Page 9 of A Taste of Torment
“What are you doing here, Candice?” Jarron says. His baritone voice sends a shiver down my spine.
The energy in the room has turned tense. All the chattering has stopped, and the attention has turned to the demon royals—and me.
These three are more than popular. They’re the center of this school’s universe.
They’re from a family with so much power that no one else can stand against them. Once you’re on their radar, your choice is bow before them or die.
I bite the inside of my lip, and then I force a smile to cover the anger swirling in my chest. “Aren’t you happy to see me?”
Miss Snow White curls a lip in disgust. “Met a few weakling friends, already, have you?”
Anger curls in my gut at the looks Bea gives Janet and Lola. “Don’t talk to them like that,” I spit, maybe harsher than I should give then fact that this girl could suck the breath from my lungs with half a thought. But truth is, those girls behind me are kind and vulnerable and I’ll be damned if I let any other innocent people be hurt while I’m here, no matter what it costs me. I’ll do what I can to protect my new friends.
Bea’s eyes widen but she doesn’t immediately react so I change the subject quickly. “We were just about to go check out our dorms.” I say then glance down at my wrinkled slip of paper. “Could you point me to Minor Hall? I’d so appreciate the help.” I spin the words so sweetly there isn’t a person on the planet that would believe it was sincere.
Jarron narrows his eyes, his lips parting.
“Youwouldbe in Minor Hall.” The Demoness laughs then points lazily down the hall behind us. “Take the first stairway to the right. Another right and it’s in that hall somewhere.” She waves her hand haphazardly.
“Thanks!” I chirp and hop to my feet immediately, desperately seeking a way out of this conversation.
“Wait,” Jarron’s low voice calls after me, but I don’t stop, don’t even pause. I rush down the aisle, away from the demons. A set of footsteps pound behind me, almost louder than my heartbeats. As pathetic as it is, I’m not ready to face the devil I once knew.
“Candice.” His command has enough force that it sends a jolt of discomfort down my back. I grimace, but after a pause, I continue walking. Just as I make it to the lobby outside the cafeteria, Lola and Janet catch up with me. Lola flies in front of my face. Janet curls her arm in mine.
“What the hell?” Lola squeaks, darting to avoid me running face first into her wings.
“You didnottell us you know Prince Jarron,” Janet whisper yells.
“I don’t.”
“It sure seemed—” Janet’s voice trails off into a squeal as a heavy shadow settles over all three of us. A hand snakes around my arm. The breath catches in my throat as my body whips to face the demon prince’s dark stare.
“Candice,” he says softer this time, but his shadow magic still pulses from him, demanding he be heard. “Talk to me,” he adds. “Please.” The final word is hoarse. He almost soundsdesperate.
Shock ricochets through me. I swallow and then nod, unable to even speak without my knees giving out. He glances at my shocked friends and then gently guides me out of the lobby and into the hall. Eyes of every shape and size follow us, but out here, no one is in ear shot.
“What are you doing here, Candice?”
I cross my arms, trying to avoid shivering in his presence. I hate feeling small, feeling weak. And how could I help that in the presence of someone this powerful? “What does it matter?”
He stares at me, incredulous. “The last I heard from you, you wanted nothing to do with me because of what I am. You said you swore off everything magical. Then, you just show up years later, out of the blue, and think I shouldn’t even be curious?”
“You can be curious, but it doesn’t mean I’ll tell you anything.” I shuffle my feet.
“Are you kidding?” he hisses.
I shrug. I know I’m being unfair, but it’s weird for him to care this much. Or at all, really. I’m not sure what to make of it. I hate how his power makes me feel, and this is the only way I know how to hide it.
“Did our friendship mean anything to you at all?” His voice has dropped so low it’s almost a whisper.
I swallow and stare down at my shoes as I shuffle them awkwardly. “It did once,” I admit. I knew Jarron years ago. And yeah, we were friends. But that was before I knew he was a demon prince.
Well, no. Iknew.But it was before I knew what itmeant. What it felt like to be near someone that powerful. Before I saw his true form, and before he almost killed Liz.
“What are you doing here, Candice? Tell me, and if you never want to speak to me again, I’ll honor it. But tell me why.” He rubs the back of his neck.
He seems almost insecure. Which is basically the exact opposite of what I expected. It’s disarming, in a way. I feel guilty for talking to him so harshly for no reason except my own insecurities.
