injuries.”

“Fragile physiology? What the hell does that mean?” I ask as he prods my bruises, making me wince.

Slash comes back to the sitting area with the tray of food he heated up, placing it aside while the doctor examines me. “He means that your demon side—and whatever else you may possess, if anything—is in transition. It is why Discordia’s seers could sense you in order to send the invitation. During this time, things are in flux, I believe.”

Nodding as he continues looking over my limbs, Dank hisses a soft sound. “Yes. It is certain Master Kit’s transition began very slowly and that called to those with the sight. However, I cannotsay how long it will take to fully emerge and power to manifest. I also cannot saywhatwill manifest since your young computer whiz has been unable to trace him.”

I frown, looking between them with an exasperated expression. “That’s why Zav was prying into me? To find out what I’d become?”

“That and because Jasper’s a paranoid asshole,” the shark says with a grin. “But yes, he was hoping to figure out who, where, and how you were left to fend for yourself for so many years above. It’s uncommon for demons, unlike supes.”

“That motherfuckerknowsI’m not human, but he’s been torturing me about it?!”

The doctor taps my arm gently, pulling my gaze back to him. “The Prince may be protecting you without disclosing it, Master Kit. There are many demons with mind gifts in the staff and student body. The less you know that could engender fear or jealousy, the more likely you will make it through your transition period without being targeted.”

Fuming, I cross my arms over my chest. “I’m not stupid. Icanbe trusted with shit. I mean, I’ve handled the whole ‘you live in Hell now’ thing pretty well, considering.”

“You have, little demon, but this isn’t about you. It’s about the rest of this world. Even our gambit in public to protect you didn’t keep you from being pummeled in class.” His brow furrows and he tilts his head. “I do not get why the Prince allowed you to be paired with an opponent who would harm you, even if he is being recalcitrant.”

Dank makes a weird noise, then mumbles a bunch of weird sounding words as his gloved hands run over my limbs slowly. Igrit my teeth as a burning sensation spreads through my body, keeping the pained sounds from escaping in my own act of defiance. When it finally stops, I cut my gaze to the big guy and shrug.

“The others seemed to think he didn’t have a choice. It may have been arranged before class began.”

“If that’s true… this is only the beginning, Master Kit.” Dank’s voice is soft as he continues working, not looking at me as he adds, “It means you have bigger enemies than jealous students and you are in more danger than you realize.”

Well, isn’t that just peachy news to get on a Friday morning?

Lose Control

Salem

My radar was up when Slash dropped Kit Kat off at Lit class. My roomie was moving stiffly, and our group chat was quiet all morning, so I knew something had to have gone down in Arms & Battle. It’s irritating as fuck that people refuse to keep us all up-to-date when things go down, but I also know how our two leaders react to deviations from their plans. They go into duck-and-cover mode, sweeping things under the rug until they have a firm grasp on what happened and how to fix it. That comes from living in the two most contentious royal lines with the two nastiest patriarchs, I know, but it frustrates the hell out of me.

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