Page 2 of Demon Hunger
I sheathed my borrowed sword—it would be unwise to use Blazebringer since there already were rumors I’d stolen it—pushed past the bushes, and stepped into the parking lot, relieved. It seemed there was no demon to quell, and Drevan wasn’t foolishly endangering everyone’s life, but he soon disallowed me of my foolish assumption.
“We are going to do a stark summoning,” he announced, putting on a huge smile.
A flutter of excitement went through my classmates, all nine of them. Jenna had joined my side, and she nearly bounced on the balls of her feet at the news.
“That’s irresponsible,” I hissed between clenched teeth.
I said it low enough that I hoped only Drevan would hear me, but I forgot that Russell Newman was a werewolf with sensitive hearing. He quickly leaned to speak in Regina’s ear to share what I said.
Very slowly, Drevan turned in my direction, his eyes narrowed. As his breathtaking attractiveness hit me.
Nothing ever happened between you two, Lucia.
If I was allowed to call very intense kissing and groping “nothing.” It could have been worse. Itwasalmost worse. I came to the brink of sleeping with Lucifer’s monster son. It didn’t matter that at the moment he’d looked like a god, beautiful, alluring, and radiant. Or that there was an intense magnetism about him that made me as defenseless as a moth in front of a million brilliant suns. I’d almost slipped.
I had to remember who he really was. I couldn’t let his otherworldly charm blind me and burn me. I had to remind myself who I was dealing with.
He was a monster, an eight-foot-tall beast with muscles the size of boulders. He had long fingers with brutal claws and membranous wings with bone spikes at their apex. Not to mention curved horns, a pointed chin, too-high cheekbones, and rows of jagged teeth. He was nothing like what he appeared, and my body had no business tingling all over when his gaze raked its length up and down.
“Did you say something, Ms. Sunder?” he asked in an acerbic tone that made Regina smirk.
I cleared my throat, determined not to let him intimidate me. “I don’t think doing any type of uncontrolled summoning is advisable at this stage in our learning. Besides, what about the club-goers? Someone could get hurt. Also, we’re not even certified to wield a Queller outside the league. This isn’t official business.”
“I thought I was the teacher, Ms. Sunder.”
Biting my tongue, I held back the words I wanted to spit in his face. He was doing this wholeteachingcharade to get on my nerves, and he was succeeding.Damn it!
I glanced around at my classmates, who were all glaring at me, including Jenna and Sage. They knew better and understood how dangerous it could be. The day we tried to summon Phenog in that hotel room, things got terribly out of hand. One false step could cost someone’s life. Only Benjamin seemed to agree with me and met my gaze with sympathy.
But hey, if all these idiots had no more sense than a barrel of hammers, who was I to get in the way of their eager desire to kick the bucket?
I shrugged. “My apologies,Professor Veneres. I’m sure you, better than anyone, understand everyone’s capabilities and proficiency at summoning and quelling.”
“Speak for yourself, Lucia,” Sage put in. “I’m ready for everything and anything.” He took a few steps back and brandished his Queller from side to side, making the air whistle. Since he came from a demon-hunting family, Sage had received sword training for many years. He was good, but he’d never quelled any demons. Not even a level G one.
Drevan gave Sage a withering glare, then turned back to me. “I assure you that despite your inexperience, you have nothing to worry about. I won’t let anything happen to anyone.”
Pompous jerk!
But, of course, he wasn’t entirely wrong. Any demon we happened to summon would have to obey Drevan, no matter what. He was their boss, after all. Still, something could go wrong. Someone could do something stupid, and he might not be able to prevent an accident.
Oh, witchlights!Maybe I was worrying too much. Maybe if our teacher was anyone other than Drevan Morningstar, I would be all over this excursion. I wanted to learn just as much as the next person. At the beginning of last semester, I’d been all about breaking the rules to speed up the pace of my learning, which at the time had seemed terribly sluggish. Maybe I just needed to set aside my personal issues and try to learn as much as I could from him. Because honestly, who could be more knowledgeable about demons than one of their masters?
Drevan glanced at his students, who had formed a circle around him. “I need a volunteer.”
Everyone except Benjamin and me lifted their hands up in the air.
“Pick me. Pick me,” Jenna whispered under her breath.
Drevan turned in a circle and frowned when he noticed my hand wasn’t up. He shrugged and continued turning, giving himself a casual air. Jenna put her hand down, deflating. At last, Drevan’s attention settled on Regina.
“Ms. Becker.” He beckoned with one of his long-fingered hands.
For an instant, I saw his body transform into that beast with his huge hands and terrible black claws capable of tearing through a bus like a giant can opener. I shook my head and took a deep breath, willing the images away.
Nothing happened, Lucia. You didn’t sleep with a monster.
“Do you know what a stark summoning is, Ms. Becker?” Drevan asked.
