Defying Instinct (Demon Instinct Series) Read Online Free Page A

wondered how long he’d known. 
    Opening
the mental door as I had earlier with the Tempter, I replied, All right.
    I
wanted to formally apologize for my display of misconduct last week.  It never
should have happened.
    Didn’t
he think every other week when he did the same domineering things to me in
front of the class warranted an apology?  Though, I didn’t need one.  I liked
his harsh treatment, if only because he didn’t discriminate against an ugly
half-caste.
    You
didn’t hurt me.
    I
could have.
    You
could hurt any one of us.
    But
I do single you out, and I shouldn’t.
    I
thought for a moment, and didn’t feel singled out.  He often demonstrated on
me, but he didn’t make a spectacle of it.  And it wasn’t like I was expected to
withstand the power of his mind or muscles. 
    Plus,
I didn’t feel humiliation or wrestle with pride.
    You
know what I am.  You thought I could handle it.
    Nevertheless , he looked over my head and a strange
expression—anxiety maybe—flashed across his face before the somber, classic
Dmitri stoicism returned.  Please accept my apology and know nothing was
meant by my lack of decorum. 
    Lifting
his hands and putting the tips of his fingers to his forehead, shielding his
cobalt eyes, Dmitri dipped his head so I knew he could no longer see me.  It
was the appeal for mercy shown to Royalty.  He taught us about it an hour ago.
    When
he lifted those striking, cobalt eyes, there was expectance in them.  I didn’t
know what to say, so I turned and left him without another word.  He didn’t say
anything more either.
    “What’d
you do to poor Dmitri?” Benn asked when I crossed the length of the gym to
where he’d been waiting for me. 
    I
knew he was kidding.  It was silly to think that I, an invariable nothing could
do anything to the formidability that was the Razer Dmitri.
    I
wanted to look back at the demon, but resisted.  Instead, I shrugged at Benn
because he was surrounded by some of our classmates and didn’t want to say
anything in front of an audience.
    Benn
shook his head, and I knew we’d be talking about it in depth later.
    “Do
you want to come out with us tonight, Savannah?” Camille asked me, the fear
that I might say yes gleaming from her human eyes.
    Benn
knew what Camille thought of me, how she talked about me to her friends.  That
was why he had no interest in her.  She was never going to get it.
    “I
have things to do,” flashing my customer service smile.  “But, thanks.”
    Yeah,
big things.  Huge plans.  Counting the cash register, taking a shower, dusting. 
Get to bed early. 
    “You’re
sure?” Camille asked, sounding transparently relieved.
    Forcing
another fake smile, I nodded and started for the door. 
    “I’ll
meet you guys there in…like…thirty,” Benn called over his shoulder, following
me instantly.  “I’m walkin’ Savvy home.” 
    I
might have told him he didn’t have to, but it was futile to argue.  Benn never
pushed me to go out with them, never tried to make me be someone I wasn’t. 
    And
I never walked home alone.

CHAPTER 3
     
    “Weird
class today,” Benn said, bouncing on the balls of his feet to keep warm.  It
was especially bone-chilling tonight, the air so frigid it made my eyes water.
    “Weird? 
Understatement,” I frowned, thinking about Dmitri’s behavior after class.  He was
only seeing if I’d been paying attention during his lecture with his appeal for
mercy.  That had to be the reason.  The demon was worried I would turn him in. 
    Didn’t
explain the three demons in my bookstore earlier, but the two occurrences
probably weren’t related anyway.  Why would they be?
    “Dmitri
seemed…off today.”
    Benn
laughed.  “How could you tell?  He’s not the most expressive demon I’ve seen. 
Oh, that reminds me,” he jerked his elbow toward my arm, but didn’t come close
to making contact since he knew I didn’t like to be touched.  “I heard the
Royal’s Tempter and