Loki had said the hellhound was intelligent, so he might be able to talk, just like Smoky.
Angel, where are we going?I pushed my thought into his mind using the demonic tongue I’d acquired via birthright. I felt a click. My thought reached him and settled in his beast mind.
Dorm,he answered.
He was leading me to my quarters.
I had to trust him, then. He was my only guide in Hell’s Academy.
Footsteps rushed after me, and I turned, drawing my blade.
The witch who had defended me in the battle class raised her hands in surrender. Yet Angel still growled at her.
I sheathed my blade and arched an eyebrow at her. At the same time, I noticed Angel also arched an eyebrow—or arched the area of his face where an eyebrow would be if he had them—mimicking me, as he also realized she wasn’t a threat.
“I’m Lisa Leeann Kinsley,” the witch said. “What you did today was amazing, princess.”
“You can call me Icy Dagger,” I said, breathing out frost to emphasize my point.
I must have another new power since I could now blow icy steam in the hottest region of the universe.
She grinned. “I’m Black Widow.”
I nodded solemnly as if I knew what I was nodding about. My demigod mates would never let me have the nickname Black Widow. They’d say, “Over my dead body....”
She gave my red leather outfit an appreciative look. Unlike my battle garb, she was clad in a hooded, red robe. She didn’t look like a warrior, but I wouldn’t judge a book by the cover. Her robe could hide numerous spells. I’d seen her toss one after another at the demons besieging me.
“Thank you for your aid today,” I said. Yet I did not trust her.
“We’ve been waiting for someone like you, a champion, for a long time,” she said.
I hadn’t come here to make friends. I had friends, the best kind, up on the surface. Thinking of Yelena, Nat, Circe, Jasper, and my new friends in the Other Academy, I suddenly found something stuck in my throat.
I missed them so much, but they probably all believed I was dead.
I’d tried to blast my hope to ash so I wouldn’t allow Lucifer and Ares a chance to shatter me, but it looked like I still hadn’t managed to snuff all hope out.
“I’m no one’s champion, and I’m no one’s bitch,” I said flatly. “What do you want, witch?”
“I know it’s hard to trust anyone in this place.” She fretted. “I just want to let you know if you want a friend, I’m here.”
“I don’t want a friend, chick.”
“I’m not a chick. I’m a witch, and I’ll watch your six,” she said. “Oh, if you’re looking for the dorm, it’s the opposite of where you’re going. There’s a vacant room across from mine. And if you want, you can share my suite. My former roommate died in a contest a month ago.”
“No, thanks,” I said. “My hound will find a place for me to crash.”
She trained her gray gaze on Angel. “Isn’t he Loki’s?”
“He’s mine now,” I said. “Loki will have to find another companion.”
Angel pulled my sleeve, urging me ahead impatiently, and I followed him.
The witch trailed after us.
I wheeled to her. “Turn back and go on with your own business.”
“You’ll need me to ward your quarters,” she said. “Your hellhound can’t guard you all the time, Icy Dagger. At night, he’ll need to hunt. Word has spread that whoever kills you gets your awesome power.”