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Alexa stomps out of the tower and I turn to watch as she disappears down the stairs in the middle of the room. It reminds me of a castle in many ways, if it was a Spaniard one. There are pretty tiles on the stairs, and the walls are very colorful. The columns surrounding the tower have gorgeous molding on it as well, which is what made me decide to explore it.

A strangled scream as a shoe slips trails up to me, and I have to stifle a laugh. It’s not nice of me, but she doesn’t have any business following me. I didn’t hear her because I was in my head, and I tend to disassociate from my surroundings.

“Stupid,” I sigh. I need to be smarter about, well, everything.

Getting up, I pick up my things and walk slowly through the space, determined to wait Alexa out. I don’t want to run into her when I’m walking down the stairs. I also take the time to make sure the taser is back in its pouch.

Checking the time on my watch, I take my time as I walk down the stairs. As long as I don’t rush and overheat, I’ll be fine. There are still people in the hallways once I get to the bottom, so I keep my head down as I walk to my class.

“Hey, Nope,” Ciaran says, coming up behind me to wrap his arms around me.

I stomp on his foot and immediately begin to fight him off. I didn’t expect him to touch or be around me, so I’m thrown into attack mode.

“Ow, maybe I should call you hellcat instead,” he grunts, releasing me.

“Consent is sexy. Maybe remember that,” I grumble, turning down the hall.

He hurries beside me, rolling his eyes.

“You don’t think it would be just as hot for me to tie you down and edge you until you’re screaming for mercy?”

I blink at him before shaking my head. It was almost hot until the mercy part. I’ve been in a position like that too many times to count. I would rather not.

“I think you should rethink the words that come out of your mouth before you say them to a victim of rape,” I suggest.

His eyes widen for a second before his lips thin.

“That’s not how I meant it,” he mutters. “Not everything has to be viewed from the scope of your limited experience, Nope.”

“It does when you’re the one saying it,” I reply, opening the door to my class. “Offer a lens where you’re not an asshole, or we’ll revisit this never.”

“I think my factory setting is in fact…asshole,” he declares, smirking. “I bet I’ll be able to make you beg for my dick very soon.”

“It must be interesting to live in the delusions of your mind,” I say, gliding into the room.

The teacher isn’t here yet, but the students definitely heard me. Heat fills my face as they all make sex noises, and I’m pretty sure one of the girls who hurt me in the courtyard is texting someone.

Wonderful. That’s perfect.

“Do you have everything you need?” Ignacio asks, glaring at the school hockey arena. I have a bag of clothes to change into, but I’ll pretty much be in character from the second I get out of the car.

Asmodeus’ head is in my lap, but I may give the thing a nickname. That could be cute, right?

“I do,” I confirm. He parked by the back door so I can knock on it and be let in. I received a long message earlier today with my list of “duties” from the principal in my school email.

I had no idea there was so much that went into this.

“Elijah is going to come get you after the game,” Ignacio says. “We’re usually slammed on Fridays at the club, and it’s easy for him to get overwhelmed.”

“So I’m his break?” I ask, grinning. I kind of love that. I don’t know how he can work at the club with the sensory issues he has.

Even though he owns the place with the guys, I consider it brave to put in the work to make the club a success each time he goes in. I think normalizing that it’s important. I’m going to try to channel Elijah tonight.

I’m kind of scared of the arena because I’m in the Devils’ space. There’s this weight of anticipation that sits on my shoulders like a mantle of warning.

“You are,” Ignacio confirms, making me flinch as I’m pulled from my thoughts. “Remember, no one knows who you are tonight. Enjoy it.”

Knowing he’s right, I give him a weak smile and push open the door before I put the costume’s head over me. A simple touch has the cool air moving through it, and I immediately feel better. Sliding out of the truck carefully, I heft my duffel bag over my shoulder. It has my skates in a separate bag, a change of clothes, and a giant hoodie so I can hide as I leave. Thankfully, it’ll hold my mascot uniform too once I take it off.