Quiet Burn (Discordia University #2)

Flowers

Kit/Kat

A nton is quiet as we head to Mythology. I assume he’s figuring out what he’ll do if I go completely off-script with Headmaster Darkstar. The jerk will probably do something to piss me off, so it’s not a bad plan, but I hate that I’m such a wildcard. Before coming here, I was always worried about my issues causing a scene that I’d have to live down. Now I have to worry about those plus dragging the guys into my bullshit. It’s enough to make me spill the damn lunch Slash insisted I eat, so I twist the spinning ring on my finger anxiously as we approach the door to our lecture.

“It’ll be okay,” Anton says with a crooked smile. It’s not his usual suave-guy expression, and I find myself staring at his handsome features wordlessly.

I swear, Hell has turned me into a hungry bitch and it’s not just for the delicious grub.

Pulling my lower lip through my teeth, I try to re-focus my brain on his words before I answer. “Will it? Coming here and finding out about this world was a lot , especially for someone with my problems. Somehow, I’ve kept my shit together about that, but now there’s… so much more. Bullies, Prince Asshat, Headmaster Cockrocket, assaults, death games, evil professors… fake dating !”

The gentle grin stretches and his gaze softens as he chucks my chin lightly. “ That is your biggest hang-up out of the entire list? Very interesting.”

I stomp my foot and roll my eyes to the ceiling in supplication. Given that we’re in Hell, I’m not sure who I’m asking for help with this dude, but someone has to be spying on us, right? “Anton, there’s a long list of traumas and shit I’ve experienced in my comparably short lifetime, but I only dated one time.” My voice drops at the same time as my gaze and I murmur, “You’ve all figured out how that worked out for me. I don’t have a fucking clue what I’m supposed to be doing here—as a demon, as a dude, or even as a boyfriend.”

Suddenly, I realize what I just said and the panic rushes through me like lava spurting from a volcano.

But whatever deity or demon who was listening took pity on me because Anton doesn’t even flinch. Instead, he chuckles, bopping me on the nose. “Kit Kat, do you think those of us without their heads squarely up their asses haven’t figured that out?”

Annnnd we’re back to panic at the doorway… What am I going to do?!

Swallowing hard, I sneak my hand into the bag and stroke Dottie’s head. “Um, what… what do you mean by that?”

“I don’t know about Slash for certain, granted, and we know Zavida and Jasper are clueless as hell. But X, Oriel, Salem, and I definitely realize you have no positive experience with dating. Your symptoms and issues make it clear that your incident made you shy away from trying to find another guy.” He winks and pulls the door open, holding it for me. “Not to mention, demon courting is a bit different, and that’s something you’re learning as well. We’ll help you.”

My heart stops hammering in my chest, and the hand petting Dottie stops trembling at his words. Damn, I thought I was screwed for sure. That was a close one. I need to be much more cautious about what I say when I’m already worked up. “Oh. Well… that’s really nice of you. People don’t usually try to accommodate my annoying quirks like that. I’m not used to it.”

He waits until I walk into the classroom, then leads me over to where Zav and X are seated. “Then those people are fools, and even if it takes some of us a bit to get there, we shall endeavor to be better. Not that it’s hard for demons to be better than humans…”

X gives me a bright grin as they make room for us to get settled into the seats they saved for us. “He’s right. Demons and supes are much higher on the evolutionary scale, so whatever Annie thinks we’ll do better—we will.”

I laugh softly, enjoying his cheery disposition after the heavy atmosphere of lunch. “I’m sure you will. He can tell you all about it later. We have to be very careful what we say and how we act here today.”

“I’ve got notes today,” Zavida says as he gives me a shy smile. “That way, the two of you can focus on helping Kit stay calm. Does that work?”

Well, look who wants to go to the head of the class?

Anton nods. “That’s a good plan, Zav. Darkstar is likely to be an ass—as usual—and Kit’s natural inclinations will make this our most difficult class to manage all semester.”

“Harder than Prince Prickface’s Arms sections? I highly doubt that,” I mutter as Dottie climbs out of my bag and sits on my shoulder. “I don’t care what promises he’s making—being in charge brings out the douchebag in him.”

X snorts, covering their mouth with their hand. “He’s not wrong.”

“But… he’s a professor…”

All gazes cut to the kitsune and he flushes. “Sorry. Force of habit. But… It is true that he’s judged on how well he can teach and control the classroom. That doesn’t excuse his behavior last time, though.”

Baby steps, ginger fox, but you’re coming along.

“That’s definitely not wrong, either,” Anton agrees. “Jasper needs to balance how he’s been raised with what he knows is right. Honestly, no one’s forced him to do that in such a bold manner before. Though, I suspect he enjoys the battle as much as the control.”

Zav’s blush gets deeper and he shakes his head. “I wouldn’t know about that.”

“Of course you wouldn’t, Sammy Subby,” X crows gleefully. “No shade, but your relationship with old Scaly Balls is less Spike and more Drusilla. But you’ll get there, man.”

I frown, considering that reference for a moment. “You have to mean in later sea?—”

“ Good morning, students. Please turn your texts to page one hundred fifty-seven. We will be discussing the mythology of the Greeks today. ”

Wincing as I flick the screen of my tablet to the right page, I look down at Lucian as he points to the big screen behind him. Pictured on it is a collage of mythicals beasts and he has a dark smirk on face as he looks at our group.

That isn’t good.

“As you can see, many of the creatures we’ve discussed today are depicted in various cultures with different names and abilities. Hybrid demons can be created from any number of supernaturals, including the creatures non-humans have classified as ‘mythical.’ Can one of you who paid attention list the most common mythicals seen in our current age?”

Lucian behaved most of the class, surprisingly, but the information provided today has damn near blown my mind. Knowing that dragons, gorgons, unicorns, krakens, gargoyles and a host of things deemed ‘made-up’ in my previous world is hitting me especially hard at the moment. I know Zavida is Kitsune and Jasper’s a dragon, but the rest of them are pretty normal animals, so their shifter thing isn’t quite as awe-inspiring. This stuff is making me reel with questions and I can’t ask a single one because it would draw attention to myself.

Fucking asshole is shock-blocking me and I want to punch him.

“Are you okay, dude?”

Turning my head slowly to look at X, I shrug. “This is a bit… difficult. So many things we’re taught are myths—from the creatures to the stories of deities—are real. Maybe exaggerated for effect, but… imagining a unicorn striding into the room or Hades showing up for tea is mind blowing.”

Zavida grins as he pushes his ‘note taking’ glasses up. “Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain isn’t just a phrase, huh?”

I nod, running my fingers over Dottie’s head gently. “Exactly. It makes me wonder how much ‘fixing’ goes on to keep them unaware of things.”

Anton leans in, his eyes dancing. “That’s handled by all the agents. Demons could give a fuck less if they find out about us. The others care a ton because they live among the meat bags or they’ll be made to do shit when they pray. The jokers who work for the Society have all these rules and enforcers and cleaners to deal with it.”

That’s when my brain starts to melt a little.

“I think… maybe I need to leave that topic for much, much later.”

“Gentleman! Since you’re so loquacious today, perhaps one of you can list the five most common mythical creatures found on Earth right now?”

We all freeze as Lucian booms at us and I turn to look at the angry Headmaster with a blank expression. I’ve done so well at avoiding his ire, and now we’re fucked. That’s what I get for letting the woo-woo crap of Discordia distract me. None of us answer, and he glowers so darkly I can almost feel it.

“If you won’t volunteer, I’ll select which one of you owes me a response.” His dark eyes glitter and he pretends to think about it, but I know what he’s going to say. “Mr. Camponella, show me you’ve learned more than how to make a spectacle of yourself in the week you’ve graced our presence in Hell.”

Son of a bitch rat-fucking cocksucker.

I take a deep breath, squaring my shoulder as I look down at the demonic despot. “Dragons and wyverns, gargoyles, hellhounds, sirens and mer-folk, and centaurs.”

The shock on his face makes me smirk and I feel X’s hand on my shoulder. Dottie chitters happily and even Zavida looks proud as I continue to return his nasty stare. Finally, the dramatic asshole nods and clicks the screen behind him to advance the presentation. “Correct. It seems with the right teacher, even the challenged individuals at our school can be taught. That said, read the sections on Romans by class Thursday. You are all dismissed.”

Letting out a slow breath of relief, I grin at the guys. “I made it. I knew I could do it.”

Anton winks at me, reaching over to grab my hand and squeeze it. “I did, too. I’m going to leave you with X until Oriel arrives to pick you up. I need to run to Alabaster’s class and I won’t make it if I dawdle.”

“We have him, babe,” X says before they exchange a brief kiss. “Skedaddle off to talk about humans while Kit Kat and I have things to do. Zavida, we’ll see you in Weapons later.”

The kitsune nods, gathering his things before he gives me a hopeful look. “Class was okay?”

I pretend to think about it for a moment, then nod. “Not too bad. Slow and steady wins the race, foxy friend.”

His face lights up and he scurries off with his head down, making me laugh. The dude is so fucking submissive it’s almost comical, but it seems to be masking an innate sweetness. Letting him figure out how to shine without Jasper being pissed is definitely the best solution, but I hate to think he’s feeling cowed by my demands.

People are fucking hard and now I get why everyone is always so frustrated on TV.

“You’re being pretty chill with him.”

Picking up my bag, I stuff my things into it and let Dottie scamper up my shoulder. “I think his heart is in the right place, but his cojones haven’t dropped.”

X blinks then bursts out laughing as they lead me to the door. “Damn, you’re savage sometimes, man. Not off-base, but savage as fuck.”

“Sarcasm has always been my closest friend. It helps distance you from some of the bad shit, right?” The look we exchange is fraught with shared knowledge as we walk to the stairs. I like that X is willing to use them instead of trapping me in that shitty metal box. “Well, that, and books.”

They bob their brows as we descend. “Which explains why I knew we’d be spending our free period there. I told Oriel to meet us in the stacks where we were before once he’s free.”

Picking favorites probably isn’t a good idea if I’m supposed to be dating all of them, right?