Page 54 of Winter Unleashed

“Well, hang me upside down and paint me red, she’s gone,” Belial said.

“No shit, Sherlock,” I spat. I wasn’t angry with him. Though, he was shady as fuck, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he was working with Celeste, and this had all been a ruse. I was more disappointed that the psychotic fairy was still out there. That we still had this fight on our hands. “I guess it would’ve been too easy if she’d just died. Fuck.”

“We’ll get her,” Liam said.

“If you say so.” I huffed out a sigh and turned toward the building. “Let’s go check in and let everyone know they can go home.” I looked at Belial. “They’re safe to leave, correct?”

He held his hands up and feigned a look of innocence. “I wouldn’t think of harming a child.”

“Uh-huh, sure. And the adults here?”

“They’re safe.” He lowered his hands, slipping them into the pockets of his slacks. “Well, from me at least. I can’t guarantee that evil cow won’t reappear.”

“Still, I’d feel better if you weren’t here,” I said. He looked hurt by my request, and my brow furrowed at the pang of guilt I felt for offending him.

He bowed his head. “As you wish, Vinura.”

“And please stop calling me that. My name is Ember.”

He crossed his hands over his heart and bowed his head again. “As you wish,Ember.”

A sensation of silk flowed over my skin at the sound of my name coming from his lips. Little goosebumps formed on my skin as I watched him walk away. He got about ten feet before fading into nothing.

“What in the fuck is going on?” I asked Liam. “He has magic. Maybe it’s not the same as Astrid or Celeste or the other Fae have, but it’s magic.”

Liam slipped his arm around my waist. “It is. Demons have a magic unique to them. When Artemis cast her spell, it didn’t take the way she wanted, but it was enough to upset the males of her species. And hurting them that badly was enough for her.”

“Wow. The Fae really are careless,” I said. “First, they created vampires then didn’t kill them when they found out how horrible they were. Then they made troublemaking demons who enjoy making people do bad things. I think fairies need a lesson in morals.”

“Demons came first,” Philip said.

I shook my head. “Seriously? Like the order the depraved creatures came to be makes a difference.”

“I didn’t say it made a difference. I was simply informing you.” He gave me his creepy smile as he took Stella’s hand and walked into the school.

I glanced at Isaac when he laughed. Ciara tried but barely stifled her grin. “He’s not that funny,” I said, but felt my lips twitch upward.

The halls of the Academy were quieter than I’d ever heard them as we walked toward the assembly room. It was the largest, innermost room so it made sense that’s where everyone would be. It also acted as the cafeteria and the smell of pizza wafted down the hall as we approached.

The scene we walked into surprised me enough to have me tripping over my own feet. The kids were all at tables full of crafts or board games eating pizza and drinking sodas. Laughter and chatter filled the room. It was as though two ancient, demented beings hadn’t just had a battle outside.

Mr. Fleming, the school principal and Spring pack member, strode his way over to me with a huge smile. “Miss Steele, it’s great to see you.”

I studied him closely. He looked like he always did with his dark blond hair styled to perfection with not one strand out of place, and his genuine smile lighting up his dark green eyes.

“Um, sure. Same to you,” I muttered. Even though he seemed sincere, I reached out to feel for any spells Celeste may have cast over the school.

“There’s no magic here,” Liam whispered.

I looked up at him. “You know me too well,” I said with a smile. “Mr. Fleming, good job at keeping everyone calm.”

“Pizza and pop does the trick every time.” His grin grew wider as he surveyed the room.

I cleared my throat to get his attention back on me. “I’m not sure I understand why you’re so happy though.”

“We are taking every precaution we can. We keep them inside, there are guards constantly patrolling the grounds, and they can’t go to the restroom without a highly trained adult going with them.” His lips bent into a frown. “If we can’t keep up a positive front, the kids will know. It’s unfair to them.”

I nodded. “That’s really cool of you. It must take a toll on you and the other adults though.”