Initiation Read Online Free

fun ahead of us. Let’s pop into my room before we go to yours. I’m just going to pick up my cell–I forgot it up there–then we’ll get something to eat. I bet you’re ready for a snack. How about a nice slice of steak?”
    She rubbed her hands together.
    Steak, also known as demon ice cream, was more than just a heavenly snack. It was a necessity. Steak kept us human . It obviously didn’t need to be steak, any meat would do, but a nice succulent bit of steak really hit the mark. Faustine had gone quiet, her mind probably totally drooling over images of sizzling steak.
    I unlocked my door and led her inside.
    “Hey, babe.”
    I followed the voice to my bed and met the intense red eyes of Quinn. My boyfriend.

 
     
     

     
     
    I t was so awesome to see him. After the fire, we’d been relocated in a hurry, and I hadn’t even said goodbye to him. We had, of course, talked and texted while the Academy was being repaired, but I had missed him terribly. He wasn’t just my boyfriend; he was also my best friend.
    “So, who’s your friend?” he drawled, lazily sitting up, and grinning.
    I went over and kissed his forehead, running my fingers through his dark hair, resisting the urge to show him how much I had really missed him. I’d wait and do that once we were alone.
    “Quinn, Faustine. Faustine, Quinn. I was asked to mentor Faustine. She’s King Sebastian’s daughter.”
    “Ah.” Quinn sat up straight. “The half-human?”
    “Yep.”
    “Interesting,” Quinn commented, giving Faustine the once over, the demon kind–which was totally intimidating at the best of times. “You didn’t tell me you signed up for the mentoring program. What about tennis?”
    “Stop that, Quinn! Don’t frighten her!”
    “Oh, I’m not frightened,” Faustine protested. “My dad is the demon king of London. Nothing frightens me.”
    I smiled inwardly. Poor thing. She must be terrified on the inside. “That’s right, Faustine. Nothing to be scared of. Is there, Quinn?” I asked pointedly.
    He shrugged. “I guess not. Not if you are mentoring her. Still, she is half human, though, the first half-human we’ve ever had at the school. And she smells like it; I was just checking.”
    Faustine raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Really? You’ve never had a human here before? Ever? Checking what?”
    “No. We’ve had quite a few hybrids, but never a human hybrid. Are you more human or demon? I can’t tell from your smell, which is what I was trying to figure out. Sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”
    “No worries.” Faustine sat down on the chair I pointed to. “I don’t know. I guess that’s one of the reasons I’m here, to find out. Say, I’m a bit hungry.”
    “Oh, sorry. Quinn, join us for a snack? Let’s go down to the cafeteria.”
    “Um, are you sure about that? May be wiser to get something sent up, considering…”
    “That would take too long. I think Faustine needs to feed now. Is that right, Faustine?” I didn’t really have to ask. I could see the red-hollow hunger in her eyes even as she nodded. I’d keep her safe. Plus, I’d have Quinn to help, should we have any issues. “Okay, ready?”
    We headed down the stairs and made our way through the dark, stone corridors to the courtyard. It was very quiet, and we only saw two other students. Both of them passed without paying Faustine any attention at all. I couldn’t help but notice the video surveillance cameras that lined the otherwise unadorned stone walls. The cameras were a new addition, part of the improvements during the rebuilding. We didn’t run into anyone else, but that would change tomorrow when the majority of the students returned.
    As we approached the cafeteria, the aroma of grilled meat assaulted my senses to the point where I found it difficult not to drool. Much as I needed to head straight for the meat station, I stopped short and gawked as soon as we entered. So did Quinn.
    “What’s the matter?” Faustine asked,