Page 42 of A Drop of Anguish
His expression doesn’t change as he takes me in, which only makes me more nervous.
When I approach, his attention narrows on mine. “Where have you been?” he asks casually, as if this were just a simple conversation between friends.
I stop a few feet from him and cross my arms. “Class?”
“Did you change all of your classes since last semester?” He bites out.
“Yes.” I shift my weight from foot to foot.
His brow furrows like that’s the most peculiar thing in the world.
He does another once over, only this time, his eyes pin to my collar.
The whole room chills. My breath comes out in a white cloud. That means his demon is close to the surface—that’s what Thompson said. The demon that chose my sister as his mate.
He quickly steps forward and reaches for the bandage. I jerk back.
He snarls when I wince. The image of sharp canines are much too recent and that sound… My eyes remain pressed tight but when nothing happens, I peek up at him.
He’s utterly still, watching my face closely. In his eyes, I see what he tries to hide—fear and maybe a little sadness.
His chest rises and falls with heavy breaths before he reaches again, this time slowly. I begin to pull away again, but he grips my wrist instead of going for the bandage. “Candice,” he says firmly but gently.
I close my eyes and nod. He’s not going to let it go until he sees the wound.
Very carefully, he peels back the gauze, and then the room ices over. The last time, it was a slow rise of frost crossing the floor and walls. This time, it’s a flash and every flat surface I can see is covered in a thick layer of ice.
The students around us gasp and scramble away from the tables, and especially away from us.
Jarron’s face is pure horror.
He looks like someone just stabbed his best friend in front of him. Like his every hope and dream was crushed right here and now.
I take a stumbling step back.
He doesn’t move, not even his eyes. They stay pinned to the place my neck was moments ago.
And that’s when I realize this isn’t Jarron anymore. His eyes are pitch-black. His skin has lost all pigment. Horns slowly grow from his shaggy black hair.
“Jarron?” I whimper pathetically, taking another step back. Even when I had feelings for him, his demon always terrified me.
“Hebityou,” he says, but his voice is all wrong. Echoey and gravelly.
“Candice, move back.” Laithe slips past Jarron and wedges himself between us. Thick grey wings spread behind Jarron’s back. Black scales form over his grey skin until he is utterly unrecognizable.
The monster bares his teeth at Laithe. I take his advice and flee to the edge of the room with the other terrified students. Wisps of black magic stream from Jarron’s back. The ground begins to tremble, along with Jarron’s arms.
Laithe crouches, and a shadow spreads over his face. “So, you’re sharing now, are you?” Laithe says with a smirk.
My stomach sinks. Why the hell is he taunting him?
Jarron’s response is a roar that shakes the foundation of the school. I whimper and cover my head. Frost falls from the ceiling, crumbling down on the students below.
Laithe takes a quick step back. “I’m sure she’s delicious. Mind if I take a turn next?”
Jarron’s massive talons swipe at Laithe, but he spins out of the way with fluid grace. Jarron exposes his massive fangs and lunges.
Laithe sprints out of the lunchroom with the winged demon in pursuit. Jarron crashes through the door, smashing stone as he goes.
