I Raised the Demon Queen (Now She Won't Leave Me Alone)

Revantra had just sat down for lunch when the snob arrived.

"Enjoying the peas, farm girl?"

She didn't even look up from her tray. "You're the third person to call me that this week. Try harder."

Across from her, Theo nearly choked on his bread roll. "Technically," he wheezed, "you are from a rural district—"

"Theo."

"Right. Shutting up."

The cafeteria buzzed with its usual midday noise: silverware clinking, enchanted napkins flapping away from food fights, and third-years arguing over elemental ethics. But somehow, over it all, the voice of one Leoric Vantrelle—top student in Enchantments, heir to a noble line, and walking hair product commercial—cut through like a bad flute solo.

"I'm only surprised he let you out alone," Leoric continued, eyes sweeping down to Elias's lunch box on the table. "Does your babysitter know you're socializing without permission?"

Revantra calmly stabbed her carrot with a fork. "He's not my babysitter."

"No?" Leoric grinned, flashing far too many teeth. "Then what is he? A father figure? An adopted stablehand? Your emotional support peasant?"

The table went quiet.