Academy of Beasts XXXIII

by Becca Fanning

  "Thank you for your concern. But, don't worry about it," Dracus repeated. He held Nurse Greta's gaze until she sighed and started gathering her things.

  She gave each of us a sharp look. "I suppose the least I can do is stitch you all up when you come to me in pieces," she grumbled. "Call me if you need me again. Or if you can make it to my office, whichever."

  Dracus nodded. "Thank you."

  She harrumphed, clearly still irritated by the thought of the council. I couldn't blame her. Nurse Greta had a maternal nature. Of course, she disapproved of students being in danger constantly. "All of you take care."

  "Thanks again." I smiled.

  With another huff, she grabbed her things and flounced to the backdoor. After a while, I asked, "You guys think she'll mention any of this to anyone?"

  "No," Jasper said without hesitation. "Nurse Greta has been… as she said, stitching us up for a while. She knows the deal with the Core Council, as do the other professors. She'll be discreet."

  "She's always expressed annoyance over the idea of the Core Council, but she never hesitates to show up when we need her," Theo added.

  "Just how many times has she had to make house calls to the manor?"

  Ren grunted. "Before you got here? Way too many times." He shrugged, "But that was before we were more… seasoned."

  I shuddered at the thought of the injuries the guys must have gotten before they were as experienced as they are now. "I see." Hopping off the stool, I told them, "I'll see you guys at training in a few."

  "Training?" Enrique lifted a brow in Dracus's direction. "You're going to go ahead with that?"

  "If Fiona feels that she's up for it."

  "I'm up for it." I needed all the training I could get with Dante out there, gaining new powers by the day.

  Ren shook his head, "I don't think―"

  "Then don't think anything about it," I snapped. "I said I'm up for it."

  Ren's jaw clenched, and his eyes darkened with fury. I think I detected a hint of hurt in that tough armor he had wrapped around himself. Guilt assailed me. Taking a breath, I told him, "I'm sorry, it's just you need to stop being so overprotective." Averting my gaze to escape Ren's piercing eyes, I mumbled, "Treat me like your teammate."

  "You're more than that," he returned through clenched teeth. His eyes narrowed challengingly.

  Sighing, I shoved my fingers through my hair. Of course, we were. I wasn't going to refute that. "I know. I mean, when it comes to council matters. Let's not bring too many personal feelings into this. Especially now with so much going on."

  Giving the other guys wary glances, I told them, "That goes for all of you." I held my breath, waiting for them to argue. No one said a word. Their expressions clearly said they agreed with Ren, but they stayed quiet.

  "Okay, I'll see you guys in the gym." I walked out before any of them said another word.

  Chapter 3

  I glanced up when I heard footsteps approaching. It was Mooney. He hugged grocery bags in each arm. I forced out a smile, but it felt like it came out as a grimace. My mood was in the dumps, and my neck still stung. Smiling was a task and a half.

  The cook glanced around the kitchen. "Fiona, I'm surprised to see you still here. No classes?"

  "Not today, I'm healing." I pointed to my neck. "Didn't want to walk around campus with this glaring bruise."

  Mooney's eyes widened a fraction. He set the grocery bags down and moved closer. He bent at the waist to inspect my wound with a frown. "Are you alright? That looks painful."

  "Not as much as before, and I'm relatively fine. I mean, I'm still alive. That's something." I continued pushing food around my plate as I had been for the hour I'd been sitting around the kitchen island. My appetite was nowhere to be found. Mooney still eyed me with concern, and this time I got out a genuine smile. "Hey, don't look so worried. I'm okay. Really."

  His eyes flickered to my plate. "Where are the others? You all usually dine together."

  I shrugged. "I wasn't up for an early breakfast today." So, I hadn't shown up to eat with the guys. No one had shown up at my door to ask me why I hadn't joined. Training had been a little tense… very tense. After snapping at Ren, he'd been less talkative than usual, if that was even possible. He usually had at least a few words or even a grunt of acknowledgement, but I'd gotten nothing from him since I told him to treat me like his teammate. I suppose that's what he did during training― treated me as coolly as he did the other guys. I think I hurt his feelings― all of their feelings because everyone had been quiet― and I felt horrible.

  Mooney was more than the manor cook; he was my friend. So when he sat on the stool beside me, around the kitchen island, I didn't mind. I could use someone to talk to since I hadn't seen Priscilla all morning.

  "You're not alright, are you?"

  My lips twisted wryly as I gazed at him. We'd had a few of these moments before. He'd been a major source of comfort during my first year at the academy. "It's that obvious?"

  "Well, it isn't just the physical evidence," he glanced at my burn again, "you look sad."

  "I am." Finally, I pushed my plate away. "And angry and frustrated…"

  "Do you want to talk about it?"

  Giving him a regretful look, I shook my head. "I can't." Sure, I'd like to talk to him about it, get some of the weight off my mind, but I couldn't.

  "If this is about Dante escaping the witches' custody―"

  My gasp cut him off. "Mooney," I glanced around even though I knew everyone else was out, "how do you… who told you…"

  Amusement twinkled in his eyes before he chuckled. "It's hard to be here at the manor almost every day and not overhear a few things. Besides, I've been here for a long time, Fiona. Your group isn't the only one I've served over the years. I know when things are amiss. I can practically feel the anxiety and frustration when I walk through the door every morning."

  Nibbling my lower lip, I studied him intently for a moment. I had every confidence that Mooney kept everything that happened at the manor to himself. He was a stand-up guy. "Of course, you'd pick up on our many jumbled emotions." I sighed. "Things are crazy right now. You're right, this is about Dante's escape. We have to find him."

  "You will."

  "Thank you for your faith in us. I wish I felt the same."

  Mooney's laugh. A low rumble that seemed to have a soothing effect circulated through the kitchen again. "As I said, I've encountered quite a few Core Council members. Your team is the most formidable and resourceful I've seen yet."

  "Really?"

  He nodded. "I mean that. The team has you. I can't say there's ever been a calm here before." Mooney grinned and hopped off the stool. "You’re the council's very own secret weapon."

  I gazed at Mooney's back as he unpacked the grocery bags. The council's secret weapon. I wanted to laugh because I felt pretty useless at the moment, but Mooney had seemed serious about his comment. Maybe I should try having the same faith everyone else seemed to have in me. I suppose I would have the same faith if I had a solid handle on my powers. Only being able to tap into certain abilities by chance was dangerous for me and the team. I had to be sure of myself and my ability to have my teammates' backs. Right?

  "Mooney?"

  He glanced over his shoulder.

  "There's really never been someone like me here before? Not just in the Core council but at the academy."

  Stashing vegetables in the refrigerator, he was quiet for a moment. "I can't speak for the time before I've haven't been here, but no, not in my time employed at the academy."

  I nodded. As always, I felt a twinge of disappointment. I wish there was someone to go to who we had knowledge of my kind. Demetrius seemed to know a lot, but he was locked in a dungeon. It wasn't like I could run to him anytime a question popped up. Or could I? Maybe I could teleport to it… No. What was I thinking? Dracus was pissed enough at me. I didn't dare give him more reasons. Demetrius. Thinking of him reminded me that I still had to do something abo
ut his situation.

  Sighing, I rested my jaw on a hand. "Mooney, is there anything else you can tell me about the Core Council? Maybe a brief history lesson?"

  Turning around, he leaned against the counter. Arms folded and ankles crossed, he smiled. "I suppose. I don't know everything but I've seen and heard enough to know a little something."

  "A little something would be great. I'm curious. When I was placed in the council, no one really told me anything about it." I frowned. "I was just sort of… thrown into battle so to speak."

  "What do you want to know?"

  Sitting back, I contemplated. "Why is there a Core Council? I mean, something must have happened to bring about the formation of the group. I'm sure the Officials and the Dean didn't just say to themselves out of nowhere: hey let's put together a group of students to be undercover crime fighters and have them live together for the fun of it."

  Mooney roared. His haughty laughter turned his entire face red, and his eyes watered. "No, I'm sure that's not what happened. There was a more solid reason for the formation of the council."

  My lips twitch. "Do tell."

  "Well, it was long before I even thought about working here, but I've heard the professors talk. Plus, Nurse Greta and I are great friends. She tells me things, or rather complains to me about things."

  "Really? I had no idea. I've never seen you and Nurse Greta together."

  "She and my wife are great friends. We always have her and her sister over for dinner."

  I nodded. Speaking of dinner at Mooney's, I missed that. The one experience with his family had been great.

  "Greta has been here much longer than I have," Mooney shared. "The Core Council has always been one of her major complaints. It was put together after a group of seniors thwarted an attack from a group of wolf shifters who had a quarrel with the dean at the time. I'm not sure how far back that is, though. You'd have to ask Greta the exact date."

  That I couldn't do, if I started asking Nurse Greta questions, she'd have a few of her own, and I'd probably spill about Dante. "So that's how the idea of a special group of students was formed."

  "Pretty much. The way it was handled was so low key, none of the other students even knew they'd been in danger."

  "So, there was no panic."

  "Precisely. As it turned out, the group that had a grudge against the Dean at the time had been wanted by the authorities. The more… secret sector of the government―"

  I sat taller. "The Officials?"

  "Right. They were impressed with the group of seniors and saw the advantage of having a secret group stationed at the academy to help thwart further arising danger."

  "No one would see a group of students coming." The element of surprise. I'd gathered that much already, but it was nice to know the origin of the Core Council.

  Mooney stroked his chin. "Over time, the Core Council's duties evolved to encompass more than the campus's safety. They were thrown into situations that the authorities usually took care of outside of the academy because they were that skilled. Not before long, it wasn't just seniors being recruited but any student who showed superior strength and skills."

  My brows drew together. "When I arrived, I didn't show any skill or strength. I showed… absolutely nothing. I didn't even know what I was. No one knew."

  Mooney's shoulders lifted. "Well, that's no longer the case now, is it? You show immense potential, Fiona." A smile stretched my lips because Mooney sounded so proud. His eyes twinkled with satisfaction. "You've grown into quite the fighter. An asset to the Core Council."

  "Thanks, Mooney. I really needed to hear that right now."

  "It's the truth."

  Yet, that uncertain part of me still felt like I didn't belong. But I supposed I'd always have that shadow of doubt about belonging, considering that I was the only one like me. The only calm. As far as anyone knew, anyway. I had to get more information on my history. The brief history lesson on the Core Council had opened my appetite to learn more.

  It seemed Mooney knew the direction of my thoughts because he said, "I bet Dracus can tell you a little more."

  Pursing my lips, I averted my gaze. Staring out the window into the manor's lunch garden, I sighed. "Dracus and I aren't… I don't want to bother him with that right now. We've got a lot going on. You know, more important things that satisfy my curiosity."

  Eyes narrowing, he lifted a brow. "Trouble in paradise?"

  Heat seared my cheeks. Gods, did Mooney know about my relationship with the guys? He did say he saw and heard things working here. The thought of him knowing about my intimate relationship with my fellow council member was horrifying. I wanted to disappear.

  "Er… what do you mean?"

  He raised a brow. "Is the team at odds?"

  I blew out a breath as I studied his neutral expression. If he knew anything about it, I couldn't tell. "Sort of. We've been arguing a lot recently. We're all on edge about Dante and other council matters. You said it yourself, you can feel the frustration when you walk in. We're all experiencing a lot of frustration."

  Mooney sighed and offered a sympathetic smile. "You'll work things out. The group before you had their tense moments as well. It happens when there's more than one personality thrown into a situation."

  "True."

  "But you're all friends first, right?"

  My gaze swung back to him, and I smiled. "Definitely." I loved my guys. Even if we weren't romantically involved, I'd still run into danger with any of them, lay down my life for any of them. No matter how angry we got at each other or how many times we butted heads.

  "So, you'll always come back around. All of you, no matter what. Just be good to each other. Never be too prideful to apologize." He grinned. "I learned that from being married for twenty-five years."

  I giggled. "Bet you swallow that pride daily, huh?"

  "Oh, yes." He rolled his eyes.

  My laughter floated around us, but I knew I'd be taking Mooney's advice.

  Chapter 4

  My mood improved significantly around lunchtime when I opened the door. Priscilla stood, beaming, as she offered me a stack of books.

  I laughed. "This is how you greet me? With homework?"

  "Of course. It's a symbol of my love and undying loyalty." Her eyes twinkled with laughter, and I rolled my eyes. Taking the books and snatching her wrist with my free hand, I tugged her inside.

  "Get in here, you nerd."

  She sniffed and pushed her glasses up on her nose. "You know, I take that as a compliment, right?"

  I smirked. "I know, and I meant it as a compliment."

  Priscilla's lips twitched, but the smile that was coming turned upside down. "Gods, Fiona, it's worse than I thought." Her brows puckered as she gazed at my neck. "I ran into Theo in the library―"

  I snorted. "Theo was in the library? Like actually looking at books?"

  "I know, right? Shocking." Priscilla shrugged. "I asked him how come you didn't show up to class this morning and he told me what happened."

  "Everything?"

  "Well, he just told me you were injured, that's all. How are you? Does it hurt?"

  "It's not bad now. I just don't want to walk around campus with the bruise. I still haven't gotten around to trying to heal." I sighed. "My mind is in too much turmoil." I held up the books. "What are these for?"

  "We have a test coming up for shifter history. It was announced this morning. I took the liberty of getting the study material you might need from the library."

  "You're a lifesaver. Thanks." Resting the books on a table, I signaled her to the kitchen. "Come on, I'll give you the rundown of what happened over lunch."

  She gasped. "Mooney made lunch?"

  "Uh huh. I knew you'd appreciate the break from cafeteria food."

  "I could kiss you."

  We both giggled as we hurried to the dining room, where Mooney had everything laid out. As we ate, I gave her the details of the incident that resulted in my burn.

  The
look on Priscilla's face was the same look that had been on the guys' faces this morning. Confusion. Fear. Worry.

  "Don't look at me like that, Priscilla. It makes me feel worse."

  "I'm sorry but if Dante can harm you in your dream, you're in more danger than I thought." Her teeth sank into her lower lip, and she pulled off her glasses to rub her eyes. "I can't help it. I'm afraid for you."

  "I know." I let out a long, tired breath. "Admittedly, I'm terrified too, but I can't dwell on that or I'll go crazy." I glance at her. "Can I ask you something?"

  "Sure."

  "How come you need glasses? You're a shifter. Don't you guys have beyond perfect vision?"

  Priscilla snorted. "You've known me for an entire year and you're just now asking that?"

  Smirking, I shrugged. "I hadn't really thought about it until now."

  "Is it really such an important topic?"

  "Not really. Just looking for a distraction, I guess."

  Chuckling, she glanced at the pair of glasses she'd rested on the table. "I see. Well, I don't really need them. I wear them to project that nerdy persona you adore so much."

  Blinking, I spun around in my chair to gape at her. "Seriously?"

  "Seriously." She nodded.

  A few beats of silence passed before laughter erupted. Wiping away a tear that rolled down my cheek, I said between giggles, "You don't need the glasses to show that you're a nerd. Have you heard yourself speak?"

  "Oh, shut up." She rolled her eyes but continued to snicker. "I think they're cute. Okay? I tried them on years ago, and they just grew on me."

  "I can't believe you've been walking around all this time wearing spectacles for fashion."