Page 67 of Quiet Burn

Mostly, I picked at my food until it was time to leave and stayed quiet on the trip to Curse & Hexes. I’m sitting on the end seat with Salem on my left, and Anton and Slash beyond him. The huge shark shifter looks displeased, but I can’t seem to care. I’mstill processing what happened last night—despite it not being bad before the loud bang—and I don’t have the spoons to stroke anyone’s fucking animal right now.

Dottie has stayed as close as possible, riding on my shoulder rather than in the bag, and she’s watching every person around me as if they’re planning to kill me. I appreciate it, but it’s probably not the case. The guys explained why the others are being weird, and I accept that, but I just need some time to figure outmyshit right now.

I can only hope the shit Dank gave me and the guys’ ignorance of humans will last long enough for me to slowly climb out of my head. This is all me and my damn PTSD, and I already feel like a burden—I don’t want them taking on my progress bar as their own. Plus, it only works ifIget myself through the quagmire in my brain, not someone else. I have to own and face my fears in order to conquer them. It’s been a torturously slow crawl over the years, but honestly? Being at Discordia has forced me to work harder and stand on my own two feet without hiding. It might be why these assholes don’t believe in therapy; if you don’t have a choice, you can rise to the top or let it sweep you under.

Kat Camponella isnotgoing to let the tides of Hell win this battle—that I can guarantee.

“Kit.”

Blinking back to reality, I look up to see Salem giving me a patient look. The panda shifter is holding off the other two demons, trying to give me space to get up and move towards the door. “Sorry. I must have spaced out.”

Anton arches a brow. “Bad spaced out?”

“Not really. Thoughtful,” I say softly as I grab my stuff. He doesn’t respond, so I continue up the stairs with Salem at my heels. I know the avian is going to escort me to our next class, so if he’s got more to say, he’ll do it then. Or not—but I can’t worry about that.

Fuck I sound like such a self-centered shithead, but I want to be able to handle all this so badly.

“KK, I gotta jet for my stuff,” Salem says as we leave the hall. “Anton’s got you covered for Mythology, then X will grab you before lunch.”

I pretend to roll my eyes at him, but really, I’m glad he’s being normal because I doubt I could deal with him and Oriel being fucking weird, too. There’s far too much crap floating in this pool as it is. “Thanks. Anton, are you ready to split?”

He nods, looking at Slash. “Let’s roll, Kit Kat.”

I follow his rainbow hair down the hall, confused when he chooses to take the big stairs rather than the elevator. It’s not a hard walk, but I’m not sure why we’re doing it. His gait is quick, though, so I have to speed up to get even and when I do, he sighs. I press my lips together, resisting the urge to ask him what the fuck is going on.

“Kit… I’m not angry with you. Stop emoting so hard.”

His abrupt command makes me scowl. “Sure seems like it.”

When we hit the bottom of the huge staircase, he sighs, turning to face me as he steps in close. Anton’s hand comes up, brushing an errant hair off of my forehead before he speaks. “I’m not struggling as hard as those with predators, nor is Xerxes. But still, it’s difficult because our animals' dominant designationallows us to speak in that form and think—mostly—but it doesn’t make them less animalistic as a rule.”

“I mean, I’ve been told that, but?—”

Anton shakes his head, clucking his tongue. “Don’t interrupt me. What I’m trying to explain is that until the animal’s needs are met, wehaveto be distant so we don’t crowd you. That part of our brains is screaming, but it will get louder and harder to ignore, even for demons with considerable experience and control like us.”

“I swear, I’m trying; I really am.”

His smile is gentle. “I know you are. Everyone knows you are. Why do you think no one said a word about the distinct smell of demon sulfur in that room last night?”

“What? What smell? You’re being ridiculous,” I scoff as he jerks his head at the doors and we start moving. “I didn’t smell anything.”

“Then it’s a human to demon thing because weallknew you let those two jokers show you their demons. Hell, they probably know we know and they’re pretending otherwise. It’s all to make you more comfortable, man. No one wants to pressure you.”

Great. I’m even more of a fucking problem than I thought; just what I needed to hear.

Observations

Slash

Kit was very quiet when he walked up with X, and it puzzled me. It’s been that way for several days and I haven’t been able to reconcile why he’s withdrawn. The atmosphere doesn’t feel adversarial, though I will admit the animalistic auras of my brothers is very high. We’re all on pins and needles waiting for the newest member to tap us for ‘inspection,’ so the air is tighter as we keep hold of our inner beasts.

That is, except for Oriel and Salem.

Those lucky assholes are perfectly normal and perhaps that’s irking me a bit. I know it’s got Jasper wrapped in knots, not that he’d admit it. He’s been fairly true to his word that he won’t be purposefully mean, but he’s also quite sharp when Kit isn’t around. The little demon would wince to hear his random tantrums about things like that locked door. It’s irritating, but I’m far less concerned about his temper when it’s only aimed at us. The caliphate is used to outbursts and odd half-apologies from the Prince.

“KK, they’ve got a good spread today. Come up and pick it out,” Oriel says. The dark-haired guy nods at my crow brother, taking his arm as they walk away from the large table to the buffet.

My eyes narrow as I track their progress carefully. That is my job and I was pleased with completing it; I do not appreciate the bird taking away that honor. Grunting, I shift in my seat as I wait for them to return. I’ll get my own meal once Kit is settled safely. Perhaps if I see a treat, I will bring that. It might erase the tiny furrow that has been living between his brows since the first revelation of animal sides.

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