Page 26 of The Prince of Demons

Which also meant nobody could hear my scream when my chair toppled and slammed me into the ground.

Pain ricocheted through my side, but I lifted my head enough to see what happened.

From the floor, I saw that someone tied a rope to my seat. At the end of it, Hunter and his surrounding pals, including Zain and his buddy Brayden, were high-fiving. Jerks.

“For those who didn’t answer—no, that was not in the assigned reading. But it was in the mandatory first day of class, and your inattention is your own fault.” She jerked her head at me. “And you should be paying attention to all your surroundings. Especially the seat you reside in.”

My lips turned down into a scowl because she was right. How long ago did Hunter trap my chair? I sat in the same place every day, so it was an easy target. Foolish me, assuming I’d be safe and secure anywhere on this campus. There were no rules about cutting down the competition to get ahead.

I dragged myself onto my desk, making me even taller than the rest of my classmates.

You want to make a spectacle out of me? Go right on ahead.

“That’s my girl!” Gaksi encouraged.

“Which is the least popular House to pick during recruitment?”

“Rose House!” I shouted. Anyone that hadn’t noticed me before now saw me sitting tall on my desk. That was the one House my mother told me to avoid at all costs. “They’re the smallest and known for gardening, sisterhood, and baking. Although they are imbued with magic, nobody has ever seen them practice it.”

Four tallies.

“Absolutely right, Luna,” Dr. Ansi said. “As a female-only House, they automatically restrict membership to only half the students. Despite their willingness to admit any woman, they remain the least popular, year after year. Which House succeeds the most in demon capture after four years of university training?”

“Siren!” I answered again. “They can go the furthest in the human world because of their persuasion, so they have the most opportunity to reach resources hidden from others.”

Lukas caught my eye and winked. Shameless flirt.

Dr. Ansi nodded.

There was only Vamp House left. I wondered what she’d ask.

“What machine determines your future?”

I heard a cluster of “V” sounds, abruptly choked off. Eyes widened in panic.

“The Antikythera!” Hunter answered.

“To all of you who answered, Vamp House, your attention skills need work. Demons love using wordplay to trick you into believing you know their next move. At the end of recruitment, you can choose which House you believe will give you the best attributes to fight them. However, the Antikythera machine will guide you along the way, adding and withdrawing as it sees fit.” She clapped her hands together. “Count your points!”

Seven. I passed! Cordelia patted me from the side. She had exactly five, so she was safe.

Behind and around us, students held up papers to their faces as if staring at them longer would make more points appear.

“If you failed, pack your bags. You can continue taking general education courses, but any Aether unique classes, as well as access to a House, are banned until next year. I hope you shape up along the way because you’ve just blown your shot.”

* * *

After class,I went to the Cornucopia for lunch with Mother. She insisted on a visit to congratulate my progress on passing the first hurdle.

When I arrived, she captured me in a tight, crushing hug. Overjoyed, convinced I was finally in her good graces, my heart twisted when she whispered her true thoughts in my ear.

“I know you’ve been cavorting with the Reaper.”

My blood pumped. “What?”

She dragged me by my ear to the nearest table. It was lunchtime, and students from all classes and Houses had moved to the Cornucopia, eyeing my maternal showdown. My ears turned pink, and not just from the tugging. Everyone I knew was watching me get scolded. Two girls from my Pills & Potions class pulled out their phones to record.

She waved her hands, forming a sound veil around us. It didn’t hinder visibility, leaving me on display for communal scrutiny.

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