Page 58 of Quiet Burn

I smile as he scoops up Dottie, putting her on his shoulder as I get my things. Oriel is waiting patiently for us to move, but I feel the tension coming off of him at the question. He wants to know, too, but fuck if I’m going to tell them that I’m very curious about their reproduction. That seems like a statement that I can’t walk back, even if I put in a context that somehow attaches to schoolwork.

Though how I’d do that, I have no goddamn clue.

“He wanted me to get checked one more time because of the… thing… and the injuries from class. I think I’m okay, too, but I’d hate to be wrong.” Salem lumbers out of the row and I follow, knowing O is right behind me. “Seems like it’s not a big deal to let the doctor make certain.”

“True,” Oriel agrees. “Since they’re inching us into the training for the Games, I think making sure you’re coming along well is a good plan. It’s just not like the Doc to worry so much. The doc left us to figure out on our own plenty of times, then chastised us for not coming back to check shit out.”

I give him an amused look as we leave the room. “Probably because you’re all too stubborn to listen to him and he knows it. Dank doesn’t seem like the kind of demon to waste his breath.”

“Have we even asked how Kit Kat gets to call the old bastard a nickname and he barelyspeaksto us?” Salem glares at a group of demons standing by the elevator until they scatter, then holds the doors for O and me to get on. “I’m still wigged out by that.”

“I didn’t know that wasn’t his real name. When he picked me up from the Jamesons’, he told me his name was Dank. We had a fairly peaceful ride after he scared the bejesus out of them, and he dropped me off to Lucian and Jasper once we arrived. Seeing him in that office was a shock, to be honest.”

Oriel scratches his chin as he watches my face. “I know you’re telling the truth, but it’s so damn weird, KK. He’s not like that with anyone here—or anyone in Hell, as far as I know. What the hell did you guys talk about to get on his good side?”

“Just being worried about going somewhere I didn’t know with a weird guy in a plague mask,” I retort drily. “Nothing really but a little advice about being cautious about who I trust and that this place is a shark tank—which it is.”

Notice they don’t argue with that point?

“Well, it's a short jaunt to the admin building, and we’ll wait outside while you get examined,” Salem says firmly. “When you’re done, back to eat and do the Greek review.”

“Planning my entire night, I see.” I arch a brow at them and Oriel has the grace to look sheepish. “I don’t mind if you wait, and I definitely want to have dinner. But I might want to shower and clean up before I settle in to study. I always feel a bit slimy on days where I have Lillabet’s class.”

Salem shivers, nodding at me. “Don’t blame you. She can’t manipulate demons of our level without alotof effort and prior feeding, so we’re not having as much trouble. Ask Dr. D when you’re in there—maybe it will get easier for you, too.”

It sure as fuck can’t get worse; the bitch still creeps me out.

“I’ll ask him; good idea, Snoozy,” I tease, bumping his shoulder as we descend the steps to cross the campus to get to admin. “I’m glad you’re awake to suggest it.”

“Oi, you were a pain in the ass today.” Oriel gives Salem a sharp glare. “Poor KK had to stomp your foot almost flat to keep you awake.”

“Look, guys. You know I can’t control when it starts, and this stupid Lit class being so late is the fucking worst.” He looks at the kinkajou riding on his shoulder. “Tell them Dottie.”

My girl chitters and waves her tiny fists, making me grin. “I should have assigned her to honk your nose when you drifted.”

“Hey, guys!”

All three of us stop joking until we see X rushing toward us. Their bright flair sticks out amongst the dreary darkness of Discordia. I’m worried they know something by the way they’ve been looking at me since after the dance, but I can’t figure out which of my secrets Xerxes might have gleaned.

As long as he doesn’t know I’m not Kit, then I can deal with the rest.

“We’re taking Kit Kat for a follow up with Dr. D,” Salem says. “You can come if you want. We promised we’d wait in the hall while he gets declared fit for fighting.”

“You know, I didn’t intend for this to be a fucking floor field trip,” I mutter. The more people who join, the more uncomfortable this damn visit is going to be. I know they aren’t coming into the office, but the things I want to know about and why are making me nervous enough as it is. I can’t believe I’m even doing it, to be honest. Sex stuff hasn’t been a blip on my radar since before the attack; I have no idea why my brain thinks I’m ready to think about it now.

Okay, I kind of do—they all make me feel things I didn’t think I’d ever feel again and now I have to know what I’m getting into.

“Come on, then. Let’s get this over with so we can have Purgatory Pizza tonight,” Oriel says as he holds the doors for us. “I’m in the mood for it.”

That sneaky asshole knows food is my new weak spot. I’m going to murder him.

“Master Kit!It is wonderful to see you up and looking well,” the demon says as I come in. “What brings you to my office this evening?”

I smile, my fondness for the first person on this voyage who was kind to me is hard to hide. “I have some questions, Dank. But um…”

He simply waits, his empty eyes and burning visage looking patient somehow.

“Can you… make it so people can’t ‘super hear’ or whatever in here?” I blurt out. My face heats and I have to jump up on the table to keep from pacing in nervousness. “I’d likeprivacy.”

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