Quiet Burn (Discordia University #2)

Surprise

Kit/Kat

N ow that we’re all piled into this weirdly assembled SUV, I’ve got so many questions. I know it’s going to piss Jasper off to ask them, but I have to know what the hell is going on and I don’t have the knowledge base the others do. He doesn’t think about that because they’re all so used to working together. But I’m not here to stroke his fucking ego or pretend I trust every damn decision he makes—I have to learn things before they put me in danger.

“How did we call for this car? How did your?—”

Before I can finish, the Prince scowls at me across the limo-esque seating, holding his finger in the air. I have no idea what the hell that means, but the others all pull out their phones and start fiddling with them. I press my lips together as I get mine out, petting Dottie as I do so. She hugs my finger, helping me calm my ire at the silent shushing the asshole is giving me. It takes a moment, but X leans across, grabbing my phone with a wink.

At least they’re aware that bowing to Jasper’s will is making me want to lash out.

Xerxes does whatever they’re all doing to my phone, then nods at Anton, who murmurs under his breath. My hearing is getting better, so I catch a bunch of Latin that means zero to me. He finally stops and nods at Jasper, who puts his finger down.

“We needed to make certain we will not be eavesdropped on,” Anton says as X hands me my phone. “Our rooms, our floor, and our table in the Triclinium are already safe. That’s one of the things Xerxes and I did as soon as we arrived in the summertime. There’s also enchantments to discourage any other students from approaching them so we don’t get low level spies.”

Oh, wait, is that another reason Prince Prickface was mad about me being assigned their floor?

The dragon smirks, arching a brow at me. “Yes, that’s why I was so suspicious when you were assigned our floor, shrimp. Lucian’s flunkies and acolytes don’t have a way into our areas without permission. Assigning you to our floor would circumvent the intention-based magic those two placed on our private spaces.”

“You could have just fucking told me that,” I grumble bitterly. “At least, once you all decided to adopt me into your little demonic cult.”

Salem laughs, bumping my shoulder with his. “Don’t be a salty Seymour, Kit Kat. Sometimes this dick actually has good reasons for what he does, but he’s used to people following his orders. You question the fuck out of him, and we’re all here for it.”

Flushing at the praise, I move my gaze to the smug dragon again. “Then someone should explain the phones, this car… all the shit that you seem comfy with despite telling me you don’t come to the surface much.”

Jasper growls in annoyance. “That’s far more shit than I’m willing to impart for a car ride.”

“But—”

Oriel squeezes my knee lightly and in the tight squeeze between him and Salem, I have to hold my breath to control the shiver it causes. I don’t know how these guys have managed to get such immediate responses from me without tripping any alarms, but I wish I could figure it out. Getting all squirmy and itchy is not an option in the seats—we’re squeezed in tightly and facing each other. Someone will notice me having problems if I’m not careful.

“Okay. I’ll take some of this one since our Prince won’t deign to do his damn job.” I give him an appreciative look, settling back to listen. “Zav always gets our tech first because he puts a lot of shit on the equipment that we might need someday and shit we definitely need now hardware-wise. That’s what we were doing that Jas already did for himself—switching to surface service so they work up here. He used the Suber app, which is the supernatural version of a ride share company. It’s safe for all kinds and the tech was set up by nerds who work for the Society. That’s the big wig global council up here we talked about.”

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I nod. So many things I don’t know, and it’s never going to end. I hate that. “I guess that’s why this car is set up weirdly inside?”

“Yep,” X says as they cross their ankles in the middle of the space between the rows. “There’s magic and tech and all sorts of shit involved, KK. But that’s also what Annie just did—a small, localized bubble inside the car so we can talk without the driver eavesdropping. He smells like a shifter, so he probably doesn’t have more than sensitive hearing, but caution isn’t unwarranted. Supernaturals on the surface are far more likely to have hybrid lineage than in Hell.”

My brain is going to explode one of these days, I fucking swear it.

“That’s a lot to take in.” I blow out a breath, wrinkling my nose as I consider what else to ask. “We’re going to the city center to find supplies and then ask around, right?”

Slash nods. “Correct.”

“How will I know what to ask? I mean, we don’t even know if I’ll be able to tell who is what and?—”

Oriel nudges me this time. “Breathe, Kit Kat. You’re not expected to do any interrogating. That would be silly since we have no idea what you can and can’t do. We’ll handle that; you just keep your eyes peeled for suspicious human things. And maybe… give us a heads-up if we’re doing something really stupid that would reveal our nature to them. That’s a big no-no if we’re not here for official reasons, obviously.”

Now I have to keep their secrets, too? Son of a bitch.

My phone vibrates on my lap and I surreptitiously unlock it again, peeking at the message through my lashes as I look down. It’s from X, so I have to be very careful who sees what they’re saying.

Flashy: I know what you’re worried about.

Kit Kat: …

Flashy: I don’t know for sure, but I THINK the doc’s potion will keep you covered for us and up here. We’ll have to test it carefully, but I’m pretty sure it will hide what it needs to from the beings here, too.

Kit Kat: K.

I can’t really answer well with O and Salem so close; that’s the best I can do. X winks at me when I look up, and I nod slightly. If they’re wrong, we’re going to get a lot of attention up here when Jasper loses his fucking mind. The others will be upset or frustrated—I think—but the Prince will go right into mistrust mode because we just don’t have a foundation to build on yet. I’m simply not ready to tell anyone other than X, but now that I’m meeting all of their animals and demons, I hope that will change.

Some rando revealing this up here would fuck everything up.

Though I’m not in any way religious, I wing a prayer to the universe that Dank’s potion covers more than just Hell and demons. I could have asked if I had time, but this trip was hastily planned and organized, so I didn’t have the chance. I wonder if the demon has a cell? I need to ask him next time I go in because I definitely want to be able to ask him shit like this on the fly.

“ Kit! ”

The loud voice paired with the emphasis pulls me out of my head, and I blink at the peacock shifter who said it in confusion. “What?”

“You spaced out completely and we’re here.”

That makes the others chuckle and Jasper gives me another one of his assface smirks. Gathering myself, I hold the bottom of my bag to make sure Dottie is comfy. “I’m sorry. There’s just so much to take in and it never ends. I feel like I’m constantly being jacked into the Matrix and downloading shit.”

Oriel tilts his head, studying me in the avian manner that means he’s processing something. “I get that, actually. That was a fucking great metaphor.”

“It really was,” Zavida says as he follows Jasper out of the car. “I got it, too. And I see how that would be frustrating and scary at the same time. I don’t think I understood where you’re at very well until now.”

“Should have started with movie references,” I mutter as Anton and X get out after the kitsune. “It would have helped us find common ground much faster.”

“Only some of us,” O replies as he moves next, then waits for me to follow. Salem is right behind me, the two of them forming the same kind of shield Slash and Zav did around the Prince.

How exactly is the nervous red-head going to protect the Prince ?

I don’t get the chance to ask, though, because Jasper waves the driver off, and we’re standing on a street that is full of shops, but oddly, no foot traffic. “It’s a weekend and this city’s pretty big—where is everyone?”

Slash looks around, his expression unsettled. “I do not like this, Prince.”

“It’s not an ambush,” Jasper shoots back with an eye roll. “This is way too big for Lucian and his lackeys or even the Gemini to arrange. There’s something else going on.”

Squinting at the various shops, I find one that looks like it will be fancy enough for these rich assholes, but also have what we came for. “Okay. Let’s go to that Rigoletto Abbigliamento e Accessori di pregio ? 1 place and get what we need.”

“You speak Italian?” the Prince says wryly.

I smile sweetly, my tone mocking as I reply, “Nope. But if I can’t pronounce the name of a place I’m pretty sure only rich fuckwads like you can afford it. Process of elimination and all.”

Even Slash snickers, and I know he’s concerned about our situation right now. Jasper sucks in a breath, holds it, then lets go as he glares at me. “Despite your shortcomings in the cultural arena, you happen to be right. That should do nicely, as Rigoletto ’ s is run by an ancient Italian supe family descendant.

Looking pleased as fuck, I pretend his jibe didn’t land and turn towards the storefront. “Then let’s go get you guys some sunglasses so you quit squinting, and we’ll see if the people working here have any idea why the hell this place is a ghost town on the weekend.”

Jasper doesn’t move, so I stride away from the group to cross the street. I’m not surprised when Salem and Oriel catch up to me quickly, taking their flanking positions again like good little soldiers. I’d be annoyed by that, except… I like them here. The two of them are my most comfortable relationships right now, and I don’t feel bad when I murmur, “Being up here is really weird, you know?”

“Uh, you’re telling me,” Salem says as he ruffles his white locks. “Half of us can’t even stay in our preferred forms in this place, KK. This is how you feel in your skin all the time? Like really?”

I know he’s not being shitty, so I don’t hit the panda demon with a snarky response. Instead, I reach down and take his hand. “Sometimes. I mean, here? Yeah, pretty much always. Down there? I’m getting better at not feeling so disconnected. I didn’t expect that when I got there, but it’s true.”

He grins broadly and Oriel bumps my shoulder with his before saying, “That’s good to know, Kit Kat. Even if you are having brain dump overload, you’re doing a bit better. Right?”

Nodding, I head for the fancy doors of the Italian shop. “Yes, I am. With some stuff, I mean.”

“Something is better than nothing, so we’ll take it.” Salem pulls the door open for us, then we head inside the opulent looking boutique. “Whoa.”

Rolling my eyes at the leather, fur, and dark crystalline design, I mutter, “Fucking rich people.”

That’s when a giant motherfucking half-shifted spider comes scurrying out of the large archway at the back of the store and I almost pass out.

I’m going to murder Jasper Eversore.

1 ? Rigoletto Fine Clothing and Accessories