by Cali Mann
“Besides,” he said with a wink. “I like to walk on the wild side.”
16
Sasha
When we got to my room, I had Flint drop my bag by the couch and then I sent him to the dining hall to get me some lunch. To my amazement, he didn’t argue even a little bit, although a look of distaste crossed his face whenever he looked at me.
I sat down on the couch, leaning to the side so my burn didn’t brush against anything. Lifting my skirt, I peered at it, but it was just as red as it had been before. There had to be some cream or something I could put on it, but I couldn’t think what. “Is there an ointment for burns?”
Cal shook his head. “They never want you to put anything on them. Traps in the heat or some shit.” His eyes traveled over the exposed curve of my ass appreciatively.
“Damn,” I muttered, dropping my skirt.
“You want something to drink?” He opened the mini-fridge and groaned at the contents. “Why don’t chicks ever drink anything real?” he asked, holding up a diet soda.
“I don’t drink that shit,” I said.
“Of course not,” he said, waggling his eyebrows. “You’re a real woman.”
I snorted. “Should have told Flint to grab some drinks too.”
“On it.” He slid his cell phone out of his pocket and typed something quickly.
“Thanks,” I said and cocked my head. These two guys didn’t make any sense. “Are you friends with him?”
He nodded and crossed over to the couch, dropping down beside me. “Flint and I grew up together, and he’s usually a decent guy.”
“He looks like someone stuck a hot poker up his ass.” I couldn’t imagine any friends more different than solemn Flint and fun-loving Cal.
Cal chortled.
I loved his laugh. His whole body danced with it, and his eyes twinkled with glee. He was so carefree and joyous, I wanted to giggle along with him, but my hip hurt too much. Any wild moves on my part were met with instant agony.
When he caught his breath, he said, “Flint’s not usually such a jerk. His dad’s been on him about the evils of spirit shifters.”
I raised my chin. “Everyone knows about me then.”
“Of course,” he said. “You and Molly.”
“Molly?” I asked, feigning nonchalance.
“Yeah, she’s in the lower school, but she’s nice.” He drummed his fingers on the tabletop. “Neither of you are raging crazy bitches like they make you out to be.”
My stomach sank. How young was she? With a sigh, I leaned back against the couch, putting my feet on the coffee table. “And how do you know I’m not a bitch?”
“Because Flint fucking set you on fire and you laughed,” Cal said.
“That means I’m a badass, not that I’m nice.”
He nodded. “Could be. But badasses are usually cool.”
“Why are you being so sweet to me?”
“So I can get in your pants, of course,” he said, scooting closer and putting his arm around me.
I snorted and laid my head on his shoulder. “Aren’t you afraid of the spirit shifter curse? Any sane person would be.”
“Flint will be happy to tell you how crazy I am,” he said.
I closed my eyes, and I don’t know how, but I dozed off. Like Mrs. Everett when she’d had an exciting day. How could I fall asleep on a stranger? But I did—just snuggled up to Cal and passed out—and he let me. I woke in almost the same position, except his body heat was gone.
When I opened my eyes, I saw the feast laid out on the coffee table. Flint and Cal were having a quiet but very heated argument on the other side of the room. I took a whiff of the food—spaghetti and meatballs with thick hunks of garlic bread. I glanced at them and shrugged, reaching for one of the full plates and a fork. The first bite hit my mouth and I moaned.
The boys went silent.
I ignored them and dug into the meal. After a few bites, I asked, “Did you bring drinks?”
“Yeah,” Flint said, fetching them and bringing them over to the table. He handed me the cup with the tips of his fingers.
“I don’t have cooties,” I snarled. They needed to get over this reaction to me being a spirit shifter. It was just dumb. It wasn’t a disease they could catch by touching me. At least Drew and Cal treated me like a real person.
He grimaced. “You might as well have.” He glanced at Cal. “And don’t you dare seduce my friend.”
“Hey,” Cal said, coming back over and sitting on the couch next to me. “Maybe I want to be seduced.”
“Then you’re a fucking idiot,” Flint growled. “She’s dangerous.”
“You don’t speak for me.”
I switched my gaze back and forth between them. I was never going to find any real friends here. They’d only ever see my element. I blinked. Not like I wanted friends, anyway. I had some spirit shifters to destroy and a brother to save. That was my only job.
As if on cue, my cell phone beeped. I didn’t even know I’d left the sound on. I started to stand and whimpered at my stiffened injury.
Cal waved me back down and fetched my backpack. Without even looking, he handed me the cell phone. I swiped the screen before thinking and stared at the message: a video from Chuck. Who else had this damn number? Flipping the phone over in my lap, I glared at the guys. “Out! Both of you!”
“Fine,” Flint muttered, turning to the door. “I didn’t want to be here, anyway.”
Cal gave me a charming smile. “Now that he’s gone, I can help—”
I shook my head. “No, I’m tired. My hip hurts and I just need to rest. Go back to class.”
He blinked.
“What? Did you think you were giving me some fucking present? Poor little spirit shifter needs a friend?” I growled. I just needed to see what this message was, and I couldn’t do that in front of him.
Cal raised his hands in a ‘hold on’ gesture. “No, I just thought—”
“It isn’t happening,” I said. “Leave. Now.”
“Okay,” he said, getting to his feet and heading toward the door. He paused with his hand on the doorknob and turned his blue eyes back toward me. His voice was low and quiet and serious. “Let me know when you’re feeling better, Sasha. I think we could be friends. Not because I feel sorry for you.”
I rolled my eyes in a perfect impression of my brother and muttered, “Go.”
When the door closed behind him, I exhaled and flipped over my phone. My skin prickled as I clicked play on the video. It only lasted for thirty seconds. Nothing happened. My brother walked across a courtyard. His blond head was bent, and his bookbag looked full. There was no sound.
Fuck. The message came through loud and clear. I wanted to chuck the phone across the room, but it wouldn’t do any good. It was my first goddamn day. How fast did Charles expect me to work? Pretty damn fast if that video was any indication.
I grabbed the soda cup off the table and sipped from the straw. The carbonation fizzed through me. I knew of one other spirit shifter at Thornbriar now: Molly. What could I do to Molly? She wasn’t old enough for the dreams to really have gotten going, let alone the madness. Besides, I didn’t want to hurt a kid. So that left causing trouble myself.
If I caused trouble myself, I’d only get kicked out. Then, how could I fulfill my mission? I chewed on the end of the straw.
Lifting the phone, I tapped out: Got your message, on the job. News soon, Asshole. I closed my eyes. Charles wouldn’t do anything, not yet. He knew I needed to get in position to make things happen. He was impatient but not stupid. The executioner was just trying to scare me and keep me on my toes. Well, it was working. I couldn’t relax, not for a minute, because Asshole was watching.
I reached for the food and stress-ate my way through the spaghetti and garlic bread. Full and uncomfortable, I drifted off again on the couch.
17
Drew
Sasha didn’t come to lunch, so I wandered up into the girls’ dorm looking for her. I’d had plans for o
ur lunchtime date, and I wasn’t giving up easily. The halls were silent and echo-y and smelled faintly of fruity shampoos. I stopped outside Sasha’s plain white door, knocked and waited. There was no answer.
“Sasha,” I called.
“Come in,” she answered, her voice sleepy.
I pushed open the door and peered inside. She was curled up on the couch, her blonde hair mussed and her skirt riding up over her creamy thighs. I wanted to sink my fangs in right there and . . . um . . . I swallowed. “Sasha?”
Confusion clouded her gaze as she looked at me. “I must have been asleep.”
“I’d say so,” I said, closing the door behind me and crossing the room. “Are you okay?”
“I got burned,” she said.
“What!” My eyes took in every part of her, looking for the damage. Who had hurt my girl? I pressed my lips together. I had to stop thinking like this. We were just having fun. This wasn’t serious, and neither of us had any interest in it getting serious.
“Oh, just a mishap in science class.” She rubbed her eyes. “What are you doing here?”
“Our lunch date?” I sat down next to her, trailing my fingers up her arm. “I believe I owe you.”
She nibbled on her lip, her vast blue eyes watching me.
“You look amazingly sexy like this.”
A smile crossed her lips, but then it was gone as fast as it arrived.
I wanted to bring it back permanently. Letting my hand settle on her thigh, my fingers playing over the soft skin there, I leaned forward to kiss her. The feel of her soft lips under mine made my dick harden in an instant. Calm the fuck down, Drew.
I kissed my way down her neck. The pulse of her blood beat under my lips. My fangs ached with need, and I stroked her breasts through her tee-shirt. She wriggled under me, pushing her shirt up, and then stopped, whimpering.
I frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“My burn,” Sasha said, gesturing to her hip. She winced at the movement.
“Don’t move,” I said. “Let me do this.”
Sliding my hands under her shirt, I inched it upward, watching her face. I slowed at the slightest flinch. My lips teased and played with each new patch of skin that was revealed, distracting her from any pain.
Bunching the fabric, I pulled it over one arm and then the other, then tossed it aside. Her bra unlatched in the front, so I gently removed it as I had the shirt. Then I feasted on those perfect breasts, sucking and nibbling them.
She moaned and twisted under me, but I stopped her. Bracing her with my hands, I whispered, “Be still.”
Her breath quickened as I returned to my ministrations. When her nipples peaked and little groans of pleasure slipped from her lips, I moved lower. I kissed my way across her stomach, then shoved the coffee table back so I could sit between her parted thighs.
“Have you ever been bitten?” I asked as my fingers caressed her skin.
Her eyes widened, but it wasn’t with fear. “No,” she breathed. “What does it feel like?”
I licked a fang and smiled. “It’s just more. More pleasure. More intense.”
Sasha gazed at me, her lips parted in anticipation.
My fingers played over her undies, but my gaze stayed on her face. “Yes or no, Sasha—it’s up to you.”
Surprise crossed her features. Had no one ever asked her consent before? My muscles tensed. Who would do that to a woman? Anger curled up my spine, and I wanted to murder every guy she’d ever been with before. I took a couple of breaths, trying to let it go. We were here now, not them.
“Yes,” she said, and her whole body relaxed, sinking against the couch.
Mindful of her burn, I gently slid my hands under her ass and pulled off her underwear. Then I sunk my fingers into her wetness, swirling around her sensitive nub. Her breath came harder, but she forced herself to be still.
I nibbled my way up her thighs and lapped at her sex. I inhaled her scent and let my fangs scrape along her clit. She cried out, pushing herself back into the couch. I sucked and pulled at her until she trembled beneath me. Her thighs tightened around my head, and I sank deeper into her.
My cock ached to be within her, to pummel her depths as my fingers were doing. To feel her around me, squeezing and pulsing. Her moans grew louder as she crested closer to the cliffs. I found the vein along her creamy thigh, and I bit hard and fast. She screamed out in ecstasy.
The blood rolled along my tongue, filling me with her sweet taste. One hand continued to stroke her, and the other drifted down to my cock, freeing it from my jeans and pumping it. Hard with need, I closed my eyes.
Her fingers curled into my hair, and she arched toward me. Her body shook as orgasm cascaded over her.
I let go of her thigh, licking the injury and sealing it, and then I sat back.
Sasha’s eyes trailed over me with my dick in my hand. Her eyes were molten with desire, even after all we’d done. “I want you inside me,” she said, her voice husky.
“I want,” I gasped, lunging to my feet. My hawk cried for me to finish it, to take her the way she was meant to be taken, but I couldn’t. We were mates. I didn’t need to fuck her to know that. I knew it in my bones, and I wasn’t ready. I’d just met her. I didn’t know anything about her.
She stared at me, bewildered.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I can’t.”
18
Sasha
After Drew stumbled out of my room so abruptly, I was annoyed, but I came to my senses soon enough. We’d agreed that we didn’t want to be mated, and he’d stopped us just in time. I should be grateful. I had other things to worry about, like Chuck and how I was going to do what he asked.
Over the next few days, I limped my way to class and tried to find out anything I could on Molly. If I acted all nuts, I’d probably get tossed out right away, so I needed to make the other spirit shifter act out. Right now, all I had was a name—Molly. I didn’t know anything else about her except that she was in a lower grade.
I was getting really frustrated and thought about asking the headmaster, saying that I was interested in others like me. But if I showed a special interest in Molly, I’d probably get caught.
On Friday, I found the library before classes started. It was a first for me: both getting up early enough and seeking out the library on purpose. I was sure Alex had been here dozens of times already. I pressed my lips together. I hadn’t seen my brother, either. He was in the lower school and the boys’ dorm, and our paths hadn’t yet crossed. Chuck was taking videos of him and I hadn’t seen him in days. My heart twisted.
I had to find out more about spirit shifters and what problems they could cause. If I was going to do what Chuck wanted, I would have to make enough trouble over a long enough time but avoid getting kicked out. What could I do? So, here I was in the fucking library. Not my place of choice.
The library was quiet, with small tables scattered around and long green drapes on the windows. As I suspected, not many idiots were up this early in the morning. Looking around at the books, I had no idea where to find the information that I needed.
“Can I help you?” chirped a female voice.
I blinked and stared at the skinny, bean pole kid in front of me. She wore every bit of the school uniform: blouse, tie, skirt, and shiny black Mary Janes. With short red hair and a smattering of freckles across her nose, she seemed young. “You work here?”
She laughed. “Not exactly, but I come here a lot and I know where things are.”
“Well, um, sure,” I said. What did I have to lose? It wasn’t like the whole school didn’t know what I was, and it was only natural I’d research my own kind. “I’m looking for information on spirit shifters.”
The kid scrunched her nose and inspected me, then she grinned and bounced on her toes. “O-M-G, you’re Sasha, aren’t you?”
“Um . . . yeah?” I said.
She held out a hand. “I’m Molly. We’re sisters.”
I froze, my jaw falling open. T
his was fucking Molly? This fresh-faced kid?
Dropping her hand, Molly giggled. “Well, not actual sisters, obviously. We’re both spirit shifters.”
This was who I was supposed to destroy? Whose life I was supposed to ruin? A bubbly little girl barely older than my brother? My stomach soured abruptly. There had to be someone else, another spirit shifter, a bitchy two-faced jerk that I could inflict all my venom on.
“Uh . . . nice to meet you,” I sputtered. I had to say something when she looked at me so expectantly. She vibrated with excitement.
“I’ve been dying to meet you,” she said. “I mean, I know some others like us back at the colony, but no one else here.”
“The colony?” I asked. I should turn and run, as far and as fast as I can, and never let the asshole know about this girl. My throat dried. It would come down to ruining this girl or my brother’s life. There had to be another way.
“You don’t know about spirit shifter colonies?” she asked, surprised. “We’ve been around for years and years. People who didn’t want to kill off their babies, well, before the new Oracle, would run away and join communities like ours, well, like mine.”
“And you left?” I asked. She’d been safe, with others of our kind, and she’d left of her own free will? It didn’t make any sense. Had they beaten her or forced her in some way? I looked her over, but she didn’t seem tense or worried at all.
“A chance to attend the prestigious Thornbriar Academy—who wouldn’t?” she asked with a shrug.
“But you were safe there.” And now you’re in danger. Very grave danger.
“Sure,” she said. “But it was mighty boring, and, you know, just fields and woods and stuff.”
“In the country?” I tried to imagine it—a community of spirit shifters and their families, with plenty of room to roam. It sounded like heaven. And she’d left it because she was bored. I couldn’t even fathom it.
“Yeah, well, we had to be hidden for so many years,” she said, rolling her eyes. She was my little brother in female form. Clueless and innocent.
