Fallen University: Year Three

“Ah, they’re too far ahead to catch anyway,” he said. “Besides, we have more people to meet. You know, I’m starting to think that there are as many pacifists in the underworld as there are on earth. Maybe even more. I kinda like it.”

“Yeah. Me too.”

I didn’t tell him that I’d just had the same thought. It was like the guys and I shared a brain sometimes—a thought that freaked me out less and less these days.

He kissed me again, lingering in it for a moment before we started walking again.

“Look at those trees,” Kai said suddenly, pointing to a line of fan-shaped trees all tipped in brilliant purple.

“Oh, they’re gorgeous! And half of them are ruined.” Hannah frowned at the piles of downed trees which had apparently been in the army’s way. “This place really could be beautiful if they weren’t ruining it.”

“It’s even better from the sky,” Kingston said, almost dreamily. “Once you get used to

the colors, it just looks like a painting. Great big stretches of startling wilderness pock-marked by Gavriel’s stank.”

“It’s definitely better than I thought it would be,” Hannah said. “I kind of figured it would be all lava and caves and swamps and scary-looking birds.”

“Oh, there’s plenty of that too.” I gestured at the five harpies circling far overhead. “Exhibit A.”

“Yeah, but it’s not like they’re attacking.” Jayce squinted as he stared up at them. “They’re just living their lives, doing their harpy thing. I wonder why Gavriel hasn’t recruited them yet.”

“They’re small, for one. And there’s a ton of them. They’re more animal than anything else, probably hard to train and harder to control. They’re like hawks. But not as smart. More like—extra violent seagulls.” Hannah shrugged. “At least that would be my reason for not recruiting those specific ones.”

“How do you know so much about all this?” Xero asked.

“Because I actually pay attention in school,” she said pertly, and I grinned.

Yeah, girl. You be proud of your nerdiness.

“I mean, I do too, I just don’t retain it like you do,” I said, nudging her shoulder and grinning at her. Then I turned to the fire demon just ahead of us. “But, Xero, you lived here. I’m surprised you didn’t know all this already.”

“I wish I knew more,” he admitted. “But I was kind of distracted by, y’know, torture and espionage.”

My stomach clenched. He’d promised me he was okay, and I could see the Xero I knew when I looked in his eyes. He hadn’t been lost to the darkness. But it was still inside me, in the form of pain if not rage. He’d been hurt by this place, by the evil motherfucker who ruled this place, and every time I thought about that, I wanted to cry.

“Fair enough.” I reached for his hand, sliding my fingers between his. He gave me a small smile, as if the contact between us boosted him just like it did me—even though I knew it didn’t work that way. Not magically, at least.

We walked for a few more minutes in silence, and then my footsteps slowed.

“Hey, look.” I pointed. “Does that boulder look giant-sized to you?”

Chapter Fourteen

Maori’s estimate had been right on the money. The sun was just beginning to sink low on the horizon when we reached the boulder. Kingston had a passing interest in the boulder itself, but Jayce was utterly fascinated.

“Look! It must have been split by lightning. No, seriously, look at this! It’s got black marks all in it, the same pattern as lightning and everything. Look at all those little crystals!”

That got Kingston’s attention. He peered more closely at the glittering gems that had formed along the charred lines. Then he leaned forward and licked one.

“Diamonds,” he said. “Magic diamonds. We should take some.”

“Don’t you dare.” I shook my head. “Gavriel wants to kill us, and the Custodians hate us. The last thing we need is to have the locals pissed at us too.”

Kingston pouted, his dragon nature rebelling at the idea of leaving treasure behind, but he didn’t press the issue.

We took the sharp left and wove through the bushes, careful not to break any boughs or leave too much of a beaten path in our wake. The fallen who lived here had clearly gone to some trouble to stay hidden. Messing that up for them would have dire consequences.

I winced, remembering Michael’s place. No matter what the guys said, I still felt responsible for that.