Refuge(25)

Jordan and Olivia laughed, and it was Olivia who spoke first. “Nikolas is one of the best warriors on the planet, and his job does not include babysitting orphans.”

I looked from one to the other. “I don’t understand. He found me, killed the bad guys, and brought me here. Isn’t that what warriors do?”

It was Michael who answered. “Some warriors do, but you’re the first orphan Nikolas has ever brought in.”

Jordan and Olivia watched me closely while I digested that piece if information. Nikolas had never brought in anyone before me? Well, that certainly explained his lack of patience; he obviously had no experience with orphans. Whatever his reason for doing it, I knew for certain it was not because of any romantic feelings he might have for me as the girls implied. It was more likely his male ego; I’d challenged him and he couldn’t handle it. “I know what you’re insinuating but trust me, there is nothing going on between me and Nikolas.”

Jordan let out a short laugh. “You are probably the only female in existence who would go out of her way to deny having a thing with him.”

“God what I wouldn’t give . . . ” Olivia fanned herself. “Hot doesn’t begin to describe that man.” She sighed. “Can you imagine what it feels like to have those arms around you?”

There was no way I was going to tell them that I knew what it felt like to be in Nikolas’s arms. But his embrace had been comforting instead of romantic. I could not understand how he had treated me with such kindness one day and then taken off without a good-bye two days later. I admit I’m not the best at reading people, but how could I have been so wrong about him?

“Booyah! Take that!”

The four of us turned to stare at Terrence, who was emerging from the arena looking like he had just gone a few rounds with an angry badger. His hair was sticking out all over the place, his shirt and jeans were shredded in places, and he had a bloody scratch on one cheek. But he was grinning like he had won the lottery. He walked past Celine and Sahir and came up to me, his hazel eyes shining. “Now that was fun.”

I glowered at him. “Yes, I’m sure killing is a real blast.”

“Who said anything about killing? And if you look at the time, I believe I finished faster than you.” He touched his cheek and winced. “Mean little bastards, though.”

“You didn’t kill them?” Josh asked in disbelief.

Terrence chuckled. “Sara is right; anyone can kill them, but it takes a real warrior to take them alive.” It wasn’t exactly what I had said, but I decided not to correct him.

Celine strode over to us, and her gaze raked across mine. “What the hell has gotten into you people?”

Terrence shot me a grin. “Just mixing it up a bit, making it a little more fun.”

“This is not supposed to be fun,” Celine bit out. She pointed at me and Terrence. “You two, you’re done here. Go cause trouble somewhere else.” She spun away from us and yelled, “Is there anyone here who wants to do this thing correctly?”

“Later,” I said to the others, glad to get away from Celine and her killing. I set off toward the main building, and Terrence ran to catch up with me.

“Seriously, that was a blast,” he panted. “Who would ever have thought not killing demons would be fun?”

I came up short. “The bazerats are demons?”

“Of course. What did you think they were?”

“I don’t know – mutant rats?”

He snickered like I’d made a joke. “We covered them in class last year.”

“I wasn’t here last year.” I had learned a lot about the world from Remy, but nothing like the formal education Mohiri kids received. I had years of learning to catch up on.

I resumed walking. The bazerats were demons, and my power made them freak out instead of calming them. Demons fear Fae magic, and it must have hurt them when I touched them. It could also be why my power had reacted to them and zapped them. It still didn’t explain the little flare-ups that were happening every day now. Was my elemental side growing stronger as Aine had hoped it would?

My stomach clenched as a scary thought came to me. I was surrounded by people with demons inside them, and I had no control over whatever was happening to me. What if I hurt someone without meaning to? I was half Fae, half demon, and even the Fae admitted they had no idea what powers I would develop. Nikolas had brought me here to keep me safe, but what if I was the dangerous one?





* * *


I quietly approached the library. It had been three days since my encounter with Desmund, and even though Tristan had encouraged me to come back, I felt a little apprehensive about seeing Desmund again. I didn’t want to upset him and cause some kind of setback, but I had to admit I was more than a little curious about him.