than with the other demigods.
“C’mon, Cookie,” Axel barked, as if he wasn’t loud enough. “Everyone is waiting for you. You don’t want to be the center of attention.”
He’d already made me the center of unwanted attention.
From across the room, Paxton’s cold, fuming stare cut into me. He stayed away from everyone as if it was beneath him to mingle with us. But he lurked there, like a big nasty wolf that just wouldn’t go away.
I didn’t spare him a second glance, yet I could still feel a pull toward him, the same pull I felt to the other three demigods. I hated that it also existed between the asshole and me.
So, I pushed the pull away, but when it insisted on tugging at me, I mentally bashed it with a brutal fist. I didn’t know if Paxton could feel the blunt force of my attack or not.
I didn’t care. I wouldn’t look at him again.
Axel and I strode to the rear of the crowd, and everyone in front of us parted ways like the Red Sea, split from the middle.
Then, all of a sudden, I was staring at Theodore as he stared back at me.
“I’ll be your main instructor for the class House Magic,” he said. “Some of you have heard this already, but I’m going to say it again for the benefit of the new students. Later, you’ll be separated into groups according to your house. You’ll practice the specific powers that the gods’ Blood Runes activated in you.
“The third years will be your team leaders as you practice your house magic. I want this class to go as smoothly as possible.” He gave me a look. “No violence against other students will be tolerated. Whoever picks a fight will be punished. This is the introduction to House Magic. It isn’t Advanced Battle Magic, and we aren’t on the battlefield today.”
I hoped he remembered that last time it wasn’t me who had started the fight. I’d been a victim of the violence he referenced. I’d been the one who was beaten within an inch of my life. Only in the end, I’d put Jack and Paxton in their places.
“Understand?” the priest asked, looking at me again.
I really wanted to flip him the finger.
Demetra and her clique swept their hostile stares to me to emphasize Theodore’s point while answering loudly with everyone. “Understood!”
Despite their hate, I noticed a veiled fear coated their eyes. They’d seen how I’d taken the fight to a demigod and lived.
You didn’t want to mess with my crazy.
Theodore graced me with a harsh look, probably because I didn’t open my mouth and shout some ridiculous “Understood” to show that I was one of his sheep, too. My mouth had better uses, like kissing and suckling—
Not here and not now, Marigold, I warned myself.
Axel didn’t loosen his fingers from mine, despite Zak’s frown and Paxton’s glare. Instead, he brought my hand to his mouth and brushed his lips over my palm, caressing a slow-burning desire inside me.
I managed to put on a blank mask, despite that my toes curled, and Theodore pretended that he didn’t see us.
“Our powers are different than those of other magic users, such as witches, mages, druids, fae, and many other kinds,” Theodore continued. “Other magic users draw their magic from this planet. They harvest and manipulate the earth’s energy and elements. Your power doesn’t come from Earth but from the Olympian gods. Your power is in your blood, a heritage the gods graced you with. The ritual of the Blood Runes confirmed your birthright and enhanced your power. Now it’s up to you to become as strong as you can be and make the power your second skin.”
He clasped his hands. “Team leaders, take your groups with you. I’ll supervise overall. And today, the Demigods of Sky, War, and Sea have honored us with their presence. They’ll observe your progress.”
The students straightened their backs, looking proud, all wanting to impress the demigods.
Demetra and her clique constantly shot flirty gazes at Zak and Paxton. Mostly they fixated on Paxton, knowing well that he was my enemy.
All the students, except me, followed the team leader from their own house and spaced out.
Yelena fell into a line behind a tall third-year student, who played with two columns of water, twisting them in the air as if the streams were solid. I didn’t know whom his performance was for, but a few students from Poseidon’s house looked impressed.
Nat trailed after a brunette girl whose hands suddenly