Winter Term

by J. J. Krzemien

  For a long moment, she didn’t speak. Her body was so still, I could barely see her breathing. When I was about to press her with more questions, she opened her mouth.

  “Look,” she said, “I need you to promise that this will stay between us. You can’t even tell my brother.”

  I lifted a brow. This must be serious if she was keeping it from Liam. “I promise.”

  “I’m only telling you about this because you keep catching me—and we’re friends.” She visibly swallowed. “And I need to tell someone. I don’t know what to do…”

  Reaching out, I gently gripped her arm, giving my support.

  “For the past two years…there’s been a guy…Josh, that I’ve been seeing.” May stared down at her entwined fingers as she spoke. “We’ve gotten really serious. Problem is, he’s human. My parents would freak if they found out. I-I haven’t told him I’m a witch. It’s a mess.”

  “What does this have to do with Ms. Duinn?” I asked.

  May grimaced. “She found out about us. Ever since I was her student, she’s held a grudge against me. She likes making my life difficult. I thought that would end once I came back as a fellow teacher, but it hasn’t. If anything, she’s become worse. Last term, she stole a few letters that he’d written me. Now she’s holding them over my head. I don’t know what she’s going to do. I need to get them back.” When May finally met my gaze, her eyes shone with unshed tears.

  “She’s blackmailing you?”

  “Sort of. She might, once she decides what she wants from me.” May sniffed. “I’ve been trying to break into her office. That’s where the letters are, I think. But her warding charm is too strong.”

  Wow. That was not at all what I thought was going on in May’s personal life. That sucked. Ms. Duinn was a twisted enough person that I had no doubt she’d go through with blackmailing May.

  “I’m sorry,” I said, not knowing what else to say.

  May let out a frustrated grunt. “I’m so mad at myself for letting her take those letters. I never should have brought them here. If my parents find out…I’m not really sure what they’ll do, but I think I can handle it. What I’m more afraid of is her telling Josh that I’m a witch, and him dumping me. Or worse, he’ll not even bother to call, and just walk away. I can’t lose him.”

  “Couldn’t you beat her to it, and tell him yourself?”

  She sighed. “I should. I know I should, but I’m terrified to do it. We’ve been together for two years, and I know he thinks there’s something weird going on. He hasn’t met my family. We always hang out with his. I don’t want to ruin it all. I never meant to keep this from him for so long.”

  I squeezed her arm again. “He’ll be happier hearing it from you.”

  “I know.” Her forehead bunched. “Thanks for talking with me about all this.”

  “Any time.” It was the least I could do for her. She’d been there for me countless times so far this year. I stood. “I should get some sleep. So should you.”

  May nodded. “I’ll try.”

  2

  Caprice

  I tossed and turned in my sleep, snippets of my conversation with May entering my dreams, and visions of the Tromara. Why couldn’t I dream about the guys instead?

  Dragging myself out of bed, I splashed water on my face and dressed in a hurry. I couldn’t be late for my first class again, Montrell had already taken away too many of my precious points.

  This place was still so foreign. Teachers and students had sexual relationships that in the human world were frowned upon at the very least. Here, no one batted an eye. With the Culling, and the constant fear of the Tromara, the supernaturals seemed to be complete hedonists. Nothing was off limits.

  Apparently, teachers could blackmail other teachers too. The every-person-for-themself vibe at this school just kept getting stronger the longer I was here. I’d been living in the Freeman Dorm for several days, yet no one talked to me. I felt invisible.

  Tonight, as I made my way to Fotia Hall for class, I noticed the two lamps that illuminated a front section of the building. Beneath them was the inscription: They bless us with the Truce. By their grace, we live.

  I glared up at the words. Such bullshit. Anyone who thought that was true was stupid—or severely brainwashed. I glanced at the other students crossing the lawn. Brainwashed from birth most likely.

  With seconds to spare, I stepped into my first class. Montrell Freeman, professor of Shifter Physiology, and my new nemesis, glared as I took my seat. He couldn’t say I was tardy tonight. And as long as I kept my mouth shut in his class, I was fine.

  He promptly began the night’s lecture. His smooth, deep voice sent an unwelcome zap of pleasure through me. I ignored the sensation. Why did I have to be attracted to this asshole? It wasn’t fair.

  “Ms. Sorrentino,” Montrell said, pinning me with those intense hazel eyes in his dark-skinned face, “what is the unique material that allows shifter cells to morph?”

  Were we having a pop quiz tonight? I wracked my memory, but came up with nothing. Had we even covered that in class yet? Crap. “I don’t know,” I said.

  “Are you sure?” he asked, a smirk twisting his dark, sultry lips.

  Reluctantly, I nodded, bracing for what I knew was coming.

  “That’s one point deducted from you.” He turned his attention to another student in the back row.

  I bit my lip, holding back a groan. He knew we hadn’t gotten to that topic yet. Asshole! I didn’t say anything because Montrell had excellent hearing, taking away points every time I muttered an offense under my breath. I still didn’t know what his problem was, or why he obviously wanted me to be Culled. I’d ask the guys about him tonight at dinner.

  Once class ended, and I’d left Fotia Hall, I let out my frustration by stomping across the well-illuminated lawn to my next class. The other students gave me plenty of space. Word about me being a dragon-shifter must have spread by now. I was the only one in known existence.

  My next two classes were easy. Math and English felt so normal, some nights I forgot that I was attending a freaky supernatural school. I was grateful for the nostalgia that fluttered in my stomach. If only I could have my life be normalish again.

  Beast Shifting 102 was the last class of the night, and the most fun. This classroom was on the ground level with three rows of desks occupying about half the space. The rest of the room was left open. I took my normal seat in the back row next to a tiger-shifter named Lana. She at least smiled back at me.

  All classes had to start after the sun went down and before it rose again to accommodate the vampires who attended the Academy. It’d taken me a while to adjust to being awake through the late night and early morning hours. The downside was I hadn’t seen the sun in months.

  “Hello, class,” Nalea, the lion-shifter teacher, said as she entered. “Ready to do some shifting?”

  Her upbeat energy always stirred up the same in her students as we responded with a “hell yeah!”

  Nalea smiled, pulling long, curly black hair away from her face. “We’ve been practicing half-forms, and I want to continue with that until everyone has it perfect. Everyone up!”

  I marched into the open space at the front half of the classroom with the others. We’d learned to give each other room when attempting to morph, standing arms-length away from those around us.

  Lowering my eyes, I focused on the now familiar tingling sensation that went with morphing. In seconds, my skin was covered with black scales. A red glow undulated beneath them like lava. Long, black talons tipped my fingers. Even without glancing at the wall of mirrors, I knew my pupils were slit like a snake’s, my irises red. It had taken a while to get used to my new startling, near-demonic appearance.

  Nalea nodded in approval as she approached. “Very good. Do you think this is your half-form or full-form?”

  I glanced down at myself. “I have no idea. Do all shifters have both?”

  “Most, but not all. Usually the larg
er animal-shifters have both forms,” she said. Which seemed true from what I’d seen. Those who could morph into foxes, cats, or other small animals went from human form straight to animal. Larger ones, like tigers and bears, had half-forms before shifting all the way.

  The implication hit me. “Do you really think I could turn into a full dragon?” I asked, both excited and terrified by the idea.

  Nalea shrugged. “Possibly. Let’s keep an open mind.” She moved on to a kangaroo-shifter who was stuck on his half-morphed ears.

  So many questions filled my mind. How large were dragons? Could I really have a full-form? Wings? There were so many possibilities.

  Isabella was supposed to be talking with the European Supernatural Council about finding my mom’s side of the family, and hopefully more dragon-shifters, in Cyprus. I couldn’t wait to talk to her this weekend, and hopefully get an update.

  I needed to know more about what I was, and if I even had a chance against the Tromara King.

  Hesitantly, I knocked on Jaxon’s apartment door. They’d invited me to dinner, and I was taking them up on the offer, which was suddenly needing all my courage. My heart thumped against my ribcage, sounding too loud in the empty corridor.

  When the door opened, I stood face-to-face with Angel. His shoulders visibly tensed, but he stepped back to let me enter. His reaction filled me with more doubt. Obviously, I made him uncomfortable. Or maybe the situation made him tense. Either way, it wasn’t good.

  “I’m sorry, this is a bad idea.” I turned back into the hallway. I wasn’t ready for this, it was too much.

  Angel followed me, leaving the door ajar behind him. He caught my arm and turned me to face him.

  “No. I’m sorry,” he said, his amber eyes glowing with that wolfish golden light. “Come eat with us.”

  I frowned up at him. “Why are you doing this? Liam and Jaxon like me, but you—you’re always so distant. I don’t understand…”

  “I know.” He inhaled a deep breath, then blew it out. Taking both my hands in his very warm ones, he said, “It’s complicated—or simple, I’m not sure which. I’ve distanced myself because I don’t know any other way to deal with my instincts. You make my blood rush.” He sniffed at my hair. “I want you so much, I’m afraid I’ll lose control and become a complete animal. That I’ll scare you. And myself.”

  I stared at him in stunned silence, not having expected such a direct answer. The heat from his hands traveled up my arms to warm my chest. My inner dragon stirred, attracted to the sudden change in temperature.

  I didn’t know what to say, so I went with the first thing that popped to mind. “Your skin is really warm. Is that because you’re a werewolf?”

  He released me, rubbing the back of his neck. “Ah, yeah.” Angel’s gaze darted to mine. He squinted. “You aren’t afraid of me, are you?”

  “No. I’m not.” I took in his angular, deeply tanned face, his broad shoulders and powerful chest. Even in human form his appearance was intimidating, and sexy as hell.

  “Well, I’m afraid of myself sometimes.” His skin flushed. “Especially when I’m around you.”

  I rested my palm on his chest, and he drew in a sharp breath. “You won’t hurt me, or scare me. I’m a dragon, remember? Wolf or dragon, which one is scarier?” I gave him a wry smile.

  He returned the expression, the grin reaching his eyes and softening them. “You have a point there. But I’m not afraid of you either.” He took my hand. “Let’s have dinner, princess.”

  “Princess?” No one had called me that before.

  “You are the Council Queen’s heir.”

  I hadn’t thought of it that way—at least not literally. Was I really a freaking princess in the supernatural world? Holy shit.

  We entered Jaxon’s apartment still holding hands. Angel led me to my seat at the table, then sat on my left side side.

  Liam appeared from the kitchen carrying a plate covered with tinfoil. “Be right back,” he called on his way out the door.

  I glanced curiously at Angel.

  “He takes dinner to May in her office,” he said. “Says if he doesn’t feed her, she’ll survive on candy bars and ice cream.”

  “Oh. Does she ever come eat with you guys?”

  “Sometimes. But most nights Liam delivers to her.”

  “That’s so sweet.” I internally cringed. Liam didn’t like being called sweet, but he kept reinforcing the idea. “They seem really close. Do you have siblings?”

  “Yeah. Three younger brothers.”

  “Oh, wow.”

  Jaxon came around the corner with a steaming dish in each hand. “Dinner is served.” He disappeared back into the kitchen to retrieve a third dish. Steamed vegetables, mashed potatoes with green flecks in them, and little round steaks filled the center of the table.

  Liam entered just as Jaxon was sitting down at my other side. The fae sat across the table, a small, mysterious grin lifting his lips. Maybe everyone was feeling okay? I glanced at Angel then Jaxon, who both seemed relaxed. I let out the breath I’d been holding. Maybe I could do this after all.

  Jaxon served me first, just as he’d done at breakfast a few weeks ago. “Thank you. This smells amazing,” I said.

  A boyish grin lit his face.

  “Do you cook every night?” I was so curious about these three men.

  “Angel and I take it in turns.” Jaxon glanced at Liam. “He’s our baker.”

  Liam’s ears turned pink at my smile. Three hot guys who were all handy in the kitchen? Yeah, I’d just gone to heaven.

  Once everyone was served, I cut into the funny little steaks and forked a chunk into my mouth. Chewing, I moaned. It was the most delicious meat I’d ever tasted. The guys watched me with amused expressions.

  I swallowed. “What is this?”

  “Filet mignon,” Jaxon said. “You like it?”

  “Do I like it? Holy fuck, it’s ecstasy.”

  He chuckled, digging into his own plate.

  Angel turned his attention to Jaxon. “When are you leaving tomorrow? For the Council meeting.”

  “Early, as soon as the sun’s down. Not my idea of a fun way to spend a Saturday night.”

  “Why are you going to a Council meeting?” I asked between bites. “Can’t you just call Isabella.”

  “I’ll talk to Isabella while I’m there. I’m going because my aunt Gladys is sick.” He frowned. “I’m not sure how long she’ll be out. But, since the position on the Council has been mine all along, I’m supposed to step in for her.” Jaxon didn’t seem too happy about that.

  “Don’t you want to be on the Supernatural Council?” I asked.

  Angel and Jaxon exchanged a look. Liam stared at his meal, diligently cutting steak.

  “My father held that seat, before he started the last rebellion,” Jaxon said. “Because it failed, miserably, he’s seen as a traitor rather than a hero.” He snorted. “The rest of the Council, besides Isabella, think I’m a bad seed. Trouble. They’d do just about anything to keep me out of power. Not that there’s much they can do, besides treating me like a piece of shit. So, I say fine, they can keep it. I don’t want to be part of it.”

  “Sorry. That’s awful.” I knew how it felt to always be the outcast. Growing up in the foster system and often changing schools, I never really fit in with the other kids. Now that I was a dragon-shifter and part of a new community, that actually hadn’t changed much.

  Jaxon shrugged. “That’s how it’s been most of my life. I can deal with it. I’m just dreading tomorrow.”

  I set my fork down. “Speaking of the Council…what’s the deal with Montrell Freeman? Why is he such an asshole?”

  Liam glanced up. “Montrell’s being an asshole? To you? How?”

  “He’s on my case every day in class, taking away my points. I don’t even have to do or say anything and he always finds some way to deduct a point or two. I was late the first day and that seemed to piss him off, but that’s all. I’ve never done anyth
ing to him. Why does he want me Culled?”

  Angel growled. “That bastard.”

  “I don’t know,” Jaxon admitted. “I’ll keep an eye on his father at the meeting, and maybe get some insight into this.”

  Liam was frowning deeply. When he noticed me staring, he said, “It’s just weird. I know Montrell pretty well. He’s a bit of a hard ass at times, but always fair.”

  That was not at all the Montrell that I had to deal with almost every night. What the fuck?

  Early Saturday night, I dialed Isabella’s phone number, thankful that the Dean’s Hall turret was vacant. Most people were still in bed at this hour.

  “Good evening, Caprice,” Isabella’s sultry voice filled the speaker.

  “Hi, grandma. Did you get the card I sent?” During the holiday season, the Dean’s Hall opened a tiny gift shop for the students to use. I’d sent Isabella a Yule card, thanking her for the gifts, it was nicer than a text message.

  “I did. And you’re very welcome. Have you worn the ruby?”

  I leaned against the cool stone wall. “Not yet. It’s so pretty, I don’t want to lose it.”

  “You won’t lose it, dear, I have a locating spell on it. You should wear it. Please.”

  “Okay, I will. How are you? Any news from Europe?” I was antsy, impatient to find my mom’s family.

  Isabella sighed. “Not yet. Cyprus is not a huge island, I’m not sure what’s taking so long. Unless the dragon-shifters don’t live among the general population, or are in hiding. I promise I’ll call and leave a message as soon as I hear anything. How are shifter classes going?”

  It was my turn to sigh. “Mostly fine, much better than last term’s witch classes. Except, Montrell Freeman, he’s doing everything he can to keep me in the Culling Club. Do the Freeman’s have a grudge against me? Or you?”

  Isabella was silent for a long moment. “No… That’s odd. Demarcus, Montrell’s father, is one of my best friends. And he’s very close to his son. I’ll ask him what’s going on later tonight. We have a meeting.”