Jasper eyes him carefully, tilting his head. “What did you sense during your gathering?”
“Like I said before, when we came into the bathroom. The vibe is off. As I flew around campus, I felt it. It didn’t emanate from a specific location or I would have investigated. It’s just something I feel, and I’m surprised the rest of you don’t, too.”
Kit frowns, putting his hand on Salem’s arm to make sure he doesn’t trip over something, then closes his eyes. “I’m trying, O, but I don’t feel it.” His eyes pop open as we head into the main quad and he makes a soft sound. “Um, I smell something, though? Do you guys smell that? It’s… new. Like, I have no idea how to describe it even because this is completely new.”
That makes Slash growl low and the shark demon sniffs the air a couple of times. “I do not smell it, little demon. It is not normal for a scent to be one I cannot find. I have the best receptors in the caliphate.”
I’m about to question that when Zavida’s tails pop out, swishing in irritation back and forth. The Kitsuné nudges the prince, pushing his glasses up as his expression turns to one of confusion. “And I hear something… something far away, but very intense.”
What the actual fuck is going on?
“Fuck,” Jasper snarls as he puts an arm around Zav to keep him close. His tail drops, letting us all know the dragon is on watch now. “Oriel is right; something is going on at Discordia this morning. Keep your heads on swivels; it seems to lurk, but it’s not here—whatever it is.”
“You know, wejust came back from a risky, life-threatening weekend of bullshit. Couldn’t whatever this is wait a couple of days? I’d like to have a fucking break,” Kit says as he kicks a rock across the ground. “It’s like we’ve got a magnet drawing bullshit to us.”
“Perhaps a magnet named Kit Kat who has unknown powers and hasn’t emerged yet?” Salem grins as he pats the kid’s hand. “That’s not to blame you, KK, but it’s possible.”
“It’s probable,” I agree as I sigh. “The university picked you on its own, after the invitations went out last spring, and your murky provenance has pointed to that from the beginning and we all know it.”
“Great. Now I feel guilty for putting everyone in danger.”
“Stop that,” X says as they lean around me. “If this was some weird ass prophecy shit, it would have come no matter who the chosen one was. And if the people involved are the ones we suspect, it was inevitable—those people have been furious with their lots in Hell for a very long time. You’re not really the lynchpin, especially if our new friends are right about the bigger picture.”
“This is so damn annoying,” Oriel mutters. “There are so many layers and whatever the fuck this thing happening this morning is, it’s something we couldn’t possibly have planned for. That we’re all having different reactions based on our senses means it’s triggering the animals, not the demonic bits. Given that the King and the courts don’t allow a lot of visitors here from other realms, that means we’re going to have a problem like we did up on the surface. Something isnotwhere it belongs.”
“Please don’t let it be another smelly ass orc,” X groans. “We’re all clean, and I thought that stench was going to hang about forever.”
I chuckle, shaking my head at my mate. “You really focus on the important things, huh?”
“I mean, they’re not wrong. How many fucking uniforms have I had to replace already? I’m not eager to do it again,” Kit says with a shrug. “I didn’t get to see much last time becausesomeonerushed me away like a fucking cave demon, but…”
Salem smirks, looking so pleased with himself that it trips my wires. Why is he so damn happy about Kit complaining about being spirited away? The panda just keeps smiling as he says, “And you were much better off for it, now weren’t you? I know it’s hard to admit when you’re wrong, KK, but sometimes you have to.”
“Shut. Up. Salem,” Kit growls as he wrinkles his nose and yanks his arm away. “Don’t make me remember how mad I was at you for treating me like the weakest link.”
“I did no such thing and you know it, KK. In fact, I treated you incredibly well during our little camp out. Not a single complaint was uttered about how good I was to you.”
That just makes our newest member make a frustrated sound as he stomps toward theTricliniumwithout waiting for the rest of us. Salem laughs, his eyes dancing as Slash speeds up to catch KK, so he’s not on his own. I tilt my head, curious why he’s being so outwardly aggressive; it’s unusual for him. Before I can ask, Xerxes tugs on my sleeve, nodding at the huge shark and the small, unemerged demon.
“They’re kind of adorable next to each other, right?”
What does that have to do with anything? Why is this morning so fucking weird?
Dumb Dumb
Kit/Kat
Breakfast was both annoyingandanxiety inducing—which isn’t far off from normal—but the unidentified thing we can’t find, made it ten times worse. By the time we finished and split up for class, I think Jasper was ready to call it a day and force us to hide in our dorms until the weirdness passed.
Unfortunately, there’s only so much of that we can get away with, and even he knows we can’t waste that leeway on bad vibes.
“You are thinking hard again.”
I look up at Slash, grinning a bit as he bumps me, and I stumble slightly. His eyes widen comically and I laugh, waving his concern off. “It’s okay, big guy. You were just being playful, which is kind of a step for you. I’m just less solid—obviously—and we have to adjust your physics next time.”
“I didn’t hurt you, right?”
Man, he looks worried, so I won’t drag this out. I don’t want him punishing himself for something that didn’t happen.
