Top-ranked freshman? That meant she was only eighteen.


    Neverfall Navigators was founded two years ago, and Demon had been ying for years before that. He couldn''t have started ying when he was just a kid, could he? And he was incredibly skilled, leagues ahead of many of the top pro gamers back then. There was no way he was just a teenager.


    More importantly, even though Demon always wore a hat and mask, his clothes and the tone of his voice had always been distinctly male.


    "What do you want with her?" the staff member asked, his eyes darting around warily. "She''s not just anyone. I''d advise you not to get involved with her."


    "It''s nothing," MystiCat said with a faint smile, his face creasing into a frown. "Just asking."


    In truth, he wanted to thank her in person. If it hadn''t been for her advice, they might have lost today''s match. The finals were next week. They would find her and thank her properly after the tournament was over.


    Outside the arena entrance, Juniper was waiting for a staff member to bring her electric scooter around when her phone suddenly rang.


    "Juniper!"


    Lue''s booming voice assaulted her eardrums. Juniper winced, holding the phone away from her ear. "What good would it do you if I died of a heart attack?" she asked dryly.


    "My bad, just an ident this time!" Lue yelled, still suspended in a wire harness dozens of feet in the air. "I''m about to bungee jump! The wind is crazy up here, I was afraid you wouldn''t hear me."


    Juniper''s brow furrowed again. "If you have something to say, just say it," she said, her patience wearing thin.


    "Juniper, I don''t even know what to say about your man," Lue began without preamble, her tone dripping with amusement. "Do you know what he''s doing?"


    "What?" At the mention of Shanley, Juniper''s attention sharpened.


    "He''s looking for you," Lue said. "Or more urately, he''s looking for Demon."


    "Looking for Demon?" Juniper pursed her lips, a flicker of confusion crossing her delicate features. Why was he suddenly looking for her alter ego?


    "Shanley said Demon can name ''his'' price, as long as ''he'' agrees toe out of retirement." Lue was practically vibrating with excitement at the thought of the money And did some digging. Guess why?"


    Juniper remained silent, waiting for the answer.


    "He said it''s because his fiancée is a huge Demon fan, and he wants to


    make her happy." Lue wasughing as she spoke. "Juniper, theb at the base is short on funds right now. What do you say Kept his offer? I''ll take the money, then you show up in front of him, reveal your identity, and give him a big surprise. We get the cash, and Shanley gets what he wants. It''s a win-win situation! A perfect n!"


    Juniper didn''t respond. Her mind was stuck on Lue''s words: to make his fiancée happy. When had she ever said anything to make Shanley think she was a Demon fan? If she told him she wanted the stars, would he really try to pluck them from the sky for her?


    "Juniper? Juniper, you still there?" Lue pressed. "Don''t tell me you''re pretending


    you can''t hear me just to save your boyfriend some money."


    "Hmm," Juniper murmured, a faint smirk ying on her lips. "Signal''s bad. Can''t hear you. Bye."