Free Demon Accords 8: College Arcane by John Conroe Page A

“Truth?”
     
    I glanced at Caeco, then back his way. “Ah,
yeah. Actually he was here Saturday night—with Chris, but I think
they left.”
     
    “Here?” he said, looking around,
awestruck.
     
    “Justin is a major fan, in case you couldn’t
tell,” T.J. said. “Got a poster of him and lots of Youtube videos
on his iPad.”
     
    Justin was starting to look embarrassed, his
gaze now on his plate.
     
    “Well, he’ll be back. Want to meet him?” I
asked.
     
    He looked up and locked eyes with me. “Yeah I
would,” he drawled, watching me to see if I was sincere.
     
    “Chris will be back and I think ‘Sos will
likely be with him, if only to check on Toni, Gina’s daughter. He’s
what you might call protective of her.”
     
    Caeco laughed outright at that. “Sorry, but
Declan is understating it by a really large margin. She rides him
around like a horse.”
     
    “Seriously?” Ariel asked. I nodded before
turning my attention to T.J.
     
    “So, you any good with WiFi and Bluetooth
gear?” I asked. “Like net-worked stuff… Internet of things kind of
shit?”
     
    “Only in my sleep and blindfolded,” he
boasted, his eyes cutting toward Ashley.
     
    “We may have to call on your expertise on a
little job we’re working on for Chris,” I said, snagging a cream
sauce covered scallop and popping it in my mouth.
     
    “He really likes you guys, doesn’t he?” Jetta
asked, maybe a bit envious.
     
    I shrugged, still chewing, but Caeco piped
up. “He does. I think he really relates to Declan.”
     
    I looked at her, surprised.
     
    “Well, he does. You have a lot of
similarities… a lot in common, as they say,” she explained.
     
    “What do they have in common?” Ashley asked.
“Declan’s a warlock and Chris is… well, he’s an Angel.”
     
    “Trust me. I was trained in the psychology of
soldiers and leaders and the two of them have similar backgrounds,
similar situations, and many of the same personality traits. I
think Chris sees Declan as a younger version of himself.”
     
    “What’s he think of you?” Mack asked.
     
    “Me? Oh, he thinks I kick ass,” she said
nonchalantly, giving everyone a wink.
     
    “Okay, Miss Modest, let’s finish up. We all
have another class in an hour,” I said.
     
    “We have Exploiting Power or whatever
it is. How about you guys?” Ashley asked, after pointing at Ariel
and herself.
     
    “Control,” Justin rumbled.
     
    “We’re supposed to start with Control, then
go to Explorations on Wednesday night,” Mack said, glancing at his
sister.
     
    “Control,” Caeco said.
     
    “Explorations,” I said.
     
    “Me too,” T.J. said.
     
    “Alright. Let’s see what the second half of
Hogwart’s has to offer,” I said, picking up my plate and glass. The
others all followed.

Chapter 9
     
    The first thing I found out in witch class
was that Miss Berg’s first name was Karen. The second was that she
was very much a sexist.
     
    We got into class and found seats on the
second row up. Ariel sat next to Ashley, who would have been next
to me, but for T.J. jumping into the spot first. So I sat next to
T.J.
     
    The witch girls chose to sit right next to
us. Actually I think Ryanne made the decision, but the others
didn’t protest. the whole pack, which now numbered eight, arrived
in a cluster of chattering estrogen and magic, fairly brimming with
energy.
     
    Ryanne spotted me and immediately headed my
way, claiming the seat next to mine. The others followed her lead,
packing into the second and third rows, still talking a mile a
minute.
     
    The first time I’d seen Ryanne, she’d worn
shorts for her highly energetic band performance at Kate’s Pub on
Church Street. The last two days, she’d been wearing jeans. Today
she was dressed in the college girl uniform of sweater and tights,
as was most of her fellow witches—actually, as most of the girls in
the class were.
     
    “Heya D, it’s bloody lethal out there. How do
you Yanks