“She’s right! Haha!” I won’t ever understand you, Ryder. You’re one strange guy. And handsome too.
“Don’t worry about it, Cora.” My stomach flipped when Gabriel pronounced my name and felt my cheeks warmed. He was as handsome as Ryder, only his white hair seemed out of place. Was he naturally a white-haired shifter? He placed his hand on the table. “Here. This is a hundred ducats. Shifter’s money. Spend it on whatever you like. Now, you most likely need solitary time to sort things out. Have a nice day, Cora.”
He left and when Ryder hoovered around the door, his hand shot inside and pulled the black-haired sibling outside. I closed the door and only then noticed how loud my heart was pounding. A strong shifter wouldn’t have a problem with picking out the sound.
I fell on the bed, not bothering with my clothes. He’d been right, I needed to sort things out. Things I’ve heard and seen. I wasn’t summoned by the alpha king but my summon was lawful. It meant that someone on the island had the power to make it in the alpha king’s name. Now, why would anyone want me here? Aurelis’s words rang in my head, Goldfury clan will regret summoning this girl, mark my words. It sounded too close to the idea like I was some tool to be used against Goldfury clan. It is ridiculous.
I shook away excess of my thoughts and reached for the water. I’d sounded excited when I’d entered this room, but now, considering my circumstances, I didn’t want to be here any longer. I don’t belong to this world, I told to myself then my dad’s voice struck something in me, give them hell, Cora. How couldn’t I? We would have won the war if not the Goldfury’s betrayal. Dad would be the alpha king now...
With a grimace, I got off the bed. Another five minutes there and my body would shut down. I needed a walk. The key was magical and if required its magic would guide me back. When I stepped outside, I knew it was more than just being in the fresh air. My wolf wanted out. She wished to run. I’d been embittered about my clan’s living condition while Goldfury lived in full splendor, but it only has taken me a few hours to appreciate the wilderness of Alaska. Not for a minute there I’d felt trapped like here. Sure, I’d had my family and friends, while only enemies surrounded me here. Don’t you dare to count Gabriel and Ryder as enemies! Yeah. True. They saved my ass. I am truly grateful, guys.
And just like that, my sneaky attention slipped toward Rocco and Hunt. One, an insufferable shithead and the other dangerous psycho. They didn’t deserve my time. Okay, brain, stop thinking about them. I waited a few seconds. It didn’t work. My brain, like my body, didn’t care much for my wants. Shit. We must cooperate, do you understand? I don’t wish to feel trepidation each time I meet one of them. They certainly had a big fan club here. Shifter females were relentless and temperamental when it came to the objects of their desire. I’d be a mere twig appearing in front of an avalanche.
My feet had the liberty of taking me wherever they wanted. And where they took me? To a freaking bookstore. I stepped through the threshold, realizing that I’d never been to a bookstore before. I hadn’t been to most places actually. The entire interior was made of wood. Shelves occupied every spare inch of the space on the walls. I didn’t know they had so many books in the world.
“I would like to buy a book!” I said with a child’s excitement before I could rein my stupid brain. My voice met silence. Would it be possible that they know who I was? Well, I don’t care...
The shelves had tags and I checked on the first one. Classic Literature. Non-Shifter. Father had a few of those: Animal Farm, Dracula, and even Brave New World. All other titles were foreign for me though. My hand jumped between Anna Karenina, The Secret Garden, and War and Peace only to stop on Frankenstein. The title intrigued me. I pulled the book out of the shelf and flipped it over to read a blurb. I smiled, a charming story this had to be. I checked the price tag. One ducat. Now, was the book really cheap, or was a hundred ducats a lot?
“That’s not the best story for a lady,” said a man in a fatherly voice. He had a long gray beard tied around his waist. Around his neck hung a necklace made of canine teeth. When my eyes reached his face, a heavy blow struck me. Despite his beard and equally long hair, the man’s eyes looked youthful. They retained sharpness and vibrant blue color. He wore a simple black robe and yet to me he bore himself with a regality of a king.
I looked at him expectantly. I didn’t understand why was Frankenstein not suited for a lady. Save for the fact that I wasn’t considered myself one.
“Oh, I see.” But what he saw he didn’t tell me, only smiled gently. It put me at ease. And that fact pushed my alarm button. Shifters by nature were conditioned to be wary all the time. If there was someone or something that could switch off this instinct, it could hold a hidden threat. It was like walking blindfolded alongside the cliff.
“What would you propose then?” I asked.
“From the top of my head,” he replied glancing up as if he wanted to see what was on top of his head. “I would say Persuasion by Jane Austen.”
I’d never heard about the book.
“What is so good about it ?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t read it but ladies love it.”
“I don’t think I’d buy it,” I said it more in spite of others than anything else. If something was popular, I usually steered clear of it. I put Frankenstein back. I had another idea. “What do you have about...” How could I say it to not give me away? “Something about history, maybe politics and whatever you have on magic.” I couldn’t stay ignorant any longer. In a week, classes will roll and I shouldn’t expect any leniency. More likely, the teachers would give me hell.
“Oh, I see.” Did he know how irritating his saying was? “But half of my shelves are about history, politics, and magic.”
My mouth gaped and my eyes bulged out. Was he serious? There had to be more than a thousand books. Okay, even if I had enough money, where would I find time and energy to read it all?
“Please narrow it to something more detailed.” He didn’t move from the spot but his presence seemed to shift as if he cast an astral shadow in the room. I totally had no clue if such a thing even existed. I just made it up to explain my gut feeling.
“Well,” I grunted, hoping for a wise outlook. “Something more basic.”
“Basic?” His eyes narrowed and I knew he knew. My skin turned into gooseflesh, expecting some nasty words from him. None came. “You must be starting the academy then. I wish more students visit me. But who can blame them? The non-shifter technology is gaining a strong foothold on Shifter Island.” He waved his hand at me. “Don’t mind me. Just a rambling of an old man. So, you’re after basic history, politics, and magic books.”
He left his spot at the top of an elevated floor for the first time since arriving. I stepped back, remembering to stay alert. He cast that freaking soothing aura, I didn’t trust it. He moved with a confident and knowing gait. His hand swept over spines of books until he stopped without a warning.
“This—” he muttered, more to himself than me, “—will do nicely.” He handed the book to me. The Song of Midnight. I fell in love with the title at the first sight. After I took it from him, he strode forward continuing his odd ritual. The blurb of the book told it spoke of shifter’s magic but with a focus on shifter’s side. Was there another side? I was aware of creatures like demons or vampires but they had nothing to do with us.
“Here,” the bookstore keeper said. He held another book. A beautiful cover glittered. “This covers politics and history, although you won’t find anything from the last twenty years in it.” Crap. He noticed my grimace and frowned.
“You’re interested in modern stuff?”
I nodded.
He didn’t reply right away nor he did anything for that matter. He just stood there tapping his finger against his chin. The silence stretched and I felt compelled to do something.
“It’s okay,” I said. “I’m fine with this one.” I pointed at the glittering book in his hand. Modern stuff will have to wait. Maybe
the Goldfury boys will have something. Although I wished to avoid asking them for more help. I’ve received more than I should’ve.
“It’s not that,” he replied after a moment. He didn’t give me the book though. “I didn’t catch your name.”
“Cora.”
“Which clan?” Could I lie? Guys had told me that over a million shifters lived on the island. There had to be thousands of clans. Don’t be stupid. News of the Moonless will spread and what then? It was true. A lie would end up in only one way.
“Can I just pay and leave?”
He gave me a wounded look but nodded.
“One ducat.”
I handed him a coin then turned to leave.
“I know many shifters ashamed of their clans. An academy is a place where you can reforge your clan’s name.” Is that so? If you knew who I am you wouldn’t be so sure.
On my way home, my only regret was not asking about his name and clan. My father once told me that in the past, the competition between clans was so fierce that shifters announced their clan names before they revealed their names. Being confined to Alaska where no other clans lived, made it obsolete.
Chapter 11
The magical key was more than handy in getting me home. It turned out that the town was a massive cauldron of scents, constantly changing and shifting. Even with a superior smell in my human form, I couldn’t navigate through the maze of streets. When the door shut behind me I craved the wilderness.
The flat was bathed in shadows as the day was heading for its end. Unfortunately, my human form didn’t possess supernatural eyesight. I looked around for candles and with rising panic realized there were none. Oh shit, what now? I could get out and search for a candle shop – was there anything like this? Okay, don’t panic, silly. Just get out there and buy a candle. I returned to the door then froze. Steps sounded outside. They seemed close but too soft for a random passerby. A thin curtain hung over the window that looked out onto the street. Without ruffling it, I glanced outside. The street seemed empty.
Any normal shifter should feel a pang of fear. My body instead filled with temper and adrenaline. Unconstrained aggression surged inside me and I growled aloud. In the presence of danger, my rational mind completely shut down giving way to something much more primal. I hadn’t felt like this when the ferals attacked us, which in the hindsight was strange. It didn’t matter now. I was readying myself for a fight. Perhaps, the king decided to pull the thorn before it got deeper into his side.
But the anticipated assault didn’t come. Whoever stood on the other side decided to not mess with me and began running away. No, I growled. You won’t get away from me, fucker. I swung the door open in time to see a figure disappearing behind a corner. Once more, my rational side was severely overruled and I gave a chase after the stalker. My wolf clawed to the surface and I almost gave in to her when I lost the tracks. I needed a wolf form.
Let her out or you’ll lose him.
My wolf roared inside me like never before. I was away from my clan, from the safety of my alpha. This place was filled with enemies. They wanted me dead. I’d hit them first.
Stop!
My feet ceased moving. What was this line of reasoning? Was I becoming another feral with mush instead of a brain? Had I really considered attacking them? I was the first member of my clan accepted to the academy—regardless of circumstances—and I already thought of fighting the ruling clan? What would Gabriel and Ryder say? What would Hunt and Rocco think?
Why do you care? Maybe their kindness is a part of some elaborate joke? No. I’d promised myself to never walk this path. It leads to bottomless paranoia. I got back to the flat and only then remembered about the candles. Shit. The book would have to wait until morning.
My belly growled. Shit. And on top of that, I needed to take a bath. All this aggression made me sweat like crazy.
Run? My wolf asked. She wished to shift and run. Denying her this freedom felt terrible but I couldn’t shift in the town. Shifters were pack animals but our strong instincts made it dangerous to run in the presence of other shifters without alphas who possessed the will to restrain their packs.
Not today.
She didn’t reply because she wasn’t a real person. More like an animal part of my brain communicating its desires.
I had no food and so I was forced to bathe and go to bed hungry. I didn’t sleep this night. My ears prickled with each sound coming from outside. In Alaska, the background noise was natural. Here in the town, everything seemed wrong. Humming, arguments, snoring, shouts, and even short rain. Where was the sound of wind tugging at trees? Or the calls of the nighty creatures? I stared into the ceiling until the shadows began receding. Hunger like a beast coiled and twisted in my stomach. I still had ninety-nine ducats to spend.
The morning was like climbing a mountain. It only got harder. And then came knocking. I closed my eyes, trying to decide if I should bother with opening the door. But my silly brain wanted the presence of Ryder and Gabriel. It was fun to spend time with these two. They possessed two opposite personalities and yet matched so well. I rushed to the door and my face must have resembled a child who didn’t receive a promised lollipop.
Neither Ryder nor Gabriel waited on the other side. Not even Rocco or Lord Hunt. A man in a uniform with a stack of papers and books gave me a brief, formal nod and pushed them all into my arms. Oh, I forgot about this stuff. It was meant to be delivered today. The man’s hasty retreat indicated that he knew who I was. Great.
Being a little busy with the papers and books, I used my foot to close the door. I kicked it a tad too strongly ... then why didn’t they shut? I turned around and my heart skipped a beat. Gabriel stood in the doorframe, leaving only slivers of space for daylight to get inside. He was a large guy, and I was a mess.
“Hello. I decided to check out how’s going on.”
“It’s great.” My reply was so rapid it was clear it was a lie. A dumb would tell.
“Good. What about a bit of shopping? I’d have left you more ducats but a hundred was all I had on me.”
The fact I didn’t fell apart right there was a miracle in itself. I’d tell him he was crazy but my stomach got in the way and announced its hunger to Gabriel. My cheeks flared, acquiring a color of blood. As I tried to come up with a quick excuse for him to leave, Gabriel made that ‘I-know-what-now’ gesture and not listening to my complaints took me out for a breakfast.
“I look like crap,” I whispered to him when we reached a restaurant. Something bothered me inside the room but Gabriel and the food proved too strong for my attention to divert.
“We’ll fix it,” he said solemnly. Ha! So, he thinks I am a mess ... and he’s totally okay with this. Shit. This is wrong. “I have a friend who is a tailor. He’s talented.”
All the clothes I possessed either had belonged to my mother or were bought from a peddler whose selection left much to desire. In truth, I was never into clothes. Alpha shouldn’t care about fads and trends! Remembering Hunt, this statement was crumbling apart, rapidly. He looked amazing in his sharp black suit. They all did. I better think harder about this.
While I continued to battle with myself in my head, Gabriel ordered breakfast. Twenty eggs. Some meat of a wild animal I’d never heard of and grapes. It arrived prepared like for a king ... oh, wait, Gabriel was a prince, technically. But when my plate came and it matched his, I froze. This was too much kindness. What did I do to deserve this? With this question in mind, I started eating. Wildest moon! It’s amazing. The meat just fell apart in my mouth, sweet with a hint of sourness from the small red fruits that accompanied it. My entire life, I believed that an egg was an egg. How silly I was! These eggs were phenomenal ... like seriously, what the fuck? How did they come up with something so tasty? I meant to ask Gabriel about it, but hey! My mouth was about to burst.
“Come down, Cora,” Gabriel said. He ate in such a freaking dignified way, it put my manners to shame. “There is more food than you can eat in you
r entire life.”
Okay. This hit me hard. Why did he say that to me? Didn’t he know that food and love... Wait. What am I talking about?
“What’s the matter with your hair?”
Gabriel stopped eating and touched his hair. His usually noble face creased a notch, and then he smiled. It was such a pleasant sight to see him like this. Relaxed? Amused? He noticed my attention and quickly other gestures stole the show. He started fixing the collar of his shirt and cuffs. And then he was a noble Gabriel again.
“It’s a matter of honor.” That was all he said about it. I dug for more but Gabriel was as stubborn as the perfumes he had on himself – cedar and pine.
We finished our breakfast and I breathed out. A full stomach made me feel satisfied and only a little bit dreamy. So, it wasn’t my fault that I said to Gabriel that I liked him. A friendship between shifters from two different clans wasn’t forbidden, or was it? But when Gabriel’s rich violet eyes met mine, I didn’t think we talked here about friendship. Suddenly, the restaurant was like a sauna and I needed a breath of fresh air. Oh, well, I needed a few other things too but I shut my mind in time before it even considered any of them.
“Sorry about that,” I quickly said. “A well-fed shifter talks too much.”
He nodded then stood up.
“Let’s go shopping.”
I had to say, this many shifters I had never seen in one place. We received hundreds of glances and nods. Some older folks invited Gabriel to their shops. He stopped by, always exchanged a few words, checked on the offered goods, sometimes bought a thing or two. I expected this to be boring, but Gabriel possessed a surprising acumen in this matter and the entire walk was smooth as butter. Eventually, he got me to his tailor. There, I was asked hundreds of questions about fashion and clothes in general. I liked furs and thick flannel shirts.
Bewitched: A Paranormal Academy Romance Page 6
