Lion Shifter

by Lucia Ashta

  In the school’s century-long history, never before had a shifter lost her magic. Sir Lancelot had informed me that in his many ages of life, he’d never witnessed a power transference spell. It was magic so dark that few sorcerers dared attempt it. According to the headmaster, when a sorcerer used magic to create an imbalance, as happened when stealing another’s power or taking their life, it tarnished their very soul, thus ensuring that few magicians were willing to engage in such practices.

  Though Sir Lancelot had been seriously aggrieved by the situation, apologizing profusely for the invasion of the school’s defenses as if he’d been the one to kidnap me himself, he’d told me that he didn’t have the authority to override the school’s decision if it should choose to kick me out. The Academy Spell, which governed everything about the Menagerie, including student attendance, would decide whether I was allowed to remain at the school. I imagined that, without shifter magic, I no longer belonged at an academy for magical creatures, and that the Academy Spell would give me the boot sooner or later. The owl’s somber eyes didn’t dispute my conclusion. I was playing a very un-fun game of wait and see.

  With a rigid posture, the owl had proceeded to inform me that Professors Damante and Vabu had dealt with the offending vamp students. I’d been right about Anton’s involvement, and he and his crew of three, who followed him everywhere, along with Paige and her three vampire tagalongs, would never bother me again. When I’d pressed the headmaster, he’d grudgingly revealed that the academy wasn’t in the habit of executing its students, no matter how severe their crimes. Damante and Vabu had placed them in a stasis that would last a hundred years. For the next century, the immortal vampires would sleep while the world changed around them. After that, Damante and Vabu would wake them and evaluate whether additional punishment was required to ensure they learned their lessons. Apparently, Professor Vabu, who was actually Count Vladimir Vabu in title, had been around for several centuries already, and had been a part of the original Magical Arts Academy staff. Go figure. When dealing with supernaturals, assumptions were a risky proposition. Professor Lorenzo Damante seemed to be nearly as old as Vabu given the hints I garnered from the chatty owl, who seemed unable to remain tight-lipped even when he was trying to be discreet. His regular visits to my sickbed had been most informative.

  But as forthcoming as Sir Lancelot had been, I was left with a lot of questions, along with the discovery that the loquacious owl was fond of tangents, and it wasn’t always possible to guide him in the direction I wanted before Fianna or Nessa fetched him for “important business.” I still had to find out what had happened to Wendi, Rage, and Fury. Sadie would have no problem telling me exactly what went down, but I hadn’t seen my protector since that night, nor had I seen Damon either. Replacement Enforcers guarded Ky and me while the other two were off “dealing with things.” Their stand-ins hadn’t told Ky or me what Sadie and Damon were up to, but knowing Sadie, they were kicking ass.

  Not even Leander or Boone, the usually well informed sons of kings and alphas, had the whole story, which was why I was supremely excited to make my way to the dining hall for the first time since the kidnapping. Ky, Leander, and Boone had swung by my room to pick me up, with news that Sadie and Damon were back and would meet us for lunch. Our temporary Enforcer bodyguards rotated out, and today two tall, lanky shifters, who might have been fraternal twins, followed several paces behind us, twitchy hands skimming across the hilts of the swords that hung from their belts.

  Leander squeezed my hand as he walked alongside me. Though it’d seemed as if he’d smashed through the barriers between us on the night of my rescue, we hadn’t had whatever talk he’d been planning before the kidnapping. He’d visited me plenty during my recovery, but we’d barely had a moment alone.

  Wren, Jas, Dave, and Adalia had been constant fixtures nearly as much as Leander, and even Ky and Boone. They all seemed to rotate visits according to class schedules, as if they didn’t want me to be left alone for long. I was the sole one exempt from classes. I suspected Melinda had convinced Sir Lancelot to excuse me from course requirements for the rest of the term to avoid additional stressors, or whatever her excuse might have been to cover for the true reason. I needed the time to mourn; my friends had barely given it to me, and even then only by accident, when none of them could be there with me, like when they all shared Defensive Creature Magic 101. Obviously I had no need of Marcy June’s class now, as I was no longer a creature by definition. I was a lost, broken soul...

  I was too numb to care sufficiently about the things that might have consumed me before. I simply wasn’t the same Rina as I’d been before Jevan syphoned off my shifter magic. I feared the loss of my lion had somehow fractured my soul, but I didn’t share that deep, dark secret fear with anyone. I privately worried that I might never recover.

  “What are you thinking about?”

  Leander’s softly spoken question startled me. I’d barely noticed our surroundings as we meandered. I blinked rapidly, bringing my brain into focus. “We’re on the other side of the quad. I thought we were going to the dining hall?”

  “We are.” He smiled tentatively. “We were giving you time to work through whatever you were thinking about.”

  “Oh. Uh, thanks, I guess.” A couple of weeks ago I would have been shocked at their consideration. Not anymore. The whole lot of them treated me like I was made of porcelain.

  I purposefully ignored his question about what I was thinking about. “We can head to the dining hall now. I really want to see Sadie.”

  “Me too,” Ky said. “They’d better have caught Wendi.” He kicked at the grass in front of him hard enough to tear it up in two angry divots. “I can’t believe Rage and Fury got away.” He growled, and hearing his lion so close to the surface made me miss mine with a physical pang through the chest.

  “Don’t worry. We’ll get them,” Boone said, his voice as fierce as Ky’s. “The term is almost over. We can hunt them over the break. We’ll find them.”

  “You can’t be serious,” I said.

  “Of course we’re serious,” Ky said. “After what they did to you, we’re going to hunt them down and make them pay.”

  “That’s the job of the Enforcers, not yours. What if they do the same thing to you as they did to me, huh? You can’t put yourself at risk like that. Both of you.”

  “They have no need for another transference spell. They got what they wanted. Now they just need to die.”

  “Damn right,” Boone encouraged. “My dad was furious when he found out. He’s offered to send some of his wolves to help.” Boone leaned in front of his friends to meet eyes with me. “You know the Enforcers are understaffed after the Attack, Rina. They don’t have the manpower to track them when there’s so much other shit going on.”

  “Well, then maybe they shouldn’t spare the two Enforcers who guard Ky and me. If Rage and Fury got what they wanted, there’s no need for them.”

  Leander growled fiercely, something I’d never heard the more composed shifter do. Startled, I spun to face him. “So long as Rage and Fury are out there, you need the protection,” he said.

  “I hope you’re not going along with Ky and Boone on this hunting deal.”

  “No, I’m leaving tracking Rage and Fury to them. I’m not leaving your side until we’re sure you’re safe.”

  Ky nodded his agreement, delivering another shock. I narrowed eyes at him. “You’re okay with this? With Leander and me spending time together?”

  “I think he can keep you safe.” Ky started leading us toward the dining hall in a clear evasive technique.

  “You didn’t answer my question.”

  His back muscles scrunched as he shrugged up ahead of me. “Boone and Marcy June should’ve been able to track them. Fury was dripping tons of blood, for fuck’s sake. He should’ve left an obvious trail. That Boone and Marcy June didn’t find them doesn’t sit well with me.”

  “Agreed,” Boone said. “The trolls didn’t sce
nt anything either, and they’re decent trackers too.”

  Leander squeezed my hand again. “We’re worried Rage and Fury might have had some help in getting away.”

  I swallowed thickly. “What kind of help? Like dark sorcerer help?”

  “Maybe. We’re not sure. We just know they shouldn’t have been able to get away, not like they did. They vanished without a trace.”

  I brought my free hand up to rub at my forehead, grateful that Melinda was as skilled as she was. I felt no more than a twinge of discomfort from my broken arm and cracked ribs. Life shouldn’t be this freaking complicated. I was a student, for goodness’ sake. This was supposed to be a carefree time in my life. At this point, I wondered if I’d ever be carefree again.

  Ky clapped a rough hand on my shoulder. “Don’t worry, squirt. We’ll deal with it.”

  “That’s not particularly reassuring, Ky. You’re my brother, and I don’t want anything to happen to Boone either.”

  “Are you insulting our rugged manliness, saying we can’t take care of ourselves?” Boone’s smile made it obvious he was trying to make light of the situation, but the tension riding his shoulders canceled out his efforts.

  I made my own attempt at a smile. “I’d never insult your rugged manliness, Boone. I’m not crazy.” But I wasn’t entirely certain I wasn’t. The loss of my lion left me feeling off kilter, like something was terribly wrong with me.

  “Rina! Hold up,” Jas yelled as she, Wren, and Dave walked from the direction of Bundry Hall, from the shifter practice room, I’d bet. Leander, Ky, Boone, and I, along with the bodyguards, stopped to wait for them by the entrance of the dining hall.

  “Hey, everyone,” Jas said when they were close enough, though her attention was zeroed in on my brother, sweeping up and down his body before looking at me. “I can’t believe you get out of Basic Shifting, Rina. You’re so lucky.” Jas continued toward the double doors to the dining hall, expecting us all to follow, totally oblivious to her insensitivity. At least some things never changed.

  We traipsed inside behind her, taking up an entire table while our bodyguards claimed the one next to ours. “Where’s Sadie?” I asked, scanning the large, crowded room.

  “Here,” she said, startling the crap out of me, and laughing uproariously when I jumped about a foot. She was with Adalia and Damon, neither of whom laughed along with her. As usual, Sadie didn’t appear to mind singling herself out. Today she wore a tight Kung Fu Panda t-shirt, featuring Po front and center.

  Before I could think it through, I flung my arms around her. Yeah, somewhere along the line since the kidnapping I’d become an emotional hugger. I guess there were worse things … maybe. I just couldn’t quite seem to get my act together.

  She stiffened at first, but then gave me a quick squeeze while awkwardly thumping my back, heedless of my recently healed ribs. “All right, girlie. That’s enough of this mushy shit.”

  I pulled back and gave Damon a shy smile. “Hi, Damon. It’s good to see you.”

  When he smiled, the gesture illuminated his eyes. “Glad to see you doing well, Rina.” He bobbed his head a few times, thick dreads bouncing with the movement. “Hey, guys.” Ky and Boone swooped in for some fist bumps and back thumping of their own while Leander resumed his place at my side like a sentinel.

  “We have a ton of questions for you guys,” I started, unable to wait a moment longer to find out what happened to Wendi, or if they knew more about Rage and Fury, or the vamp students. How had Wendi and the vamps even duped the school’s defenses in the first place? “No one around here tells us much of anything.” Not an entirely fair statement when Sir Lancelot couldn’t help himself, but I didn’t care. I needed to know everything. Maybe then I’d feel as if I had some control over my life.

  Sadie laughed hoarsely, as if I were a riot all on my own. “Hold your wild horses, girl. If you have tons of questions, then I need to fuel up first. Damon and I have hardly stopped since we last saw you. I’ve been dreaming of dining hall food.”

  “Well, that’s not something you hear very often,” Jas said.

  “Why don’t we all get some food and sit down for a civilized conversation?” Sadie suggested.

  Damon grinned. “Are you sure you’re capable of that?”

  “Hey, there’s always time for a first.” Sadie gave the Enforcer who towered over her a saucy wink and strutted off toward the buffets. She put an extra sway into her hips, causing several of us to peer at Damon with great interest.

  He noticed, but shrugged it off with the kind of cool I was incapable of imitating. In his torn jeans, casual t-shirt, worn boots, and waist-long dreads, he looked like he was ready to kick back with a fat joint and some Bob Marley tunes. Sounded like a far better way to spend the day than the torturous despair looping through my brain.

  As if he’d read my thoughts, the Enforcer led me toward the food, clapping a large hand on the back of one of the seated Enforcers as we passed him and his maybe-brother. “Come on, Rina,” he said. “Everything always looks better with a full plate of good food in front of you.”

  I wasn’t sure he was right, but it was worth a try. I followed him toward the pygmy trolls manning their stations, not embarrassed at all to cower behind him.

  21

  Orangesicle had shocked me by being almost pleasant when preparing Damon’s foot-long Italian submarine sandwich with extra salami, lots of hot peppers, and drenched in vinaigrette. He’d muttered only a couple of complaints while making my sandwich, a smaller version of Damon’s, mostly because I didn’t think well under pressure—when the troll pinned me in those black, beady eyes of his, I ordered the first thing that came to mind. But though Orangesicle had never been less scary, I was freaked the hell out to discover him slipping out from behind the counter he manned and following Damon back to our table. When he climbed onto the bench seat and claimed the seat next to mine, my entire body seized in panic. I worried I’d be too nervous to eat … and then maybe Orangesicle would kill me for insulting his food preparation or some shit. I was so not cut out for this...

  When Orangesicle turned to speak with Damon, I tried really hard not to look, I really did, but my eyes drifted down toward the bench seat as if of their own accord, landing directly on two round little troll butt cheeks, peeking out from beneath the straps of his front-only apron and a loincloth that essentially amounted to a g-string. Look away before he catches you looking, my wise sense of self-preservation warned, but I couldn’t seem to wrench my focus away. I finally looked up when I sensed someone’s gaze crawling across me. Wren’s doe eyes were wide as saucers as she took me in and then the troll and then me again. Yeah, Wren might have a heart attack before lunch was over. My gentle friend wasn’t cut out for the stress of this life either.

  Using the distraction of Wren as a crutch, I faced forward, steadfastly promising myself that I wouldn’t look at the troll again. Not until he left the table. Still, I was hyper aware of his stubby arms that leaned onto the table and the way his ears and nose protruded from his head. I whisked a hand across my forehead, wondering how the hell I was going to keep my composure long enough to survive lunch.

  When Leander settled at my other side, I knew there was no chance I wouldn’t make a fool of myself in one way or another before this was over. The sexy elfin prince made me nervous all on his own, and he didn’t even have to be mostly naked like the troll to cause the reaction. Though just the thought of Leander naked had me flushing and suddenly staring at my sub with extreme interest.

  Leander’s hand alighted on the small of my back, and though his touch was brief, my cheeks flamed, and I shoved a bite of sub into my mouth, just to have something to do other than squirm with my many discomforts.

  “Is something wrong, Rina?” he asked, but his voice was laced with amusement, which meant the fucker totally knew what was going on. I chewed my bite and pointed at my mouth. I wasn’t going to answer with my mouth full … or at all. Sucker.

  He grinned, his si
lver eyes glinting with mischief, and I wanted to throat punch him. Okay, not really, but I welcomed the badass thought. I’d been too much of a mushy pile of emotions lately.

  Sadie slipped into the seat across the table from me as I swallowed. “Holy crap, Sadie,” I said, taking in the plates of pepperoni pizza, two burritos drenched in Mexican sauce and melted cheese, and a huge bowl of spaghetti swimming in red sauce and meatballs. “I seriously don’t get where you fit all that. You have enough food right there to feed the whole table.”

  The Enforcer opened her mouth to comment, but before she could, Orangesicle leaned forward, seeming to admire her dinner. “That’s how women are supposed to eat,” Orangesicle said in his sandpaper voice, and I met Wren’s terrified stare as she settled next to Sadie. “You have to eat to be strong and meaty.”

  Jas giggled from Sadie’s other side. “Meaty, that’s funny.”

  “And why is that funny, girl?”

  Dave, Adalia, Ky, and Boone took their seats then, and along with the rest of us they seemed to wait to see whether Jas would finally pay the price for her ill-timed comments. But Jas didn’t appear concerned at all. “Because when I think of meaty, I think of hot guys and their hot parts.” Worst of all, Jas flicked a hungry gaze at my brother further down the table.

  Triple ew.

  “Seriously, Jas,” Wren said. “Do you ever think before you speak? The crap you say sometimes...”

  “Is pretty hilarious,” Sadie said happily, plowing into her spaghetti while her eyes rolled back at her first bite. “Oh my God. This is so damn good. Hmm.” She moaned and spoke around a stuffed mouth, and Orangesicle grinned, as if this were his version of porn.

  I scooted a couple of inches away from the freaky troll … a couple of inches closer to Leander. Hmm. The length of my leg pressed against his, and I decided I wasn’t going anywhere until someone made me. I could feel the muscles of his legs through his dark blue uniform pants. He reached beneath the table and squeezed my thigh beneath the hem of my skirt, and a rush of heat sizzled across every part of my body.