Page 64 of Demon Hunger
“I don’t know.” I pushed to my feet with her help and blinked at the scene, trying to understand.
Drevan glanced over his shoulder. “Have you been having nightmares?”
How did he…? I hadn’t told anyone.
I nodded.
“And you were having the same nightmare just now, weren’t you?”
I nodded again.
“If you hadn’t woken up, you would have been trapped inside your own mind forever, constantly in the same nightmare loop. You would have succumbed to her Dreadsnare.” He turned back to Regina. “Isn’t that right?”
She made no attempt to answer, but from her expression, it was clear she had been found out.
“You fucking bitch!” Jenna exclaimed.
I approached hesitantly. “Why?”
She pressed her lips into a tight line, refusing to answer.
“You have committed a crime, Ms. Becker,” Grant said. “This means expulsion and worse. Ms. Sunder is entitled to press charges against you.”
At this, fear flashed across Regina’s features. It seemed she hadn’t considered this possibility. Or perhaps she never imagined she would get caught.
“We will head back to the league,” Grant announced. “Leave her under my care, Professor Veneres.”
Reluctantly, Drevan let her go.
Grant stepped in and rid Regina of her Queller. “Move!” He nudged her toward the van. “C’mon, everyone.”
The others followed, while Drevan held me back for a moment. When it was only the two of us behind the hedges, he caressed my face tenderly. “How do you feel?”
I shrugged, unsure. Physically, I was fine, but mentally… I wasn’t sure.
“What about the Dreadsnare? She used a trigger phrase, I think.”
He nodded. “That’s one way to do it, but don’t worry. Now that you know what it is, you’re safe. Dreadsnares can be very effective, but if you’re lucky enough to discover them, you can’t fall victim to them again.”
“Well, that’s a relief.” I shook my head. “I knew she didn’t like me, but why would she do something like that?”
Drevan frowned, looking as if he may have a theory or two, but he didn’t say anything.
“I’d better go.” I started to leave, but he snatched my hand, pulled me back, kissed me hard on the lips.
“I’m so relieved you’re all right. I would let the world end if anything happened to you.”
“We have a confession from Regina Becker,” Grant said as I stood in his office in front of his desk.
“You do?” I asked.
It hadn’t taken long. We’d only gotten back from our excursion a few hours ago, barely enough time to shower, get dressed, and eat dinner.
“She was working with LeBeau,” he said, surprising me.
“Wait, what?”
“Josephine promised her special status. She told her that, soon, she’d be the league’s director again, and once she was back, Regina would become her protégé. You see, at the beginning of last semester, LeBeau made a deal with Regina’s parents, except things changed when you arrived and LeBeau was enlisted to undermine you. She cast Regina aside to work against you.”
