A popping sound split the silence, followed by a shout.
Without thinking, Des broke into a run...
And skidded to a stop the moment he reached the courtyard in front of the tower.
“My word,” a man said. “That was a bit more than I bargained for.”
“It was incredible, Professor Sheldrake. I’ve never seen anything like it!”
Des’s stomach did something strange. It was too dark to see anything, but he’d know that voice anywhere. It was bright and confident, educated without coming across as stuck-up. Just so long as it wasn’t directed at him.
Aurelie had the audacity to laugh then, a sound he’d never heard before. It was, to his utter annoyance, adorable.
A moment later, a massive creature leapt on Aurelie. On its hind legs, it was nearly as tall as she was. Sure she was being attacked, Des drew his sword and rushed forward into the courtyard.
Then, as if the entire universe was conspiring to humiliate him, the clouds shrouding the moon parted. Silver light bathed the courtyard and everything in it: a little old man wearing thick spectacles, presumably the professor, and Aurelie, struggling to push off the snarling beast...
Which was, in fact, an overgrown Wisterian hound. And it was licking Aurelie’s cheek.
Des’s sword arm dropped as the two turned to look at him and he became acutely aware of the cold sweat on his brow. Aspen caught up to him just in time to see Aurelie and Professor Sheldrake standing side by side, the hound now seated beside them, docile as could be.
“Who are you?” Professor Sheldrake asked, sounding more curious than alarmed.
Aurelie, clearly not planning to be of any use whatsoever, only folded her arms across her chest and cocked her head.
“We’re the Iron Guard,” Aspen responded, saving Des from further humiliation. “We were told a demon was spotted on campus.”
The professor and Aurelie exchanged a look and burst into laughter. “Who told you that?” the old man asked, wiping tears of mirth from his eyes.
“The campus guard. Said it was near the cemetery.” Aspen stepped forward and leaned over to pat the hound on its broad head. “Fine-looking specimen you have here. I haven’t seen one this size since I was a child.”
Des, finally gaining control of his faculties, gestured to the iron-spiked collar around its neck. “I imagine it comes in handy for fighting demons as well.”
“Who, Alastor?” Professor Sheldrake shook his head. “He looks far fiercer than he is.”
“He’s a big softie, aren’t you, Alastor?” Aurelie kissed the top of the hound’s head, her eyes never leaving Des’s. He hadn’t seen her in weeks, but it was clear she hadn’t spent any of that time in a prison cell. She was as vibrant as ever, cheeks rosy, eyes sparkling. Nothing had changed for her, and he should be furious.
But he wasn’t. He wasn’t happy about it, but he wasn’t angry, either. The only emotion he could pinpoint wasrelief.
“So there’s no demon?” Aspen asked.
“Highly unlikely. We’re the only ones on campus, and I can assure you, we aren’t conjuring anything but a little smoke. Theguard must have seen Alastor out for his nightly constitutional and become confused,” Professor Sheldrake explained.
Des was about to protest when Aspen nodded. “Glad to hear it. Sound the alarm should anything change. We won’t be far off campus.”
Des, once again at a loss for words, could only nod and follow her.
“That was strange, wasn’t it?” Aspen asked when they were on the other side of the gate, seemingly unfazed by Des’s inane behavior.
“She’s the dean’s niece,” he said, his voice gruffer than he’d intended. Aureliewasa science student. It wasn’t any of his business what experiments she conducted, just so long as she wasn’t inventing anything new. Sheldrake seemed like the sort of bumbling professor who could accidentally conjure a demon, foreign as the idea was to Des. And the dog was just a dog, albeit overgrown. He should be glad Aurelie had supervision of some sort while her uncle was away.
Scratch that. He should be indifferent to all of it.
Des groaned and ran his hands through his hair, which was in dire need of a cut. It was so long he’d actually had to brush it this morning, which annoyed him to no end.
“Everything okay?” Aspen asked.
“Fine. Just tired.”