I SPLASHED MORE cold water on my face, my hands trembling as I drew them away.  Another nightmare.  They were coming practically every night, showcasing each of my fears.  This time, I killed someone and became a demon.  I was reigning over the pureblooded ferrum turned demons with Kye.  And Rex.

My fingers brushed the damp strands of hair from my face as I stared at my reflection in the mirror.  For just a moment, my eyes flashed demon black.

My pulse spiked, and I blinked.  My eyes returned to their normal, gold-flecked brown.

I shook my head.  I wasn’t getting a lick of sleep tonight. 

I went back to my room and threw on a pair of sweats and running shoes.  My feet were silent as I slipped by the hunters on duty patrolling the dorms.  It shouldn’t have been that easy, but since my close encounter with demonhood, I could walk almost as quietly as one.

When I finally made it outside, I sucked in a lungful of cool night air.  The claustrophobic feel of the dorms began to melt away.  I was free outside, especially at night when the campus was mostly deserted.  It was quiet.  And peaceful.

“What are you doing out here?”

Damn.  So much for quiet and peaceful.

I spun around to find a council hunter strolling toward me from the shadows of the building, the silver swirling sigil on his jacket glinting in the moonlight.  I shouldn’t have stopped and enjoyed the false freedom.  “Just going for a jog,” I said lightly as if this was normal student behavior.

He glanced at the watch on his wrist.  “It’s 1 AM and past curfew.  You need to go back inside.”  A cool breeze ruffled the dirty blonde locks around his face, throwing them in a pair of dark green, gold-flecked eyes.  He was the first pureblooded ferrum I’d seen from The Council. 

The guy was hot—as were a lot of hunters—with a rocking bod and hard muscles. 

A sigh drifted from my mouth.  I wasn’t going back inside.  I couldn’t sleep and puttering around in my dorm would drive me slap ass crazy.  “Look, man, just let this go.  It would be easier for everyone.”

“It’s Hunter Malcolm.”  He crossed his arms against his broad chest.  “And no, I’m not going to just let you go off running around campus at 1 AM.”  He drew out his phone.  “What’s your name?”

My brows knit.  “Why?”

He glanced up.  “Because I’m reporting you to the headmaster.”

Seriously?  This guy was worse than Rex ever was.  “Don’t wake up Ash—I mean Headmaster Ashford.  He’s already stressed out, and a call from you about me isn’t going to help.”

Malcolm's green eyes surveyed me, lines creasing his brow.  “What is your name?”

Great.

“Kory.”  That one word was riddled with annoyance.

His eyes narrowed.  “Kory what?”

My jaw clenched.  “Kory Colt.”

Recognition lit his face, and his hand dropped, dangling by his side.  “You’re that Kory.”

I popped my hands on my hips.  “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

The corner of his lips hitched.  “I’ve heard about you.”

“Oh great.  I’m famous.”  And sarcastic.

He shoved his phone back into his jacket pocket.  “Are you really as good as they say?”

I gave a noncommittal shrug.

His gaze shifted to my left wrist.  “How many tattoos do you have now?”

“How many do you?” 

Malcolm motioned his hand around the dark campus.  “Aren’t you afraid the demon will come after you out there alone?”

“Who Kye?”

He nodded.

“Not with all of you council hunters patrolling the grounds.”  That was highly doubtful.  “I’m as safe as ever.”

He gave a grunt of protest.  He didn’t know who Kye really was.  Probably only higher-ups like Wallace and Johnston were privy to that dangerous tidbit.

“So, am I good, or what?”  I hitched a thumb over my shoulder.  I didn’t really need his permission.  I was going to go whether he liked it or not.

“Sure, I guess.”

I saluted him before turning around and jogging away.

I just got into a good pace when thudding of footsteps joined mine and Rex appeared beside me.

“Mind if I join you?” he casually asked.  He was wearing jogging pants and a jacket.

My brows knit.  “How did you know where I was?”

“Malcolm called me,” he admitted, easily keeping stride.

I rolled my eyes.  “I should have known he was going to do that,” I muttered.  “He shouldn’t have woke you up.”

Rex shook his head.  “He didn’t.  I was patrolling the east side of campus with Annabeth.”

I scoffed.  “Did she pay someone to match your schedules together?  She’s always with you.”

“Kory, Annabeth is a good hunter, and we work well together.”

“Yeah, but she still thinks you two will rekindle your relationship.”

He made a face.  “No, she doesn’t.”

A humorless laugh slipped from my mouth.  “You are so clueless.”  It was almost comical.  Almost.

“Well, even if that’s true, you don’t have to treat her like she’s Br—”

I cut him off with a sharp intake of air.  “I know she’s not Bridget.”  I couldn’t even say the bitch’s name without snarling.  Rex’s ex-girlfriend was still a touchy subject.  She always would be. 

“Kory, I know it’s hard being caeteras and keeping it a secret.”  He took a deep breath, his jaw clenching.  “Believe me, there are plenty of guys here I’d like to tell to back off.”

“Who?”  No one besides Kye had shown any interest in me here. 

He shot me an incredulous expression.  “Plenty.”  He cracked his neck.  “Even some of The Council hunters have been asking about you, specifically when you turn eighteen.”

My brow arched.  “No way.”

“It’s really starting to piss me off.”  His nostrils flared.  “I’m already worried about the date because of Lorne.”

I ignored the mention of Lorne.  “You’re cute when you're jealous.”  I laughed at his expression.  He didn’t find this humorous.

“And you’re still a pain in my ass.”  A smile began to break through.

We both quieted and jogged together.  Simply being with Rex was nice, calming even.  Maybe it was a caetera thing.  It reminded me of when I first started training in Bishop.  A time when Aunt Maggie was still alive.  Stein was my best friend, and I didn’t even know it.  And I had a massive crush on my instructor.

It was crazy how much my life had changed in such a short period of time.  Less than a year ago, I was stealing my aunt’s pills and selling them to kids at my school.  I was also ripping them off with various shady deals.  I was stealing to survive and pay the bills Maggie couldn’t.  I’d been struggling with her addiction as much as she was, maybe even more.

And Nate had been there, trying his best to keep her from going off the deep end.  Or so he claimed.

I shook off the thoughts of him.  I’d never get any sleep if I started down that path. 

After a while, a light drizzle began, mixing with sweat and dampening my clothes.  We continued to run though.  Rex must have sensed how much I needed a release.  But soon, that drizzle became a downpour, drenching us.  We ducked into a covered walkway between two buildings near the parking lot.

Rex brushed wet strands of hair from his face as he surveyed the thick sheet of rain blocking both exits.  “We should give it a second to see if it lets up,” he said over the loud pounding on the roof.

I nodded and squeezed water from the ends of my jacket, showing a peek of my stomach.  Feeling Rex’s stare on me, my gaze lifted.

My throat turned dry.

His eyes were a molten brown and gold, burning through his thick, sooty lashes.  There was nothing tame or calm in that look.

I swallowed hard as my pulse spiked.

He slowly stalked toward me, his eyes never leaving mine.  “There are times when I see you across campus, and I have to fight every muscle in my body not to grab you and seal my lips to yours.”  His rough, husky voice sent hot shivers down my spine.  “It kills me every time.”

I licked my lips.  “We’re alone.  What’s stopping you now?”

Rex’s thumb traced my jaw, burning a line across my skin.  “Not a damn thing.”  His lips crashed on mine, stealing my breath.  And my sanity.

Our bodies pressed together, not an ounce of space existing between us.  His tongue tangled with mine, caressing it with soft, toe-curling strokes.  He tasted like warm honey and sunlight.  I couldn’t get enough.

My fingers knotted in the soft hair at his neck, reveling in the feel of each silken strand.  His spicy scent mixed with sweat engulfed my senses and weakened my knees.  Rex’s hands slipped under my shirt, kneading the flesh at my lower back.

A groan slipped out, and he pressed me closer.

It wasn’t enough.  Nothing was ever enough.

Rex moved us, and the brick wall hit my back.  His head tilted as he deepened the kiss and pressed his body harder into mine.  Our mirrored sounds of pleasure echoed through the walkway.  His hands were everywhere, soft one moment and then hard the next.  It reminded me so much of our first kiss.  It was frantic and passionate.  Desperate and hot.  Steam clouded around us despite the cold rain.  I wouldn’t be surprised if it were as hot as a sauna.

Rex’s mouth left mine and trailed down my neck, nibbling and sucking.  “Koralein,” he moaned, his teeth grazing my skin before his tongue followed.

Holy goddess of anything. 

Blood thundered in my ears and heat coiled deep in my belly, mixing with electric tingles.  I was high on Rex, drowning in a pit of desire and hunger.  Kissing Kye had been intoxicating, but this was entering another freaking dimension.

His fingers skimmed up my ribs as he sucked on my bottom lip. “I love you, Koralein.”

I still hadn’t said those three little words to him.  What was stopping me?  Didn’t I love him?  He was my soulmate, and I wanted to be with him more than anything.

Maybe it was because I hadn’t said those words a lot in my life, not since my parents died.

“Rex, I…”

His warm breath mingled with mine, our chests heaving and hearts both tapping out an erratic staccato.  His lips were wet and swollen.

I took a deep breath, a sweet, licorice scent drifting in the air.

My muscles tensed, and I pushed Rex back. 

“What is it?” His head snapped in the direction of one of the openings, sheets of rain still blocking anything from view.

A figure stepped forward, wet blonde hair framing a pair of cold blue eyes.

Kye.

Rex quickly put a good amount of space between us, straightening his clothes.  “Ash.”

I blinked and shook myself, realizing I was looking at the headmaster and not Kye. 

A breath of relief exited my lips—until I remembered what Rex and I had just been doing.  I quickly righted my clothes and leaned off the wall.

Ash froze as he noticed us.  “Rex? Kory?  What are you two doing here?”

Rex cleared his throat and smoothed back the hair I had ruffled.  “We were out jogging and got caught in the downpour.  We were waiting for it to let up.”

One blonde brow arched.  “Jogging?”  He glanced at his watch.  “It’s almost two in the morning.”

“I couldn’t sleep,” I blurted, hoping my cheeks weren’t as flushed as they felt.  “What are you doing out?”  I motioned toward the keys in his hand.

Lines creased his forehead, and he glanced down, staring at his keys before shoving them in his pocket.  “I was at Magnolia House checking on security.  Lost track of time.”

“Things must still be a little hectic after the demon attack,” Rex said.

Ash gave a quick nod. “It’s getting late.  I don’t think the rain is letting up anytime soon.  You should both head back.”

Rex nodded.  “We will.”

Ash marched through the walkway and disappeared out of the other side into the rain.

“He’s right.  We should go.”  He jerked his chin toward the opening Ash exited.  “I’ll walk you back.”  When I opened my mouth to protest, he cut me off with a look.  “I’ll walk you back.”

I held up my hands.  “Okay.  Whatever.”

As we darted into the rain together, I remembered smelling demon before Ash appeared.  Had I simply imagined it like I’d thought he was Kye for a moment?  Or had a demon been spying on me? 

 

Portia’s eyes narrowed as I made it up the steps to my floor of the dorm.  A line creased her brow when she noticed my sopping wet appearance.  She moved around the other hunter who’d she’d been speaking with, marching toward me.

Oh great.

“Have you been outside?”

Uh, that was pretty effing obvious.  “I was running with Rex when it started pouring.”

Her lips thinned as she scrutinized me.  Could she tell I was lying?  Did she know I’d just been making out with her son?

I cleared my throat and motioned toward the other hunter and two red-eyed teenage girls she was talking to.  “What’s going on?”

“Another young hunter has been reported missing,” she stated bluntly.  “She has family here.”

Acid crawled up my throat.  Kye was at it again.  A small, stupid part of me had hoped he’d cool it with this crap since my birthday was getting closer.  He said I was his bigger obsession now. 

Most likely, he’d been lying.

“Go back to your room, Kory.”  Portia snapped me out of my thoughts.  “You’re soaked.”

I nodded and strode past her, glad to get away from her penetrating gaze.  She knew her son and I were more than student and mentor.  She had to.

I avoided the two crying girls.  They’d hate me if they knew I was connected to the demon responsible for this.  If they knew their relative was probably turned into a demon or well on her way, they’d cry harder.

Kelsey was shuffling out of the bathroom as I walked by.  “Why are you soaked?” she asked.

“I was out running.”

“Oh.”  She jerked her chin toward the girls.  “I guess you heard.”

I nodded.

“It was their cousin Whitney.  She’s been gone for three days,” Kelsey said, leaning against the wall next to my door.

I swallowed hard, guilt eating away at me.  There had to be something I could do to stop Kye that didn’t involve killing him.

“I wish I knew what was going on.”  Her brown eyes lingered over me.  “Do you have any ideas?”  Her brow arched, waiting.

Kelsey was too smart and nosey for her own good.  She didn’t need to be wrapped up in this.  She’d end up getting herself killed.

I opened my mouth to lie when my phone screamed on the other side of the door.  “My phone.  It’s probably Rex.”

She smiled and gave a quick nod.

I barreled through the door, thankful to have shaken off Nancy Drew.  But the number on the phone didn’t belong to Rex.

My body stiffened as I answered it.  “Hello?”

“Hello, Koralein.”  Kye’s voice was cold and smooth.

“Are you on campus?  Were you just spying on me?” I blurted.

“No.  Why?”

Like I believed him.  “Are you lying?”

“Kory, if I were at Amarose close enough to see you, I wouldn’t have stayed hiding in the shadows.  I enjoy your company even if you’re trying—in vain—to kill me.”

My brows knit.  Maybe it was Lorne. 

“Did you see a demon there?” Kye asked.

“No.  Never mind.”  I kicked my sopping shoes off and tugged off my socks.  “Look, Kye, you need to stop taking pureblooded ferrums.  This new world of yours is a bad idea.”

He sighed.  “No, it isn’t.  I’m giving them a choice the goddess never did.”

I tore off my jacket and tossed it in the hamper.  “And I bet you’re using a little bit of compulsion to make them more agreeable.” 

A low chuckle resonated over the phone.  “I’m a demon.  I’m not above cheating to get what I want.”

“This is wrong,” I protested.  “Is there no part of you that realizes that?”  It was stupid to even ask that.  He was a demon—Cassius—and nothing about him was good.

A long pause stretched before he sighed.  “It’s not that simple, Kory.  This has been planned for a long time.  I’m not the only one involved.”

My heart lurched.  The Council was right.  Kye was working with someone.

“If I stop, things could get messy.”

That didn’t sound good.  “Messy how?” 

“Dangerous.”

I sat on the end of my bed, my ponytail dripping water down my shoulder.  It had to be someone pretty lethal for Kye to call them dangerous, but it couldn’t be an inside job.  It had to be another demon, one with a loose cannon.

“Can’t you just tell the others involved you changed your mind?” I asked.  “Or kill them?  You are the second oldest creature in the world.”

“Again, it’s not that easy.  There are too many variables.”

I scoffed.  “But you’re Cassius.”

“Don’t call me that name,” he growled over the line. 

I ignored his anger and continued prodding him.  “Who are you working with?”

“Meet me, and I’ll tell you.”

I rolled my eyes.  “I’m not falling for that again.  Last time you tried to take me.”

“I’m trying to protect you from Lorne.  Now that you know what he wants, don’t you realize how much danger you’re in?”

“Speaking of that.”  I grabbed a towel from a hook on the wall.  “How did you get into my dream.”

“I told you we had a connection, Kory.”

My nose scrunched.  “It’s probably some kind of demonic compulsion thing.” 

“Maybe before, but this time was different.  I wasn’t even trying.  In fact, I was asleep and the next thing I know, I saw you in the park.”

A sinking feeling swept through my stomach.  Deep down I knew he wasn’t lying.  Somehow he’d gotten inside my dream without using his demonic mind powers.  What kind of connection could we possibly have?