by Melissa Haag
* * * *
I felt hot. Way too hot. I wasn’t sweaty, though. All the heat was inside me, building in size and making me uncomfortable. It had nothing to do with my temper and everything to do with using Oanen as the best body pillow ever.
His hand rested on the middle of my back as if holding me in place against his muscled chest. My cheek lay on his shirt, right over his heart. The steady beat skipped when I lifted my hand to brush some hair from my face. Knowing that he was awake made the heat worse. As did the sensation of his other hand smoothing over my hair.
I lifted my head and looked for Eliana but didn’t see her. Oanen and I lay on the long couch together. Alone.
“How did this happen?” I asked, finally meeting Oanen’s gaze.
“Mom would say Freya answered my prayers. Dad would say Hera.”
His prayers? Heat spread to my cheeks.
“What would you say?” I asked.
“That I only care how you answer them. You know what your anger’s for now, and you know I’m not afraid of it. Stop hiding from life and start living it.”
His steady gaze held mine.
“Say yes to me,” he said softly.
He was asking me to let him in. I knew I should get up. That I should make up some excuse for why this wouldn’t work and just walk away. But I couldn’t.
“And if I hurt you?”
“Then I’ll have probably deserved it.”
“What exactly would I be saying yes to? Dating? Being your girlfriend?”
“Sure. We can start with that.”
The heat whirled inside me, creating an uncomfortable ache.
“I’ll think about it,” I said before scrambling off of him.
“Perfect timing,” his mother said, walking into the room. “I was just about to wake you two. Eliana offered to make breakfast while we talk.”
Oanen stood and walked beside me as we passed through the halls. Although I should have been wondering what Mrs. Quill wanted to talk about, my mind wouldn’t let go of the conversation Oanen and I had been having. Was I truly going to date him? Was I ready to risk decking him again and see his eyes fill with hate or disgust? My insides went hot and cold just thinking about it. So I tried not to.
Adira and Oanen’s father were already in the study, waiting for our arrival.
“Good morning, Megan. Did you sleep well?” Adira asked as Mrs. Quill joined Mr. Quill on the sofa.
“Well enough. How’s Ashlyn?”
Oanen led me to a chair and perched on the arm after I took the seat. His nearness made it a little hard to focus on Adira’s answer.
“She is upset over the events that took place and her uncle’s death but chose to remain in Uttira. She is considering possible guardianship but will remain in the home she knows for now. I did let her know you are concerned about her.”
“Thank you. And what about Aubrey?”
I needed to know the Council had done something about her. She might not have killed any people yet, but her level of wicked probably meant she wasn’t far from it.
“Aubrey was the one to text you from Camil’s phone. She’d gotten your number from Fenris’ phone. Because Aubrey does not have the mark and did not kill her victims, the council didn’t sentence her to death. However, the pack did sentence her for reconditioning. She has been removed from Uttira and will not return until the pack deems her cured.”
“Is that enough?” I asked. Not that I wanted her put down, but I sure as hell didn’t want her back in Uttira being a pain in my ass, either.
“The pack believes so. The first incident was an accident. She was jealous and angry with you because of Fenris’ interest and sought to drag the body to your house so you would be accused of his death. However, she couldn’t resist the taste of human flesh after the first mile.”
“Ew. I’m so not going to eat breakfast now.”
“I apologize.”
“Okay, so Ashlyn’s good, and Aubrey’s still bad but dealt with. What’s next?”
“Next, we talk about this past week away from the Academy. You missed several sessions, but your online notes don’t reflect a negative change.”
“No offense, but all the sessions I’m in are pointless. I already know how to order a pizza and not kill the delivery guy. Blending with the human world isn’t going to be a problem for me. This world is. I don’t know anything about the creatures that exist or what they might be capable of. If I’m in this world, shouldn’t I know more about it?”
“I agree.” She looked at the Quills. “I’d like Megan to be given access to the Academy Library.”
“Granted,” Mrs. Quill said.
“What’s in the Academy Library?”
“The most extensive collection of written information on our creation and history. While the other students attend sessions, you may read whatever you choose in the library.”
“Your access comes at a price, Megan,” Mr. Quill said. “We want you to fill in as temporary human liaison until we can acquire a new one. The information you gain from the library will help you understand who you will be dealing with in your new role.”
“You want me to liaison? Why? I thought that was a human’s job?”
“It is, and it will be. However, after last night, you’ve proven that you also have the humans’ best interests in mind. You have the qualifications to fill in for the short term.”
“And, you will continue to report any flares in your temper to me,” Adira said.
All three adults watched me, waiting for some kind of response.
“Sure,” I said.
The Quills stood. “We hope you’ll join us for breakfast, Adira.”
“Thank you. I will.”
They left the room, but Adira didn’t move from her spot. Her gaze flicked between Oanen and me.
“Have you finally agreed to his protection?” she asked me.
“Protection?” I echoed, confused.
“Humans call it dating, Adira,” Oanen said.
“Ah. That’s good. None of us are meant to be solitary. Not even furies.” She started for the door then paused and looked back. “Oh, and don’t break into my office again. I will not forgive it a second time.”
My mouth dropped open as she left.
“I told you she’d find out,” Oanen said.
I closed my mouth and gave him a sour look.
“This relationship won’t work if you say ‘I told you so,’ every time I’m wrong.”
“Do you plan on being wrong often?” he asked with the corners of his mouth twitching.
“No.”
“Then let me have my moment.”
He tugged my hand, pulling me closer and threading his fingers through mine. My heart started to pound hard at the simple contact.
“You won’t regret saying yes,” he said.
“I didn’t say yes; I said I’d think about it.”
He smiled slightly.
“I’m optimistic.”
I snorted. “That’s not the word I’d use to describe you.”
“What word would you use?”
“Persistent.”
He laughed.
“Come on. Let’s feed you and find out what your liaison duties are for the day.”
“They’re going to give me duties already? I thought it would just be harassing delinquents.”
He grew slightly serious.
“Now that you know what you are, they’re going to want to use you to fill the role you were meant to fill.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re meant to find and punish the wicked. They’re going to want you on the Council.”
“What they want and what they get probably won’t be the same. I haven’t even graduated yet.”
“We’ll see.”
You’ve reached the end of Megan’s introduction to the world of Mantirum!
Don’t worry, she still has a ton to learn and will be back in Fury Focused, releasing summer 2018.
> Ready for a little trivia?
Mantirum is a blend of Norse and Greek mythology. The mythos between the two is often very similar with several of the gods having the same characteristics/ability but different names (and sometimes even different genders or backstories like Hel and Hades).
Megan’s full name is Megan Grace Smith. All the women in Megan’s family tree have “peace” oriented names, which you will learn more about in book 3.
Oanen’s full name is Oanen Alister Quill. Typically, griffin’s will have names pertaining to flight, like Oanen’s father, Lander. However, Oanen’s mother wanted something different for her son. Something to reflect the protector he would one day become.
As part of the research for this book, I rode the Avatar Flight of Passage ride at Disney World. Loved it! Flying a griffin in real life would be heart-stoppingly epic, and I would probably yell and hoot the whole time.
If you’ve enjoyed Fury Frayed, be sure to sign up for my newsletter at http://melissahaag.com/subscribe to find out when Fury Focused releases. (You can also follow me on Amazon or BookBub for new release alerts.)
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If you’re a Judgement of the Six fan, keep reading for an extra little thank you.
Bonus scene for fans of the Judgement of the Six series
**DO NOT READ if you have not yet finished the series!**
**Spoilers ahead**
(You’ve been warned!)
Clay…
I could feel Gabby’s anxiety and sent a reassuring wave of love her way. She’d warned me not to “do that head talk thing” today, but I was tempted to do it anyway. Feeling my Mate’s stress made my own kick up a few notches.
In an attempt to distract myself, I focused on the TV that was turned on with the volume low. Since Winifred revealed the existence of werewolves to the world, our group had been monitoring current events. With Gabby’s insistence to finish school, I kept an even closer eye on things.
The initial turmoil had only grown. People were still showing up dead with fingernails removed. Neighbor continued to suspect neighbor, ignoring all the years of backyard barbeques and playdates that had once been the foundation for friendships.
I wished we didn’t live in town, but I couldn’t forget Gabby’s first conversation with me. Had it really been almost a year since she’d pointed out that she didn’t have fur like I did and couldn’t just live in the trees? I missed the trees.
The news anchor grew serious and warned viewers that we were about to see some disturbing and graphic images. Since the onset of the revelation of our existence, censorship had slowly gone out the window. If someone died a horrible death, the news not only reported it, they had footage of the aftermath.
The screen switched to a pile of human-shaped red. I figured out what I was looking at before the news anchor spoke.
“The remains of a human male, completely stripped of his skin, were found this morning in the street adjacent to the capital building. There are no leads regarding who or what did this at this time.”
The co-anchor added his opinion, something that had also increased in our daily dose of “factual” reporting.
“I think the ‘what’ seems pretty obvious, though, don’t you? Based on the surveillance footage,” which the screen started to show, “the victim is less than two minutes ahead of the person who called in his death. No human could do what was done that quickly.”
The now deceased man walked off camera. A second man started on the same path after a few moments. Before the second man disappeared from view, he started running.
“According to the witness who called in the death, he heard a scream unlike anything he’s heard before. He was carrying a permitted, concealed weapon and thought he could help. When he arrived, the man was already skinned and dead.”
The concealed weapon part had me shaking my head. Every human was carrying now, making the world more dangerous not just for werewolves and Urbat but for themselves, too.
The TV suddenly went black.
“That’s probably not the best choice of distraction right now,” Emmitt said.
He leaned back in his chair and looked at his watch.
“You need to get your head in the game. Michelle should be here in a few minutes.”
Luke, the other inhabitant of the room, chuckled.
“If Gabby finds out that was what you were watching right before you exchange vows, you’re going to be the skinned man.”
I threw the remote at his head. He caught the device before it connected with his skull and grinned at me.
“I don’t see why we have to do this,” I said. “It’s dangerous. We’ve been Mated for weeks.”
“Being Mated doesn’t replace their need for the ceremony. Plus, this is just another layer of protection. Her name will change yet again,” Emmitt said.
Name changes were something that Michelle and her lawyer had worked on as soon as the Judgement was made. The girls all changed their last names. Winifred, too, since she had most everything registered under her name. We’d had to leave behind the Compound and Emmitt’s Montana home and start up elsewhere. For the moment, we lived in the hate-filled cities and blended.
“I thought the Judgement was supposed to fix the world,” I said. “Instead, it’s falling apart.”
“Not falling apart, shifting alliances. It’ll take time,” Emmitt said.
From what we’d been seeing, it would take more than our lifetime for humans to accept werewolves among them.
“And don’t say anything in front of the girls about thinking this ceremony is a waste of time unless you want to be sleeping on the sofa for the next month,” Emmitt said, returning to the topic at hand.
“Is that what happened to you?” Luke asked.
“No. I’m smarter than you two.”
Luke snorted. I ignored them both.
I didn’t mind the ceremony. I minded the danger. When Emmitt and Michelle had their small wedding the week after we’d said goodbye to his parents and our fallen friends, the world had been calmer. The government had still been following Blake’s paper trail, keeping them distracted. Once they’d figured out that he’d died in Arizona, though, the government’s attention had shifted. Suddenly, all the news showed was the images taken of us while we were at the station in New York.
Michelle and Winifred assured us that changed names and giving up the lives we’d known would help hide us. Would help keep our Mates safe. Yet, the hunt hadn’t settled down. Gabby’s face was still shown daily. Grainy, but to me, easily recognizable. What if someone today identified her despite her current phony last name?
“I can smell your worry,” Emmitt said. “It’ll be fine. Winifred’s here, and Grey’s nearby. Nothing will happen today. It’ll be perfect for the girls.”
I glanced at Luke, who didn’t seem nearly as concerned as I was.
The door to our room opened, and Michelle walked in. The faint, rapid beat of her child’s heart became my sole focus. I stared at the slight swell of her stomach in fascination.
“Is he behaving in there, Clay?” Michelle asked with a knowing smile.
I could feel my face flush at being caught again. In the days leading up to this, Gabby, Bethi, and Michelle had spent a lot of time together. And, every time Michelle had entered a room, I’d stopped to listen. I couldn’t wait until Gabby carried our child.
“Given who this cub’s uncle is, we can only hope this one will be well-behaved,” Emmitt said, setting a hand on her stomach and kissing her.
“What are Jim and Olivia up to?” Luke asked.
“They’re at Rachel’s parents’ place. They spent the night there just to be extra safe.”
I thought of Rachel and felt a pang of regret.
Gabby had really wanted her to be here for our wedding.
In the days following the Judgement, Gabby had managed to talk to Rachel and explain everything. Rachel hadn’t believed Gabby right away, but when I’d shifted to the dog Rachel had known and loved, she’d changed her mind. After delivering a harsh scolding about deception, she’d hugged me and told me she liked me better as Clay-the-man because I made Gabby so happy. Rachel’s easy approval of me and my kind proved that humans were capable of acceptance. Most just chose not to.
The reunion between the pair had been short-lived, though. Because of Rachel’s association with Gabby, it hadn’t taken long for government officials to track her down and start asking questions. As much as she’d wanted to be here on Gabby’s special day, like me, she’d been worried about Gabby’s safety. Their compromise was to live stream the ceremony. Rachel, Jim, and Olivia wouldn’t be the only ones watching. Several members of the pack, including Paul and Henry, would be watching too.
“Well, are you two ready?” Michelle asked, glancing at me then Luke.
“I was born ready, Luv,” Luke said, standing and straightening his suit jacket.
I hated when he poured on the accent.
A rush of love brushed my mind, and I smiled slightly. Gabby was the one who’d suggested a dual wedding, stating it felt right. The girls had bonded after everything they’d gone through. Luke and I? Not as much. But, he was growing on me.
I stood and nodded to Michelle.
“Ready.”
She led the way out of the room and down the vacant hall to the officiant’s room. This wasn’t a cheap, Vegas in-and-out marriage. Michelle had gone all out.
The ceremony would take place in a tastefully decorated room, surrounded by friends. More importantly, we had the place to ourselves.
Luke and I stood at the front of the room near the officiant while Michelle moved off to one side and picked up a tablet to aim our way. Emmitt stepped to our left, taking his place as a witness to our marriages.