Academy of Beasts XXXIII

by Becca Fanning

  "Hey, some shifters actually do need them. Just like humans, we have our cases of physical imperfections too. But, my vision is just fine."

  "You're crazy, you know that?"

  With a small smile, she shrugged. "Maybe. But we've seen crazier."

  "Tell me about it," I huffed, thinking of Dante.

  "What are you ladies tee-heeing about?" Theo strolled and bent to kiss my forehead. Deciding that an innocent peck on the forehead wasn't good enough, he took me by surprise and captured my mouth. It was a quick but searing lip-lock that stole my breath.

  "Theo," I breathed. "We have company."

  One corner of his mouth lifted into a teasing grin. "What? We don't have to hide from Priscilla."

  "Doesn't mean I want to see you two suck faces," she scoffed.

  Chuckling wickedly, Theo swiped an apple from the fruit basket stationed at the center of the table. Taking a huge bite, he pulled out the chair beside Priscilla. "What are we talking about?"

  "We aren't talking about anything. Go away." Priscilla scowled.

  Turning the full effect of his pout on Priscilla, he sighed. "Don't be like that."

  "This is girl time."

  "Well, this is exactly where I want to be. I love girl time… with me right in the middle." He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, and Priscilla sighed.

  She scoffed. "You're such a guy."

  I grinned, listening to their exchange. Priscilla was closer to Theo than she was with the other guys. Plus, Theo was way less intense than the others. He didn't come off as intimidating as the rest. Not that he wasn't. In stature, he was more imposing than the other guys, and I suppose that's why he walked around with that huge smile and warm aura― so he wouldn't scare everyone. I chuckled inwardly at the thought of Theo walking around with a permanent scowl like Ren or a somber, stoic air like Dracus. Yeah, he'd be hella scary. Thank the Gods he had such a sweet nature about him to counter his physical appearance.

  Tuning back into their conversation, I heard Theo say, "Alright, I'm sorry for interrupting girl time. I confess, I heard you two in here and came in to beg."

  "For what?" I asked, frowning.

  "Study time. Remember how we had our little study group last year. Just the three of us? We need to make that happen this semester. And fast."

  Priscilla looked skyward. "No way. Fiona and I have our own study thing going. Besides, it's the only time we get time alone." She glowered at Theo. "We like being alone."

  "Yeah, so we can talk crap about guys," I added, barely able to keep a straight face.

  Priscilla pursed her lips and nodded.

  "Come on, girls, help me out." He got up and dropped to his knees. "Look at me. I've set aside my male pride to groveling here. This is serious. My grades are shit."

  Priscilla and I exchanged amused glances. We already knew we were going to help him out. We just wanted to see how far he'd go with the groveling.

  "If we help you out. What do we get?" Priscilla folded her arms. I could tell she was struggling to hold back her laughter, too.

  Theo's pout melted away. His eyes narrowed. "I never thought I'd see the day you'd stooped to this, Priscilla. Payment to help me study? That's low."

  He glowered at me too, and I almost burst at the seams. Practically choking on my giggle, I shrugged. "You have to pay the price, my friend. Like Priscilla said, what do we get?"

  Sighing, he scrambled to his feet. "What do you want?"

  "Cookies." Priscilla studied her fingernails. "The batch of fudge brownie chocolate chip cookies you carried from home after summer break was scrumptious. Your mother is a culinary goddess. I want more cookies."

  My hand clamped over my mouth to contain my laughter when Theo glared at Priscilla. "Alright. I'll get you your cookies." His gaze shifted to me. "What about you? What do you want?"

  Clearing my throat, I feigned seriousness. "I'll take some cookies too." Priscilla was right. Mrs. Redroot, whom I had yet to meet, sure had a way with baking. "And shoulder rubs."

  At that, Priscilla almost broke the serious demeanor all three of us were trying to maintain. She snickered, and Theo lifted a brow.

  "Shoulder rubs, huh?"

  "Yes, I'd like massages from those big strong hands every night for a week."

  His emerald eyes twinkled with amusement and maybe a little lust as he gazed at me, but he was much better at keeping expression schooled than we were. Turning Theo asking for help with studying into an intense negotiation was hilarious.

  "Fine. Cookies and shoulder rubs. You'll both get your payments, you two criminals. Taking advantage of my low grades…" he shook his head. "This is pretty much extortion."

  Pricilla coughed into her hand, but quickly sobered. "The terms have been set. Accept them or no study sessions, buddy."

  "I hear you. Tonight at nine, then?"

  Priscilla glanced at me in askance, and I nodded. "We'll be here," she told Theo.

  With a curt nod but laughter darkening his eyes, Theo made his exit. Left alone, I was the first to burst into laughter. "Was that horrible of us?" I wiped my eyes. "Accepting payment to help Theo study?"

  Priscilla shrugged. "Maybe, but I really want those cookies."

  "Me too."

  We bellowed, filling the kitchen with hearty laughter. Just then, Ren strolled in from the direction of the back door. Seeing Priscilla and me giggling, he stopped in his tracks. Looking skyward, he did an about-face and grumbled, "Girl chat. I want no part of this."

  That only made us laugh hard. It felt good. For the moment, I'd forgotten about Dante and my mounting problems.

  Chapter 5

  Practically skipping into the dining room, I smiled when I saw the guys already gathered around the table. I rubbed my hands together with glee at the sight of the various dishes lining the center of the table. After my afternoon visit from Priscilla and a few good laughs, I was feeling much better. My wound was sometimes forgotten because it didn't sting anymore, and my appetite had returned full force.

  "Move over guys, I have arrived to scarf down…"

  My happy steps slowed, and my smile slowly fell from my face. As I took in each solemn face, my shoulders drooped. "What's wrong?" Releasing a breath and looking skyward, I grumbled, "Scratch that. There are plenty of things wrong. What I meant to ask is what's wrong this minute. You guys look like," I survey each expression again, "grumpier than usual."

  "Hey, we're not all grumps," Theo corrected.

  I rolled my eyes as I approached the table with tentative steps. "Fine, except you, Theo." He seemed satisfied to be taken out of the grumpy category, and I rolled my eyes again. "I suppose I should ask you what's wrong. The rest don't seem very talkative tonight."

  Theo shrugged and gave me an apologetic look, which made me suspicious. Okay, something was definitely wrong.

  "Just have a seat, Fiona." Dracus held me in a steady, serious stare. His fingers were steepled, and he held an air of extra arrogance. I bet he had some announcement to make, or rather some orders to dish out.

  "Am I in trouble?" I asked warily. "Whatever you heard, I didn't do it, I swear."

  Enrique's somber expression finally cracked. He chuckled. "Clearing your name without even being accused yet. I like that. I should adopt that method. You know, since I tend to get into trouble."

  I spared him an annoyed glance and took a seat. With Theo and Enrique's facades cracking, there were only three glowering faces left. Glancing at Jasper, Ren, and Dracus, I lifted a brow. "So, are you guys going to tell me what's going on or are you going to brood at me all night."

  Jasper sniffed. "I don't brood."

  That made me snort derisively. They all brooded, even Theo when he was in a mood.

  His frown deepened, and he turned to Dracus. "Just tell her and let's get the fight over with."

  "Fight? What fight?" I sat taller. "Okay, I'm really worried now." Turning to stare at Dracus, I asked, "Did you have another meeting with the officials? Is this about Dante? Has he b
een located?"

  "No." Dracus rested his elbows on the table and hung his head. "Fiona…"

  I waited with bated breath for his next words.

  "Perhaps we should have dinner before we talk."

  I blinked. Well, that sounded ominous. "You mean all of us?"

  "Yes… about you."

  "About me?" I grunted. "Well, you can't expect me to sit through dinner now. The curiosity will kill me. Just spit it out, Dracus. I know this has something to do with Dante. What is it?"

  His eyes swiveled around the table, and Jasper nodded encouragingly. My eyes narrowed. Their behavior had me so freaked out, I scooted forward and was literally on the edge of my seat.

  "We were all talking before you arrived."

  "Obviously," I said under my breath, making Dracus scowl. "About what?"

  "You and your safety."

  "I see. Well, you've already told me you're going to keep me away from hunting missions for Dante. Isn't that enough?" As if I wasn't going to find some way to get around that. Dracus or the others didn't need to know that yet.

  "It isn't enough after what happened to you," Jasper said. His gaze dropped to my bruised neck.

  I had no comeback. Dante being able to get to me through visions was scary. I shrugged. "I know, but what can we do? What can I do? Stay awake until we find him?"

  The room was quiet. No one had the right answers.

  "What we can do is make sure you aren't alone," Dracus suggested.

  "I have to be at some point."

  "We'll simply minimize the time that you are."

  My brows elevated. "That sounds an awful lot like you want to saddle me with a babysitter." I directed a suspicious glare at him. "Like my first year here."

  Silence. Again. Oh, no. "No way." I shook my head. "Dracus, I do not need a bodyguard. I'm more than capable of taking care of myself now."

  "A powerful warlock is after you, Fiona. There's no telling what lengths he'll go to just to get his hands on you."

  "I'm safe inside the walls of the academy."

  One of Dracus's brows elevated as he glanced at my bruise. "I doubt that."

  I couldn't argue there. However… "I still don't see how having a bodyguard will help where Dante is concerned."

  "We're just taking precaution."

  "We? I doubt that, Dracus. I think this is all you enforcing your will. You think it's a good idea for me to have a babysitter, and you expect all of us to just go with it. This isn't a dictatorship―"

  "Actually, Fiona…"

  I turned to Theo. His face was a little flushed, and guilt was evident in his eyes.

  "You're right, this isn't a dictatorship. It definitely isn't Dracus enforcing his will. We all discussed it."

  "Without me," I growled. "No one is seeing the problem here? This is about me. I think I should be a part of the discussion and decision making when it comes to me." Now I was glaring daggers at Theo. I expected the male arrogance from the others, not from him.

  He sighed and hung his head. "You're angry. We expected that. Anyway, we all agreed that you should have one of us accompanying you at all times."

  "Dante is no joke, Fiona," Jasper added.

  "Yeah, I got that." I was the one attacked in my dream, for goodness' sake.

  "We just want to ensure that you're safe."

  "I got that too, Jasper, and I appreciate that you all care. Really, I do." I directed my scowl at him next. "But if it was one of you guys, would you be saddled with a bodyguard?"

  He blinked. "In all fairness, we have a little more experience with warlocks and other creatures than you do."

  I didn't even want to explore the "other creatures" topic. Jasper was right. My experience with the shifter world wasn't up to par with theirs. So, maybe they'd be able to get out of a sticky situation better than I could. Still, that didn't help me shake the feeling that I was moving backward. My first year had been filled with fear and uncertainty. I'd had one of the guys looking out for me at all times. This year should have been different. Instead, I was right back to where I started. They didn't understand how weak that made me feel, and I wasn't in the mood to explain.

  "Yeah, in all fairness… you have a point."

  Jasper eyed me with a small frown as if he wanted to say something else but chose to keep quiet. Smart choice. Maybe if he said another word, I'd lash out at him like I did with Ren earlier. That's why he'd barely looked in my direction since I walked in. Glancing at Ren, who fiddled with a fork and avoided my gaze, I sighed my resignation.

  Turning to Enrique, who hadn't yet given his input, I lifted a brow. "I guess I won't get any backup from you, then?"

  Green eyes, swirling with apology, skated away from my face. I took that as a huge no. "I'm sorry, Fiona. I think the guys are right about this one."

  He called me Fiona, not "Princess." I guess he was all business. "Of course, they are." Pushing my chair back with a loud scrape on the hardwood, I wheeled around. I took one step and remembered that I was starving. Huffing, I turned back around, grabbed two dinner rolls, and exited the dining room with a dramatic sweep. I heard Enrique’s chuckle before I stomped up the stairs.

  The knock on my door sent irritation coursing through my veins. "Why bother to knock? You all make decisions for me, anyway. Barge right in."

  The door creaked open, and a blonde head appeared. Enrique grinned. "Somebody is being a little dramatic."

  Rolling my eyes, I went back to reading. "I don't have time to chat." I had to catch up on some reading before my study session with Priscilla and Theo in a couple of hours. Sitting in a room with Theo, one of my prison wardens wasn't something I wanted to do, but the study date had been set before he pissed me off. Disappointing Priscilla wasn't an option, either.

  "Didn't come to chat." He stepped in, carrying a tray. "Thought you might want something to eat other than the two dinner rolls you grabbed."

  My head snapped up, and I eyed the tray with interest. The dinner rolls had done absolutely nothing. I was still starving. Just then, my stomach roared. My face heated when Enrique lifted his brows and smirked.

  "Come in," I sighed.

  He advanced further and placed the tray on my desk. "Thanks," I muttered, still glaring at him. When I opened the tray, my petulance melted away. Beside a plate of shrimp pasta was a huge chunk of cake. "Mooney didn't make shrimp pasta or chocolate cheesecake."

  "No, he didn't."

  That meant he'd teleported off campus. It was the exact meal I'd had last year on our date when we'd snuck off to New York together. "You broke the rules to get me this."

  "I did," he said casually, studying his fingernails.

  Sighing, I projected more appreciation. "Thank you, Enrique. This is sweet." my eyes narrowed, "unless you're trying to buy my forgiveness."

  "Don't want your forgiveness, Princess."

  My eyes flew to his. "You don't?"

  "Nope. I have no regrets about agreeing with the others. I'd rather have you mad at me than dead."

  Being dead wasn't something I desired, either. Hanging my head because I was a little ashamed of my tantrum earlier, I nodded. "I'm not mad at you. At any of you. I'm not deliberately trying to be difficult, Enrique. Sure, you guys go about things with an arrogance that grates on my nerves."

  One corner of his lips lifted into a grin. He wasn't apologetic about that at all.

  "But I get that you guys are just worried about me. You care."

  "I'm glad you can see that."

  "It's just whenever things like this happen, I…" Feel less than you guys.

  "You what?"

  Averting my gaze, I shook my head. I had expressed my feelings about that a few times already. In an effort to not sound like a whiney broken record, I thought it best to keep it to myself this time. "It doesn't matter."

  "Come on, you can talk to me."

  "It isn't important. Thanks for dinner." My stomach growled again as the delicious aroma coming from the dishes drifted to my nostril.
But I didn't want to be rude and have Enrique just sit there while I scoffed down dinner. "May I?"

  "Please, dig in. I have many fetishes where you're concerned, Princess." His grin was teasing. "Watching you eat is one of them."

  I gawked at him as heat flooded my neck and face. No response came to mind. Enrique was just too much sometimes.

  Chapter 6

  Swallow my pride and apologize.

  If that helped Mooney's relationship, it sure as hell was going to help mine. Another apology to Dracus was on the horizon, for sure. Right now, I had to make things right with Ren. He was the first to be put on bodyguard duty. Peeking up at him through my lashes, I tried to gauge his mood. It was futile. One could never gauge Ren's mood with his permanent broody mask. The guy even scowled when he was happy. Grabbing my bag from the back of a chair, I followed him through the back door.

  As we entered the manor's garden, I joked, "So, how does it feel to be on babysitting duty once again?"

  He kept walking, head held straight. "I feel no way about it." His voice revealed no emotion.

  Still peering at him, I frowned. This was going to be harder than I thought. "Is that why you had nothing to say last night?"

  He lifted one shoulder. "I never have much to say."

  True. "Surely, you have an opinion on Dracus's decision regarding my protection. Or should I say all of your decisions? It was a consensus, wasn't it?"

  He nodded.

  "I'm not upset. Not anymore. I understand. I'll miss my privacy for as long as we have to do this but I get it."

  He lifted one eyebrow.

  "You have nothing to say? Aren't you annoyed that you have to follow me around all day? I'm sure you have better things to do."

  "I'm happy to ensure the safety of all of my teammates."

  Teammates. That's what I'd told him to treat me as, and he sure was giving me what I wanted. The thing was, I hated it. I missed my boyfriend. The one whose cold stare turned hot when he looked at me. The one who mean-mugged everyone else but gave me little secret smiles and affectionate gazes. Dracus was already treating me like nothing more than a colleague. I couldn't take it from Ren too.