Page 44 of Quiet Burn

“Kit Kat, hurry up! We have to get to Weapons before his Royal Dickhole-ness gets there.”

Oriel’s voice spurs me into movement, and I carefully strip off my dance duds, leaving them on my bed for X to hide once I leave. That means I’ll have to help cover for the cobra shifter ifhe ends up being late to Jasper’s class, too. Pulling on my normal uniform with jerky movement, I look around until I find my shoes. Once my boots are on, I walk over to the mirror and ruffle my growing hair, realizing I’m going to need to get it cut before it spoils my disguise.

Damnit. Too many things at once.

“It’s fine, Kit. Just grab your bag and your kinkajou, then head for class. Maybe you’ll get to smack someone around so you can vent your nervous energy.” I should only be so lucky, but Jasper hasn’t made us sit for class since the one time, so maybe it will be fine.

Blowing out a slow breath, I walk to the door, giving X a surreptitious thumbs up as I head for my messenger bag. “Okay, Dottie girl, we gotta go see the pissiest dragon we’ve met so far. Are you ready?”

She chitters happily, scampering over to tuck into my bag for the ride. I’ve noticed she likes to ride inside right after she eats a lot. I don’t blame her because I like to loll in comfort when I’ve stuffed myself, too.

“How is the whole sewing-outfit-dance thing coming?” Oriel asks as he watches Xerxes cleaning up the mess we left. “Is it okay? I think our stuff is being delivered Friday night.”

“Of course it is, you spoiled jackwad,” I say fondly as I bump his shoulder. “All of you, except X, are just being handed your shit.”

The crow shifter gives me a pointed look. “What exactly are you doing besides posing for them to measure?”

X stands, brushing off their knees and shaking a finger at O. “Kit is helping with design choices and it’s lovely to work with him. He’s very creative.”

I’m not sure I’d phrase my occasional remarks about color or cut as collaboration, but if X thinks so…

“Well, well,” Oriel says as he opens the door to our room. “That’s very interesting. I look forward to finding out what you have come up with.”

He may not say that when he sees it, but I’m not touching that with a ten foot pole. Instead, I nod and follow him to the elevator, hopping on. “You don’t have long to wait, nor do any of the other dudes I’m supposed to be escorted by.”

“That’s the first time you’ve phrased it that way. Did Xerxes say something that is making you concerned about the dance—other than our multitudinous enemies, of course.”

Me and my big fat mouth.

“We talked about the guests attending from the other colleges. I’m worried about the mass amount of people, especially…”

When I trail off, he grins at me like a fool until the elevator dings to announce the bottom floor. As we step out and head out through the lobby of the dorm, I notice that he’s looking especially smug again. I frown at my feet, keeping my eyes off of him until he finally speaks. “Oh, you’re worried about the bloody girls, eh?”

“Don’t be an ass.”

Oriel chuckles, and I elbow him as I pass through the front door, heading for the arena. “It’s hard not to be when you’re being thissilly. How could you think we’re going to abandon you for some random tail fluttering in from afar?”

I blink, unsure how to respond to that ridiculously accurate assessment. “I… That’s not why it worries me!”

“Sure, KK. Whatever you say.”

My fists clench at my side and I scowl as I stomp across the quad with the pleased bird demon. “I do say. You know I have anxiety and lots of people I don’t know will trigger that. It’s especially bad when you add the social pressure of some stupid dance, who knows what bigwig fuckheads will show up, and now I have to wonder if I’ll get left like a purse in the club.”

He snorts, shaking his head. “First of all, X would never let anyone take a purse to a club, but if we did, you would be much more important than an accessory. That’s your damage talking, bud.”

Stupid bird is right, but I don’t want to tell him that.

“Well, excuse me if my experience with groups of dudes being flooded with opportunities to drink and get wild—especially in Hell—makes me think otherwise.” I sniff as we enter the double doors to the arena, giving him a suspicious look. “I don’t want to be cornered and have no one around to help this time.”

“Oh,thatwill never happen again, Kit Kat. I can promise you.”

Sure, but people in my life don’t have great track records with promise-keeping.

I Put A Spell On You

Jasper

Idon’t trust this fucking ‘Samhain ball’ as far as I can chuck someone. The announcement last week, so close to the beginning of the semester and the unveiling of the first Games in centuries, is entirely suspect. I’m on edge, and my dragon is whirling beneath the surface of my humanoid skin, ready to strike out the moment someone challenges us.

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