Page 3 of Demon (Mystic Guardians #3)

Chapter Three

C allan

Xavier had told Callan to meet his new client, Lonnie Russell, at the college, but hadn’t told him where. Luckily, all he had to do was flag down a student, who gave him the usual wide-eyed stare, and ask where Professor Russell’s room was. The girl stammered and pointed, then scurried away. He was used to that with most humans. He wore a glamour so they couldn’t see his horns and gray skin, but he couldn’t hide his height and muscles, and they always intimidated people. Not to mention his usual fierce expression, the one his brothers called his resting bitch face. He couldn’t help it. So many things pissed him off.

He strode in the direction the girl had indicated, then walked into the classroom where the client was apparently teaching. Xavier had said he was in the English department and taught creative writing.

“This first plot twist comes right before the midpoint. Then you have the consequences of the midpo?—”

The teacher broke off, staring right at Callan, mouth open and eyes wide. When he continued to stay silent, every head in the classroom turned Callan’s direction. All their thoughts pounded into his head at once, and it took everything he had not to grab his head.

He’s a fucking giant.

I need to get me some of that.

What’s he doing in this class? He looks old, like forty.

Funny enough, he wasn’t getting any of the teacher’s thoughts. Feeling a little bad for interrupting their lesson, Callan moved to take an empty seat, inwardly cursing the ominous creaking sound as he folded his large frame into the plastic chair. The screech was very loud in the still-silent room.

Nothing happened. The teacher still stood slack-jawed, and all the students still stared at Callan. “Go on,” he said, waving his hand.

Professor Russell cleared his throat as he fiddled with his tie. He finally started speaking again, but Callan didn’t listen. He was too busy assessing his new charge. He was a rather short man who had the prettiest brown hair. It wasn’t just any sort of brown, but a mix of browns with streaks of near blond and even a sort of reddish copper. It probably fell to around his shoulders when loose, but he had it pulled up into a knot. A man bun. Callan snorted.

The teacher wore black-framed glasses, and as he continued to lecture the classroom, he kept reaching up to adjust them. His eyes flicked to Callan often.

Callan’s gaze stayed on him. He couldn’t help it. He liked the human’s face a lot. It was an interesting face with big eyes, wide lips, and a sharp little nose that was the cutest thing he’d ever seen.

Plus, his mind was blessedly just…quiet. It was soothing. By concentrating on the teacher, Callan was able to focus and ignore the thoughts of the students, who were as harsh as the demons in the fight club.

One of the female students looked at Callan over her shoulder, and he frowned at her. She should be paying attention to her teacher. Seeing his frown, she whipped back around, her hand fluttering near her face.

He realized more were staring, so he gave each and every one of his fiercest glares until everyone was facing the right direction.

When he looked back at the teacher, a small smile had tilted those pretty, wide lips.

Professor Russell droned on for what felt like forever. Something Callan would have to get used to, since he’d be shadowing the man. He supposed he could stand outside the door, but Xavier had told him he’d be using a cover as a… He couldn’t remember the word. Someone who attends classes to observe. He could remember that. His employer had said to sit in class and act like he belonged.

The class finally ended, students shuffling swiftly past him, murmuring among themselves. Callan’s hearing was excellent; most of those murmurs were wondering why he was there or who he was.

Once the last student was gone, Professor Russell came to him and held out his hand. “I’m guessing you’re the bodyguard my sister hired.”

Callan shook his hand, slightly startled when his horns started to tingle. He quickly let go, filing that weirdness away for later because he had to have imagined it. “Callan Ambrose.”

“Well, Mr. Ambrose?—”

“Call me Callan.”

“Then please, call me Lonnie. I’m pleased to meet you. Hopefully, your presence won’t cause such a rumble from here on out. I’ll be telling my students you’re an auditor, so it should be fine. Though I’m sure you’re used to stares, as big as you are.”

Callan nodded. And yes, auditor. That was the word. Though he’d thought that term had to do with taxes, something he let one of his brothers take care of for him. Taxes made him feel ragey.

Lonnie’s head tilted as he studied him. “So, you’ll be staying with me at my home?”

“To protect you, yes.”

“Wow, you’ve got the deep voice to go with all that muscle, don’t you?” Lonnie popped a hand over his mouth, then chuckled. “Sorry, I tend to say what I’m thinking, so you’ll have to get used to that, too. I also tend to ramble a lot, and since I’m used to being alone, I’m sure I’ll go on more than usual.”

“More than usual. You mean when you’re alone?”

“Yep. I talk to myself even. Whole, long conversations.”

Callan barely liked speaking to others, so he couldn’t imagine talking when alone. And he was normally alone, since he no longer lived with his brother, Rafe. Now that Rafe had moved in with Shia, Callan’s house was overly quiet. Lonely as hell, too. “I can stay outside at your house if that makes you more comfortable.”

“Oh no, it’s way too cold for that. Or does your kind even get cold?”

Callan blinked at him. “My kind?”

That hand went over his mouth again. “Was I not supposed to ask that?” Lonnie mumbled from behind his fingers.

Callan narrowed his eyes and stood to stare down at the teacher. “What did you mean, my kind ?”

Lonnie held up his hands. “I meant no insult, and I’m so sorry if I was rude. I just meant that I didn’t know if you feel the cold like humans.”

“Like humans,” Callan muttered as realization dawned. This human was like Bain and Alaric’s partners. He could see through Callan’s glamour. His jaw-drop made a lot more sense knowing that.

“I know that others can’t see what I see,” he said with a quick smile as he fiddled with his glasses. “I’ve asked people in the past if they see the differences in supernatural beings and have always been treated like I was crazy, so it’s obvious you have some kind of mechanism that allows you to blend in. Whatever that is, it doesn’t work with me.”

“Glamours. We use magical glamours.” Wasn’t this interesting? Callan had only just learned about these special humans, and here was one right in front of him. He didn’t exactly know how to compute that.

“Oh! I’m familiar with that term, of course. How wonderfully fascinating. I’m just so excited to meet you and talk with you. I’ve never had the nerve to approach and ask any of the others, though I’ve always wanted to. And you’re all so different. I’ve never seen one with horns like yours. They’re so beautiful.”

Callan preened. A compliment about his horns was the best kind a demon could receive. And he was proud of his. They jutted out a full two feet, curling up and back in perfect curves.

“How do you not hit those on doorways?” Lonnie asked, staring up at them.

“Often do. Doors should be taller.”

Lonnie threw back his head and laughed, and he looked so damn pretty doing that, Callan’s mouth went dry. He liked those wide lips stretched into a happy smile. They were just so pink, and when Lonnie licked them, they glistened under the overhead lights. Callan’s belly went tight.

“Well, that was my last class, so we can leave. Do you want to follow me to my house in your vehicle? I don’t live far—just a couple of miles away. And like I said, I’d rather you stay inside. I already fixed up the guest bedroom for you, though I’m a little worried the bed will be way too small. It’s a twin. Sorry.”

“Will be fine.” Most beds were too small for him. He’d gotten his own custom made from another demon who built big beds for preternaturals. He didn’t relish the idea of sleeping in a twin bed, but he didn’t need much sleep. Most demons didn’t.

“Let’s go, then.” Lonnie walked to his desk and gathered papers, placing them in his briefcase along with a laptop. “I have a lot of grading tonight, so I won’t be able to keep you entertained, but I do have streaming channels and a huge television. Anime looks so much better on a big screen.”

Ani- what? Callan wanted to ask, but he didn’t. There was a lot he didn’t understand, and after four hundred years of life, he’d learned to accept his own shortcomings. But he hated looking stupid, so he often just ignored his own questions and stayed silent. It was easier that way.