Free Betrayed by Ednah Walters Page A

permanent was another story.
    “Why did Bran thank you like that?” Sykes asked.
    “Like what?” I got to my feet and started for the door.
    “Kind of hard to explain. What did you do?” I shrugged. “I expel ed the demon possessing Gavyn.”
    “You should have seen him tear through the room downstairs earlier. We heard you scream and the next second he was there. Where were you?” Remy asked as we headed downstairs.
    “Battling a three-hundred pound possessed man. The demons’ obsession with my dagger is ridiculous.” I rol ed my eyes trying to lighten the situation.
    Remy chuckled. “Considering its powers, I hardly think so.”
    “Especial y if it can force a demon out of another demon without frying them both,” Sykes added.
    Too exhausted to correct him that the dagger hadn’t expel ed the demon, I stayed silent. My mind replayed the conversation between Bran and Solange. With the identity of the medium hanging over my head, the last thing I needed was to worry about Bran or doubt his feelings for me. How were the List and Bran connected?

    ***
    English lit was halfway over when I walked into Mrs. D’s class. It was hard to believe an hour ago she used her position as Security Chief of North ago she used her position as Security Chief of North America High Council to send us after smoke demons. Now she was back to being Cache High’s beloved Mrs. Deveraux, English lit teacher extraordinaire.
    How did it go? she smiled and telepathed.
    Bran is okay, but his brother got hurt, I answered and went to my seat. Bran took him to Darius and the Brotherhood.
    Celeste?
    She’s not doing so well. Bran’s sister was crying when I left, and I’d be doing exactly the same if I stayed. My empathic abilities would have made sure I felt her every emotion.
    You didn’t have to come to class, Mrs. D
    added, cutting into my thoughts. I could have told the attendance office that you’re ill.
    I’m fine. Mrs. D often faked doctor visits to explain our absences. When she couldn’t, Cardinal Hsia, the part-time student counselor and Cardinal Time Guardian, took care of things. On a different day, I would have accepted her offer. This afternoon, I needed to be distracted. I didn’t want to think about Bran and the List. Bran and that demoness. Even her name, Solange, sounded sexy and exotic.
    Unfortunately, the heart wasn’t so smart. I spent the next two classes dissecting everything about Bran’s past. His mother was a Lazarus demon. Maybe that was how he and Solange met.
    Maybe they used to hang out when they were little and she thought they had something special. No, Bran did say she was an experienced fighter. Maybe she was much older than he, like a big sister or a baby sitter who developed feelings for him. The way her voice changed when she mentioned the past, I doubted it.
    I hated feeling uncertain about Bran’s feelings for me. Worse, I couldn’t discuss it with Kylie until I ruled her out as Valafar’s medium. At least Grampa wasn’t in the val ey. He was such a powerful psi and an empath he’d know something was bugging me as soon as I walked through the door. Then I’d have to confess everything.
    When school ended, the snow had stopped fal ing and the city’s snowplows droned past, clearing the streets. A boy rol ed up a bal and pelted his friend, starting a snowbal fight. Snippets of conversations from other students reached my ears
    —upcoming sporting events. Reality T.V. shows.
    Parties. Funny, I used to envy humans their simple and uncomplicated lives. Now, I couldn’t imagine not knowing that demons walked amongst us or that my destiny as a Guardian was to hunt them down.
    Remy and Sykes were talking to two seniors, Merilee Ferguson and Hailey somebody. I waved and continued toward Remy’s car. I didn’t need to worry about being the fifth wheel. The girls often fol owed us in their own ride. Hooking up with Merilee and Hailey or some other stupid girls after a hunt was normal for Remy