“What is it, Dacia?” Arianna’s voice was soft, soothing. “We can sense your anguish.”
I slid down the wall to the floor. “Should I go to class this afternoon or skip?”
“Go,” Tye said. “We’ll keep you safe.”
As soon as my friends returned with their guards, we went to Sedum Hall for lunch. The Nephilim now filled six tables with more standing by the doors and watching from the hallways.
My head swam. The beat of my heart reverberated throughout my body, a steady rhythm that grew louder and louder until it was all I could hear. I pressed my hands against my ears, and the sound became deafening. The edges of my vision grew shadowed and hazy until the only person I could focus on was Diana. She stared back at me. My breaths became shallower and faster, increasing with my pulse and the noise until I wanted to scream.
Something pressed against my back. A voice whispered in my ear. Then another in my other ear. Someone smacked my cheek, and I shook my head. Noises slowly filtered in through the haze.
My friends and guardians all stared at me. “You okay?” Cody asked.
I laid my head down on the table and tried to catch my breath. “I think I’m gonna throw up.”
Chapter 9
Homecoming
Malcolm kept Val as far away from me as he could for the rest of the week. The only time we were together was at meals or on the rare occasions that Samantha and Dan walked to classes with us.
I didn’t like the idea of him guarding my friends. If his instincts dominated him, I didn’t want to put them into a dangerous situation. I trusted Russ with them, but I’d feel more comfortable dealing with Val myself.
Friday night, instead of going to the student center for supper, Cody and I decided to go to the homecoming bonfire. I left a note for Samantha in case she and Dan came back to our room. Since they had their own guards, they’d taken to spending more time alone. I missed seeing them, but I could understand why they’d want to stay away from my craziness.
As Cody and I walked across campus with our bodyguards, the smell of roasted meat wafted toward us. Laughter and music filled the air. Clouds covered the night sky, hiding the moon and stars from us. An uneasy feeling settled in my stomach, and the closer we got to the festivities, the more I wondered if my presence would put others at risk.
Malcolm slowed. Leaning close to me, he whispered, “What are you scared of?”
Cody gripped my hand tighter, likely concerned that something was about to happen. I tilted my head, and my eyebrows scrunched together.
“I can smell it on you.”
Heat rose to my cheeks. Every emotion, every desire shouldn’t be sensed by my bodyguards. I felt completely exposed and helpless around them. I turned away from him, knowing he’d still hear me, but not wanting to see his smirk at my reaction. “I don’t want to endanger anyone.”
“The Nephilim won’t bother you with so many people around.” He straightened up.
I twirled a strand of hair around my fingers. “There’s more to worry about than Nephilim.”
All of the dragons glanced at me. Malcolm grabbed my arm. “What do you mean?”
I hadn’t told them. I’d wanted to talk to Aurelia about it first, but she’d vanished. “I—” my voice caught “—I think Mavros might be back.”
Cash tipped his head back and laughed. “He can’t come back. He’d have to be—”
“Summoned.” I finished for him in a flat voice. “I know. In my dreams, he told me he was, but he couldn’t tell me who did it.”
Malcolm growled. The sound raised the hairs on my arms. “You said you’d tell me.”
“I haven’t seen him. I don’t know that he’s back for sure.”
I told them about my dreams.
The dragons listened to every word I said, cocking their heads toward me. Their bodies went from relaxed to tense, ready for a fight. Malcolm rolled his head, cracking his neck. “Tonight might be a good time to find out. It would take someone powerful and experienced to bring a demon of his magnitude back to Earth so soon after he departed.”
“Yeah.” I agreed as we stepped to the edge of the festivities and stopped.
Cody tugged me forward. “Think you’ll be safer near people.”
Students packed the grassy area surrounding the bonfire pit. Flames leaped into the air, casting moving shadows over everybody’s faces.
We made our way to the food line. The culinary arts classes had made potato salad, coleslaw, baked beans, pasta salad, and desserts to go with the roasted pigs. I plopped some food on a plate, but my stomach rolled at the thought of eating it.
The dragons sat with Cody and me. Their plates were heaped with meat. They surveilled the area even while shoveling pork into their mouths. I pushed my food around on my plate and only took a bite when Cody set his fork down, folded his arms over his chest, and frowned at me.
When it was obvious that I wasn’t going to eat anymore, Cody picked up my plate and threw it away. Then he came back and took my hand, leading me to where several students were dancing. The music was fast, but Cody pulled me against him and swayed. I rested my head on his shoulder.
Malcolm, Cash, Tye, and Arianna surrounded us. Students sashayed by, accidentally brushing up against them, trying to draw their attention, but the dragons didn’t spare them a glance.
Some of the students watched me with curiosity burning in their eyes. I knew several rumors had spread about me and my need for bodyguards. Some people were sure my
