Winter Term

by J. J. Krzemien

  The Council Queen officially opened the meeting. “Earlier this evening, I received news that acting Councilor Gladys McIver has passed on from her illness. There will be a service for her on Friday. Saturday evening we’ll be initiating in two new Councilors. Mr. McIver and Mr. Cortez.”

  Linus Stewart shot me a dirty look.

  “We have much to discuss today,” Isabella continued, “and a busy week ahead. Let’s not waste any time. Councilor Freeman, please give your report.”

  Demarcus cleared his throat. “The murders in Maryland and New York are becoming more frequent. We’re pretty sure that it’s one person, acting alone. We may even have a lead. When I have more information, I’ll bring it here.”

  “Very good,” Isabella said. “Councilor Stewart?”

  “A shipment of food stores is en route from Georgia to Academy Obscura this week. Harvests are up two percent this quarter,” Linus said.

  The Councilors spoke of agriculture, finances, and other key industries for the next several hours. For being a relatively small part of the American population, we had our hands in some of the top enterprises, as well as several operations that were solely supernatural run, giving us autonomy from the humans.

  Isabella glanced at Cortez, who had taken up the duty of recorder for this meeting. “I believe that wraps up the majority of this quarter’s business,” she said.

  Richard Aimes loudly cleared his throat several times.

  “Yes, Councilor Aimes, I have not forgotten you,” Isabella said. “The hearing for your son it set for Wednesday at midnight. Do make sure he’s here. Councilor Freeman will be calling together everyone else.”

  I suppressed a glare. I’d totally forgotten about his son’s attempted rape hearing. Caprice would probably have to come in to testify. At least I would be there for her, give her moral support. I could only image how difficult it was going to be for her to confront him again.

  Isabella’s voice called me back to the present. “Mr. McIver do you have anything to add to this meeting?”

  I stilled under her sharp gaze. I had a whole lot of theories on how to defeat the Tromara. Proof they had been feeding us lies for centuries. They were no different than us, not some super powerful race of immortals that we should bow down to. But all of that led to treason. I was trying to distance myself from that word. Trying to gain favor in the eyes of the Council.

  I glanced at each of the Council members. They were not traitors. Each person in this room had long ago accepted the Tromara as their superior. Revealing the information I had would only get me in trouble and cast out completely.

  I fanned my fingers over the table top. “I am looking forward to officially joining this Council on Saturday. I know it is long overdue—”

  Mia Chang snorted.

  —“but with the death of my aunt, it is obviously time that I step into my rightful family position.”

  “It will be good to have you with us,” Isabella said. “Tomorrow we will gather to go over the hearing details for young Mr. Aimes. I’ll see you all then.”

  I bowed my head to the Council Queen and stood. If the Tromara did come searching for the Codex, thus providing proof that they needed it to survive, what was I going to do? Caprice would push for rebellion, luckily she didn’t have any authority yet. The Council was sure to resist that idea.

  My stomach sank. I had a feeling I’d have to choose sides. Neither side appealed to me. If I chose Caprice then I would be cast out and branded a traitor for life. If I chose the Council, I risked losing Caprice.

  26

  Caprice

  I’d had my phone on me for the past three nights, and texted Elena as often as I could. She had already been on spring break for a while, having a full three weeks, while I had only one. The cell reception here was real shitty so I had to keep climbing up to the turret for messages to go through.

  I leaned against the circular stone wall. The turret was packed tonight with other students using their phones. I scrolled through my short list of contacts. My thumb kept hovering over Isabella’s number, but in these three days I’d put off calling her.

  Montrell’s words kept coming back to haunt me. He’d called my grandma a whore. Insinuated that she manipulated men, especially when she was younger. He had something against her, that was for sure, and I wanted to ask her about it. But how could I possibly bring up that subject?

  My phone chimed. A message from Antonio lit the screen. Hope you’re having a fun spring break with your grandma. Max and I are holing up to do an ultimate Mortal Combat rematch. Vanessa’s redecorating your old bedroom this week, looks like we’ll have a new foster kid joining the family. When you visit this summer you can meet her.

  Nostalgia wrenched my gut. A huge part of me craved the simple times of having Antonio and Vanessa as my foster parents, Max as my little foster brother, and going to high school with Elena. My biggest worries back then had been about how to pay for college and finding a job that earned enough to make it through the next four to six years, while debt piled up.

  I sent a message back. I’d love to. I’ll let you know as soon as I can arrange plans with Isabella for the summer. Say hi to everyone for me. Don’t let Max win too easily.

  I clicked the send button with a smile. Immediately, a new group text came in, from Jaxon. I couldn’t tell her. We need more information. Let’s keep this under wraps for now. Got to head off to the meeting. Also, my aunt died tonight. I’ll probably be doing the initiation with you, Angel.

  He didn’t tell her? Seriously? I chewed on the inside of my cheek. We’d talk about that when he got back.

  If he was heading to the Council meeting then so was Isabella. I’d have to call her later. I pocketed my phone and took the stairs to the lobby of the Dean’s Hall, once again glancing up at the scoreboard.

  A mix of exhilaration and guilt filled my stomach. I was several spots above the red line—completely out of the Culling for the first time. Only one more term to go and all of this would be behind me. Except for attending another year here and watching new freshmen struggle for their lives. I grimaced. That might be harder than living through it the first time around.

  “Miss Sorrentino.” The dean’s secretary was striding toward me. “I’m glad I caught up with you. Dean Wright wishes to see you. Please follow me.”

  I followed her not up to the dean’s office, but down a flight of stairs to the basement. What could the dean want, and why was she seeing me down here? We halted in front of a thick wooden door with iron bands. It looked solid and ancient.

  The blond secretary lifted the handle then pushed, making the door swing inward. She stood aside, gesturing for me to enter. Curious, but hesitant, I walked past her. My eyes took a moment to adjust to the small room lit only with wall torches. A single table stood in the middle of the space. Other than that, it room seemed empty.

  “Wait here,” she said, closing the door and cutting off all sound.

  I roamed the perimeter of the room. Bookcases stood floor to ceiling on all four walls. It had to be the dean’s private collection. A thin layer of dusk covered every surface. A slight mildew smell permeated the place. Maybe the room wasn’t used all that often.

  The books were all old, most of them titled in Latin. If this was a private collection, it wasn’t very well cared for.

  I approached the far side of the rough surfaced table just as the door opened. The back lit figure was certainly not Dean Wright’s willowy form. It was the outline of a man, broad shouldered with long wavy hair. He closed the door behind him, stepping into the room.

  Power, like I’d never felt before, radiated from him and filled the space in seconds. The torch light revealed a chiseled face beneath that long black hair. His features were perfectly proportioned. His dark eyes alluring under thick lashes. He was the most beautiful man I’d ever seen.

  All of me was drawn in by him. By his looks and his power.

  “Caprice Sorrentino,” he said, “wonderful to fina
lly meet you.” His gaze took me in from head to toe. I stood frozen in place, mesmerized, unable to move or speak as I stared back at him. “I’m Sebastian Anastos, King of the Tromara and ruler of the supernaturals.”

  That jolted me out of my stupor. He did look familiar. Now I realized he was the portrait I’d seen in the back of the Tromara Codex. Had he recognized me?

  I shifted up to dragon. It both disguised my features and protected me.

  Sebastian smiled, showing perfect white fangs. “That was impressive. You really are a dragon-shifter.” He moved to one side of the table. “Now I’m not so sure I got the better end of the bargain, taking what the Council Queen offered me in exchange for you.”

  I finally found my voice. “What do you want?”

  “I was curious to see what I was missing out on. I took Isabella’s offer, and now you’re out of the Culling too. Unless you somehow land back in it, I will miss out on you altogether.” He rested a pale hand on the table top.

  “You’ll probably double cross her anyway.” My words came out steady, but my pulse raced. I was shut in a room with the most dangerous supernatural on the planet. The Tromara King had always been a vague figure in my mind. More of a concept than a person. I didn’t really understand why everyone was so afraid of him.

  Now I knew. He was danger incarnate, the perfect predator. My inner dragon was completely focused on him. My scales tingled with each step that he took towards me. I tried to suppress my body’s arousal, but every part of me wanted him—except my mind.

  Sebastian considered my words. “Double cross her? You mean take her offer, and then take you, whether you’re lined up to be Culled or not. Hm, I could. That is tempting. But, I see that you don’t fully understand the political workings of our society.”

  I had wondered for some time why the Tromara didn’t run roughshod over the Council. “And how do the politics work?” I asked, when he didn’t continue.

  He took another step. “The Council is free to exercise the power I give them.”

  “But they have no power of their own?” My breath hitched as he neared me. I wanted to back away, but my feet wouldn’t move.

  “No, they do not.” He was so close, I could see the rich chocolate color of his eyes.

  “Then why don’t you take whatever you want from them? Why play at politics?”

  He reached out, brushing his fingers through the hair at my temple. “Because a horde of angry supernaturals is difficult to control. I prefer my subjects living in peace and order. The system in place is perfect, why risk upsetting it?”

  I swallowed hard. “So you keep the supernatural community just happy enough to not rock the boat?”

  “More than that,” his lips spread with a devilish grin, “I aim to please.”

  I sucked in a breath. “Is that why you’re taking a couple of artifacts in exchange for me?”

  “You are a most magnificent creature.” His long fingers trailed down my cheek, leaving a chill across my scales. “And I’m taking a lot more than a few artifacts.” He gripped my chin, running his thumb over my lips. “Did Isabella really not tell you? That is so like her, playing her cards so close to her chest. It’s one of the reasons I’ve enjoyed having her as Queen for all these years. She’s a true opponent—keeps me from getting bored. That’s part of the reason I’m taking her too.”

  My blood froze in my veins. “You’re what?”

  “I’m taking the artifacts and Isabella in exchange for you. You’ll become the new Council Queen this summer.” He leaned down to speak in my ear. “I look forward to the games we’ll play together.”

  Heat rushed to my face along with my temper. I pushed at his chest. Unprepared for it, he took a step back to catch himself.

  “Get away from me!” I growled, low and threatening. I didn’t care who the fuck he was, he couldn’t have my grandma. She was the only family I had left.

  He tsked. “No need to be so violent, Caprice. In three months time, we’ll be working as partners. The two pillars of the supernaturals. Their King and Queen.” His mesmerizing gaze swept over my body again. “And maybe something more…special.”

  “Fuck you!” I stepped around the corner of the table, putting the small piece of wood between us.

  “That is what I had in mind,” he said with a wry twist of his lips.

  I had a straight shot to the door and bolted for it. I got three steps before plowing into a broad chest. He’d moved so fast, cutting off my escape, that I hadn’t even seen him. I tried to scramble away, but he caught my shoulders.

  “You’re going to be so much fun,” he said. “You’re a real fighter. Do you have any idea how bored I’ve gotten with all of these cowering, fearful women?”

  I swiped my talons across his stomach. With a yelp he jumped back, letting me go. I darted to the other side of the room, putting the table between us again. My pulse sped.

  This was insane. I was going up against the most powerful Tromara. Or was he? Maybe his powers were dwindling. And I was a dragon-shifter, impervious to just about everything at this point.

  Sebastian ran his fingers over his stomach where I’d clawed him, they came away red with blood. He glanced up, narrowing his eyes, but he didn’t look angry. He was evaluating me.

  How the hell was I going to get out of this? Reaching inside, I searched for any hint of magic, but there was none. I’d used the last of it to bring Brody back from the brink of death. Damn, there was only one other defense mechanism I had.

  I hesitated for a second. This place would go up in flames in a heartbeat with all this dry paper and old wood. But one way or another, I was getting out of here. I inhaled deeply through my nostrils. The fire was there, right at the base of my throat. I captured it with my exhale, sending a column of flames directly at Sebastian.

  “Shit!” he cursed, followed by a murmured spell. A wall of ice shielded him. The fire melted part way through it, creating a puddle of water on the floor, then the flame extinguished.

  The guys had said he could use magic, yet I hadn’t expected the defensive spell. I blasted him again.

  He cast another spell, using his hands this time, and my flames were overwhelmed with water. With his extreme speed, he stood in front of me a millisecond later, clamping his hand over my mouth.

  I growled, kneeing him in the balls. He doubled over with a gasp, but his hand had a death grip on my mouth. He recovered too soon. Straightening up, he punched my stomach.

  The air was knocked out of me. I tried to draw in breath through my nose, but my lungs wouldn’t expand. I wheezed.

  I raised my hand to take another swipe at him. He punched me in the stomach again, catching me with his free arm as I began to collapse. He removed his hand from my mouth, gripping my throat instead, cutting off my air supply completely.

  I was going to die. After everything, this was how my life ended?

  Dark spots formed and hindered my vision. I tried to claw at his hand, only to find my wrists were shackled behind my back. When had he done that? It didn’t matter, I was going to lose consciousness soon, and that would be the end. I struggled against the restrains. My mouth opened, desperately seeking air. My eyes teared up.

  “Shh, now.” Sebastian’s face was right next to mine. “You’re all right. I’m not killing you, just subduing you.”

  He spun us around, backing me up to the table and laying me on top of it. He loosened his grip on my neck. I drew in lungful after lungful of air, coughing and sputtering. With a few whispered words, he waved his fingers over my mouth, putting in place an invisible gag—like a piece of duct tape. I could breathe, but nothing more. With my arms bound behind my back, I struggled to move.

  Sebastian leaned over me. He kissed my forehead. “It was nice meeting you. I’ll see you later, beautiful.” He strode out the door, leaving it open.

  I kicked the table top, using my legs and abs to get to a seated position. Fury and confusion coursed through me. He’d been toying with me. Seeing what I
could do. Was what he’d said about Isabella true, or simply a way to get me riled up? Shit, I needed to learn to control my temper.

  I tried to pull my wrists apart. How was his magic working on me? I was shifted, this shouldn’t be affecting me. Unless it was only magic cast directly at me that didn’t work, because my scales could absorb it. Both the shackles and the invisible film covering my mouth were wrapped around me. They touched my scales but had no intention of penetrating them.

  It was always good to know about a personal weakness. I would have preferred to find out about this one some other way, at some other time.

  I screamed against the gag. My eyes watering again, this time with frustration. I had to get out of this, out of here, and call Isabella. She couldn’t really be giving herself to the Tromara.

  The gag’s magic disintegrated, leaving a bitter taste on my lips. The shackles released a second later. I rubbed my scales where the magical metal had dug in. If Sebastian’s spells were wearing off, he must assume I was no longer a threat to him. Had he left campus already?

  I shifted down to human form and eased off the table. A throbbing headache pulsed at my temples from lack of oxygen. My stomach hurt where the bastard had punched me. Other than that, I wasn’t physically hurt—just totally freaked out.

  The door creaked further open, startling me. My gaze locked with Montrell’s.

  His bewildered expression belied his deep, steady voice. “Did you really attack the Tromara King?”

  27

  Caprice

  Montrell entered the room, closing the door behind him. “Are you insane?”

  “Stay out of it. You don’t know what’s going on.” I straightened to my full height. “Besides, it’s none of your business.”

  After him calling my grandma a slut, he was the last person I would ever confide in. Heat stung my eyes. Isabella was going to sacrifice herself for me. I couldn’t let her do that. And when exactly was she going to tell me?