“Over two dozen people injured.” The crowd roared their fury behind him, and the enforcers shared terse nods. They wouldn’t attack the crowd first, but they wouldn’t hesitate to defend Draeven. I wondered how well the wards would hold against mundanes, and for how long. “Maimed! Savaged. By monsters. We won’t stand by and let it happen again.”
Draeven tensed at the word ‘monsters’, and anger flashed across his face. The reek of testosterone filled the air – the mundanes had no idea how dangerous this situation was. I moved without thinking, stepping between Draeven and Jim, so that only the gates were keeping me from the reach of the mob.
“What about me?” I asked the barkeep. “You know me. Am I a monster?”
Jim looked uncertain for a moment, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. Draeven didn’t haul me back and tell me to shut the hell up, so I pressed on.
“I know I haven’t always been a model citizen, but I’ve never hurt anyone, and I never would. You know that.”
“Never said it was you,” he said gruffly.
“What you’re talking about is the most heinous crime any of us could commit. It goes against our highest laws. No-one here would do that.” I held up my cuff and let it glint under the moon’s faint light. “Did the attackers wear these?”
“No.”
“Then they didn’t come from here. You know that.” I gestured at the mob. “They know that.”
“Someone did it!” a female voice yelled from somewhere near the back. I nodded.
“Yes, they did. And that’s why this man is here.” I flung an arm at Draeven, and at the same time glanced at his face to make sure he wasn’t about to rip my head from my shoulders to stop me betraying some sort of state secret. He didn’t, so I carried on. “He is our leader, our most important… man.”
I’d been about to say alpha, but I didn’t know how much they all knew.
“He won’t rest until he finds who did this. And it won’t change what happened to those people, but he’ll make sure the criminals who did this never hurt anyone again.”
Jim’s eyes narrowed, and he moved his gaze to Draeven, looking him up and down.
“Is that true?” he asked eventually.
“It is,” Draeven said, his tone solemn and his face stoic. “I promise you, the victims will have justice, and until then, they will have the best medical care we can provide. We have made arrangements to have them treated by the most skilled doctors amongst us.”
“And when will you know?” Jim said, his voice low. That he wasn’t shouting our secret from the rooftop was a good sign – but it also meant there were people behind him who didn’t know the truth, or at least, not the whole truth.
“In a month,” Draeven said. Jim nodded.
“Bring the perpetrators to justice by then – or we will.”
Draeven held his eye for a long moment, and I could feel the enforcers watching, waiting for their alpha to give the command to attack. Instead, Draeven inclined his head a fraction.
“In one month,” he repeated.
“We look forward to peace being restored,” Jim said, and turned to the rest of the crowd. “We have our answer. Return to your homes. For now.”
I was pretty sure the warning note in his last words weren’t lost on any of us – or any of them. But with an uneasy muttering, the crowd dispersed. No-one wanted more bloodshed tonight.
“Make the arrangements for the medical wing,” Draeven said to Blake. “My men will help. I’ll return before dawn.”
“Where are you going?” I asked, and his stare sent a chill along the length of my spine. Then he shook out the tension, apparently resigned to the fact that I didn’t mean to be disrespectful, I just wasn’t capable of keeping my mouth shut. The others melted away into the darkness, so at least I was spared them watching me put my foot in it. Again.
“To see the druids,” Draeven said. “They’re going to get wind of this sooner or later, and it’s better they hear it from us.”
He looked me up and down with a speculative expression that told me I wasn’t going to like the next thing that came out of his mouth. My instinct was right.
“You’ll come with me.”
“Me, Alpha Draeven? But… why?” I’d met with the druid council all of one time, and as far as I was concerned, it was one time too many. As it was, I’d almost dumped myself irredeemably in the shit. What can I say? It’s a talent of mine.
“Full of questions, aren’t you?”
I scuffed my feet on the damp grass and ducked my head, hiding the flush of my cheeks. Draeven took pity on me.
“When dealing with the druids, it’s always best to make a show of strength. But if I take my enforcers, it will appear as an act of aggression. You, on the other hand, aren’t even qualified yet. Your presence will be enough to make them wary, without threatening them. Besides, it’s good experience for you – for when you take your role working for me.”
“I haven’t accepted yet.”
“Yet,” Draeven agreed, and held a hand in front of him. He muttered a word under his breath, and a portal sprang into existence. “Ready?”
The answer to that question was a resounding ‘no’, but my powers of perception told me that wasn’t going to cut it.
“Uh, after you?”
“No.”
Dammit. Why did no-one fall for that anymore? I scowled at Draeven, ignoring the way his lips twitched in amusement, and stepped through.
That we hadn’t been expected was immediately obvious. The room I arrived in – the same one I’d entered through when Underwood had dragged me here – was deserted, though the fireballs still hung in the upper corners of the room. I tilted my head back and squinted at them. Seriously, how did they do that?
The whisper of feet on the bare stones announced Draeven’s arrival behind me, and I wrenched my attention from the fireballs.
“Now what?” I asked.
“Now we wait.”
Of course. Heaven forbid we actually go find someone and let them know we were here, like normal people. I had the sense to turn my back on him before I rolled my eyes – I was learning – and then paced up and down the room. Draeven said nothing, tracking my progress with his eyes.
I hadn’t quite finished my third length when the door swung inwards. I paused mid-stride, half expecting Kelsey to walk in, but the middle-aged man with hooded eyes standing in the doorway was a stranger to me. He bowed his head to Draeven, clasping his heads in front of him, and ignored me completely, which was just fine by me.
“Alpha Draeven,” he said, his voice calm and professional, as though we hadn’t busted in during the middle of the night. “Head Councilman Cauldwell sends his regards and invites you to join him in the inner circle.”
Draeven dipped his chin in acknowledgement.
“Please, follow me.”
We fell in behind the druid and followed him in silence through the same corridors I’d walked earlier this year with Kelsey and Underwood. Except, I reminded myself, this time they hadn’t summoned me. This time I could just hide in Draeven’s shadow and hopefully escape Cauldwell’s notice.
Our guide raised a hand and rapped twice on the massive oak door. It swung open, and he stepped aside, bowing his head once more and clasping his hands in front of him again. Draeven stepped inside, ignoring him, and I scurried in behind the big alpha. The door swung shut, sealing us inside the huge circular room. Unlike last time I was here, the entire council hadn’t been convened – I guess it was a little short notice. There were only two council members, and half a dozen men in red and yellow cloaks trimmed with black. I didn’t need to be a druid to know they were enforcers.
And directly opposite the door, standing behind the intricately carved mahogany bench, was Cauldwell.
“Good evening, Alpha Draeven,” he said, and then turned his piercing stare on me. “And Ms Hart.”
I fought the urge to flinch back from his gaze.
“My thanks for receivi
ng us at this late hour, Head Councilman Cauldwell,” Draeven said, commanding the druid’s attention again.
“Of course. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Despite their polite words, I could sense them verbally circling each other, like a pair of wily old wolves seizing each other up for weakness. But, I reminded myself, jerking my chin up, there were only two wolves here, and I was one of them.
The movement caught the attention of one of the enforcers, and his eyes snapped to me. I froze. So much for hiding in Draeven’s shadow.
“I bring news of a breach of the mundane protection act,” Draeven said, unflinching from Cauldwell’s eye. “A number of mundanes were attacked near the academy.”
“Attacked?” Cauldwell raised one eyebrow.
“Bitten.”
Several of the enforcers tensed, but Cauldwell didn’t move.
“I see. The perpetrators?”
“I have enforcers hunting them.”
“I trust you will keep me appraised of their progress.”
“Of course. We have a complication. There is some discontent amongst the local townsfolk.”
At this, Cauldwell frowned, before regaining control and smoothing his face out once more.
“Do you require assistance to prevent exposure to the population at large?”
I twisted my head round to look at Draeven. Was that why we were here – right after giving our word to Jim and the others?
“You are generous, Head Councilman Cauldwell, but no. We have the matter in hand. The bitten mundanes will be kept under observation at the academy until we can determine whether they have turned.”
“As you wish. I would be most grateful if you would send word when you have determined their status.”
Draeven inclined his head in response.
“Then I thank you,” Cauldwell said, “and I will have someone show you out. I wish you a productive night.”
“Thank you, Head Councilman Cauldwell,” Draeven answered, and turned for the exit. We were halfway there when Cauldwell spoke again.
“And Ms Hart?”
I froze, heart hammering in my chest.
“I trust I will hear your decision soon. Our offer will not stand forever.”
Chapter Eighteen
It was a tense month, and a long one. March rolled into April, and the days ticked away. The med wing stayed off limits – even to me, which I thought was unfair, seeing as it was my idea – and several new faces appeared at the academy. Healers, sent by the alpha pack, though we didn’t see much of them. They kept to the med wing, for the most part. And any time any of the students asked questions, the instructors doubled our workload until we stopped asking, and stared daggers at anyone who looked like they were even thinking about it.
…Which didn’t stop me thinking about it. Constantly.
I know I had other things that were supposed to be keeping me occupied – the coming exams, for one thing. And my magic lessons, for another. Not to mention this whole cure thing. If I took it, and it stripped my shifter powers, law school. If I didn’t, or if it didn’t, Draeven’s job offer – because apparently he was serious about that, for some reason I couldn’t quite fathom. So I didn’t have time to worry about what was going on in the med wing.
…Which didn’t stop me worrying about it. Constantly.
“Would ye stop pacing, lass?”
“Seriously, Jade, you’re making me dizzy. Sit down.”
I ignored them both. What did guys know, anyway?
“Jade, if you’re going to keep pacing, can you at least do it in the corridor?”
I shot Mei a withering glare, and she held her hands up.
“Or not?”
I sighed and dropped onto my bed.
“I just want to know what’s going on. Is that really too much to ask? It’s the full moon. Draeven could at least have let me in tonight.”
“Whatever happens in there tonight isn’t your fault. You know that, right?”
I bit my lower lip. I wished that was true, but we all knew none of them would even be out there right now if it wasn’t for me.
“Tell her, Dean.”
“Huh?” Dean glanced up from his notepad. “Oh. Yeah. Totally not your fault.”
I rolled my eyes. “Gee, that really sold it. Thanks. What are you doing, anyway?”
“Writing a letter.”
“To who?” Curiosity got the better of me and I got up again, looking over his shoulder. He quickly flipped the pad shut, and I raised an eyebrow at him. He looked away.
“To my mother,” he said. “I thought… I dunno what I thought. It’s not like my sister will give it to her, anyway. Won’t even tell me where she’s staying.”
Great. Way to forget anyone else exists in the world, Jade.
“Shit. I’m sorry.”
“Why? It’s not like you’re the one who betrayed your pack.”
“Nor did you.”
Dean sighed and tossed the pad back in his bag.
“We both know that’s not true. But thanks for caring enough to lie. Now, what’s your plan for getting in the med wing?”
“What makes you think I have a plan?”
“Jade, lass,” Cam said from behind me. “We’ve known you for over two years.”
I considered that for a moment.
“Yeah, okay. Fair point. And I hate to disappoint, but I really don’t have a plan.”
“It’s a sad moment in a shifter’s life when he realises his heroes are only human. Or, you know, half-human.”
“Did you ever decide?” Mei said. “You know, about being human. The cure.”
“I don’t even know if it will make me human,” I said, and then took hold of Cam’s hand. “But for what it’s worth, I’m not going to take the chance.”
“Wait, lass,” Cam said, spinning me around to face him. “Are ye serious? You’re not going to take the cure?”
“Alright, alright. Don’t make a big deal out of it.”
Cam, who looked like he’d been absolutely about to make a big deal out of it, immediately plastered an innocent expression on his face, and shrugged with the most unconvincing show of nonchalance I’d ever seen.
“Big deal? Who’s making a big deal? I’m nae making a big deal.”
His grin broke through and he pulled me onto his lap. The angle was too perfect to resist, so I reached up and pressed my lips to his. I lost myself in the kiss until someone cleared their throat from the other side of the room.
“Would you two get a room?”
“We’ve got a room,” I said, not taking my eyes from Cam.
“Preferably one I’m not in.”
“No-one’s keeping ye here,” Cam said, his lips moving against mine.
“Seriously. Can we please go risk getting thrown in the dungeon trying to sneak Jade into the med wing?”
“Can’t. Busy.”
“Hey, does this mean you’ve decided to accept Alpha Draeven’s job offer?”
I broke apart from Cam with a grimace. He frowned at Mei, and she shrugged unashamedly, and shifted round to look at me.
“Is that a no?”
“It’s an ‘I don’t think so’.” I gnawed at my lip. Cam straightened beside me and wrapped an arm around my waist. “I know you guys all think he’s some sort of saint or something–”
“Or something,” Dean mumbled.
“–but I just… He’s done some bad things. His enforcers have done some bad things. I’m not sure I can be a part of that.”
“Then what will ye do?”
“Go to law school?” I said, but it came out more like a question. “I mean, just because I’m a shifter, even living with this rage curse, that doesn’t mean I can’t live a normal human life, right?”
“Well…”
“I mean…”
“No, it doesn’t,” Mei said decisively. “Plenty of shifters live entirely in the mundane world.”
“Yeah,” Dean said, “but usually in the army, or as bo
dyguards, not as lawyers.”
Mei drove an elbow into his ribs, and I wasn’t sure it was entirely because of my enhanced shifter senses that I could hear it from across the room.
“But that doesn’t mean you can’t be the first,” he amended hastily.
“Yeah, yeah,” I grumbled, hopping off the bed. “Just wait and see. I survived this damned place, I can handle whatever’s waiting for me out there.”
“Um… not to put a damper on your enthusiasm…” Mei started.
“Enthusiasm might be a bit of a stretch,” I said. “More like, I dunno, grim determination?”
“Well, yes, that too. But what are you going to say you’ve been doing for the last three years?”
“Yeah. Not exactly sure. Travelling, maybe?”
“For three years? Yer might want to work on yer cover story, lass.” Cam stretched out an arm to me but I swayed aside.
“I need to talk to Shaun about that,” I admitted. At least me deciding not to take the cure would put him in a good mood. Turning down Draeven’s job offer, probably not so much. And as for telling Draeven himself... the less said about that, the better. I didn’t get the feeling he got turned down much. For anything. “But you know what I would rather do than that right now?”
“Uh, let me guess. Anything?”
“Yes,” I said. “But more specifically, find a way into that med wing and see what the hell is going on.”
“Great. How’s that plan coming?”
I sighed and slumped back against the wall.
“I’ve been thinking.” Mei uncurled her legs and climbed off the bed. “You don’t actually need to get in there.”
“Well, I don’t see any sign of Draeven coming to keep me informed.”
She rolled her eyes, not even bothering to correct me for not calling him Alpha, and stared at me, one hand on her hip – all of which made me think I was missing something obvious. I stared back at her for a long moment.
“Nope. I give. I suck at riddles.”
“You have shifter senses. You just need to get close and you’ll be able to hear.”
“And no-one will be able to see me lurking in the corridor, looking not in the least suspicious. Come on, Mei, you’re meant to be the smart one.” I held up a hand. “Not because of any Chinese stereotype shit. Because you’re a bloody swot.”
Feral Bitten (Fur 'n' Fang Academy Book 3): A Shifter Academy Novel Page 12