Shifter Academy- an Impish Christmas

by Angel Leya

  Wes shook his head, running a gloved hand through his hair. “It’s not like I’d have to be able to hear his thoughts to know what he’s thinking. Geez, what kind of creep tries to steal a girl when she’s clearly with someone?”

  Kenzie shrugged. “Why does it even matter?”

  Wes let out a long sigh, his shoulders slumping. “It doesn’t. It shouldn’t. I don’t know. It just drives me crazy, thinking about some other guy making some move on you.”

  “And I’m a big girl. I don’t need you to protect my honor.”

  “I know.” He let out another long sigh, letting his fingers rest in his hair. “I know.”

  “But hey! Christmas is coming.”

  Wes groaned. “Don’t remind me.”

  Kenzie cocked a brow at him. “Why?”

  Wes shook his head. “Never mind. It’s nothing.”

  It certainly wasn’t nothing, but Kenzie barreled on anyway. “So I was thinking, we should make sure the school gets all Christmas-ified before everyone leaves. You know, twinkling lights, maybe Mr. Suzuki’s snow on weekends, that sort of thing.”

  Wes sighed. “Really? Do you have any idea how big the school is? It would take forever to decorate that place.”

  “Pfft. Nah. With my get-it-done spirit and your speed, we’d have that place glittering like a snow globe in no time.”

  He shook his head. “Kenz, I can’t. I’m exhausted.”

  “But you have enough energy to go on dates with me, right? So we just turn date time into decorating time. It’ll be fun.”

  Wes shook his head even more emphatically. “No. We’ve got school and homework to do, and transformation and mastery have me at the end of my rope. You remember that they upped my telepathy practice, right? I’m drained.”

  Kenzie crossed her arms and fixed Wes with a stare. “Okay, so what am I thinking now?”

  Wes rolled his eyes. “Look, Kenz, I love you and all, but I don’t think I can help you this time.” He went to grab a fry, but Kenzie slapped his hand away.

  “Then I get all the chili cheese fries. It’s only fair. I’ll need the energy.”

  “I think the junk in your trunk has plenty of energy to spare.” He smirked, and she kicked him gently under the table again.

  “And you don’t want it going anywhere, do you?” Kenzie asked, returning his smirk.

  Wes lifted two fingers to his brow in mock salute. “No, ma’am.”

  “Good.” She grabbed a few more fries and stuffed them in her mouth, then grinned wide.

  “Weirdo.”

  “You like me that way.”

  “I thought I detected a feminist power anthem.” Juliet slipped in beside Kenzie as she slid her headphones down around her neck and grabbed a couple of fries. Wes raised a brow at Kenzie.

  “Jules! What are you doing here?” Kenzie asked as she hugged her friend, sticking her tongue out at Wes behind Juliet’s back.

  Juliet beamed, making those yellow-green eyes stand out even more against her tanned skin and brilliant orange hair. Like a living flame, that girl. “Nik said he should be able to slip away for a bit and asked me to meet him. What are you two doing here?”

  Kenzie laughed. “Do you even have to ask?” She grabbed another fry and chomped on it while Juliet snickered.

  “Same old Kenzie—or should I say Wenzie?” Juliet grinned, Wes chuckled, and Kenzie smirked as her cheeks grew hot. “I feel like I never see you anymore.”

  “I know! And to think we go to the same school now. How are your boys?”

  Juliet smiled. “Good. Dad’s still taking down vampires—or at least ordering other shifters to do it—and Nik’s right there with him.”

  “Awww. So sweet.” Kenzie pouted her lip and hugged Juliet again.

  “Aaaand, here’s your burgers,” said the waitress as she dropped off Wes and Kenzie’s meals. “Oh, hey hon. Can I get you anything?” she asked Juliet.

  Juliet shook her head. “I’m waiting for someone. But thanks!”

  “No problem, hon. You change your mind, just give me a holler.” With a wink, the waitress left, the ball on the end of her green hat bouncing.

  Kenzie giggled. “Now see, that’s an easy way to start getting the Dome in the holiday spirit.”

  Juliet’s brows lifted. “What’s going on?”

  Wes grimaced. “She’s trying to get me to help her decorate the Dome for Christmas.”

  Kenzie wrinkled her nose. “And the rest of the crew, but they already shot me down. What about you, Jules? Any chance you wanna help me deck the halls?”

  Juliet’s mouth made a small round O, her brows furrowing. “I don’t know, Kenzie. It sounds like a lot of fun—”

  “Thank you!” Kenzie interjected, giving Wes a pointed stare.

  “—but I’ve got a lot going on, and with Nik . . .”

  “I know, I know. You’re a busy lady. I just think the school deserves an extra special Christmas this year. Last year was so . . .”

  “Lousy?” Juliet let out an amused huff. “I hear you. Maybe we can get together and do a Hallmark Christmas movie marathon or something.”

  Kenzie nodded. “I guess.”

  “But hey! If you want to do some decorating, I don’t think Oberon would care. He might make you clean it up after . . .”

  “Yeah.” Kenzie nodded as she turned back to her food, unsure if she even wanted to touch the stuff. Okay, forget that. She shoved a handful of fries in her mouth and grabbed a gulp of shake. She’d drown her woes in greasy food and sugar before she starved over them.

  Juliet fixed Kenzie with an apologetic smile. “You know I would if I could.”

  Kenzie nodded. “I know. Not like Christmas party pooper over here,” she said, flinging one of the plain fries that came with her burger at Wes.

  Wes caught the fry and ate it, laughing. “Hey! I have a legitimate excuse.”

  Kenzie’s brows raised. “As if. You’re just lucky you marked me, or I might be kicking you to the curb over this.”

  Juliet stood. “Remind me not to get in the way of this girl and her Christmas.” She grabbed a couple of fries and grinned. “Or her food. I’ll catch you guys later, okay? I think I see Nik.”

  Kenzie nodded, shooing Juliet away. She turned back toward Wes, knowing the instant Nik and Juliet were hugging because of Juliet’s high-pitched squeal.

  Kenzie sighed. “Ah, to be young and in love.”

  Wes put down his burger, already halfway to his mouth, and gaped at her. “And what does that make us?” he asked, raising a hand to his chest in mock offense.

  Kenzie rolled her eyes. “Like an old married couple.”

  Wes chuckled, picking his burger back up, but he had to get through a monster yawn before he could even take a bite.

  Kenzie pulled out her phone. “Really? It’s only 7:30.”

  He put his hand over his mouth as another yawn came. “I’m sorry. I’m telling you, these mastery classes are really wearing me out. And I’m still not feeling one hundred percent.”

  “Maybe it’s time to pay Ms. Heather a visit?”

  Wes shook his head, almost violently. “No. I don’t need a harpy poking and prodding me. I’m fine. I just need to rest.”

  Kenzie scrunched her nose, but didn’t push further. The Dome’s technology was less than invasive, but he still had problems with shifters from time to time. Maybe he’d had a run-in with the school nurse, though it seemed less than possible. That woman was practically an angel.

  Kenzie shook her head. “Okay, gramps. Let’s get you home.” She picked up her burger to take a bite, but set it back down, eating a few more fries and finishing off her shake.

  “Are you sure?” Wes asked, concern and relief mixing in those beautifully granola eyes.

  Kenzie nodded. When the waitress came around again, she asked to have everything boxed up.

  Wes looked at her like she had ten eyes. “Really?” he asked when the waitress was far enough away. “Are you feeling okay?”


  “Har, har, har. Yes, I’m fine. I think I just filled up on shake and fries. Besides, we’ve got to get your tired butt in bed.”

  Wes leaned back. “I never thought I’d see the day.”

  “To be fair, you’re not carrying around a whole weekend worth of Thanksgiving dinner. Mom always makes waaaay too much food. It’s awesome.”

  “Yeah, sorry I missed it.”

  Wes wouldn’t meet her eye, and Kenzie rolled hers. If she hadn’t felt his funk when she magically called him, she’d say he was bluffing. But something wasn’t right with her mao, and it irked her. She needed him to be here for her, right now more than ever. “So . . . Christmas?” Kenzie gave Wes a hopeful smile.

  Wes was already shaking his head. “Kenzie, I—”

  Kenzie waved him off. “Forget I asked.”

  “Why’s it so important to you, anyway? You could easily decorate your own room—heck, even your wing would be easy to dress up for the holidays. You never know, it could catch on.”

  “What’s the point?” Kenzie whined. “The mer would hate it all and no one else would see it—except you, occasionally. None of my friends want to help me do this. Not even my boyfriend. It’s like I’m the only one who wants this Christmas to be special.”

  “I don’t think that’s really—”

  “Here you go!” the waitress said as she set the to-go box in front of Kenzie.

  Kenzie smiled her thanks, quickly filling the box up while Wes took care of the bill.

  Wes opened the door for her as they left, the chill, night air greeting them. Brown snow lined the Chicago streets, patches of white shining from the less-traversed areas. Kenzie hugged herself tighter, and Wes took her box. She tried not to notice the lack of hand-holding, or the way he didn’t try to make conversation. He did look tired, after all.

  She hated to be mad at him, but none of this was fair. She didn’t know why making Christmas so special was so important this year, but she needed it to be. And Wes was kind of right. She could start with her wing and work her way out from there. Or maybe she’d do the Oceanid wing last. Whatever way it worked, she’d make the Dome sparkle, one way or another.

  She just needed Oberon’s blessing, and maybe Mr. Suzuki’s technology. Hopefully with her mom dating the Head Tinkerer, one thing, at least, would be in the bag.

  Wes cleared his throat. “I really am sorry. I’ll find a way to make it up to you.”

  “Promise?”

  “Yes.”

  Kenzie threaded her arm through Wes’s, leaning her head against his shoulder—or at least as close as her head could get. Even when he was being flaky, he was still her rock; solid, strong, and dependable. Mostly.

  Chapter 5

  “Can anybody tell me why steel is the only metal used in surgical instruments?” Ms. Heather stood at the front of Shifter Medicine class, pushing her glasses up her nose. How she managed to do that while still looking like a medieval princess, Kenzie had no idea. Seriously, shifters were gorgeous. It was almost disgusting just how perfect everyone—except for Kenzie—looked.

  Kenzie’s leg bounced as she surreptitiously glanced at the clock. Her stomach was already grumbling, though quietly. She’d only taken this class because the other ones were worse—Shifter Politics (blech), World History (double blech), and Tinkering. She had no talent with machines, and even less desire to subject herself to more of Mr. Suzuki’s crazy jokes—math with him was enough. Besides, Wes was in Tinkering. An hour of her boyfriend and her mom’s boyfriend in the same room? No, thank you.

  “Anyone?” Ms. Heather asked again. Her gaze zeroed in on Kenzie, whose leg quit bouncing and her body stiffened, sort of like a deer in the headlights. Maybe if I don’t move, she won’t see me. Right. “Ms. MacLugh, you look like you have enough energy to answer. Can you tell the class why steel is the only metal we use for surgical procedures?”

  Kenzie crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair, letting the ball on the end of her Santa hat hang in her face. The hat was part of her Make Christmas Great Again campaign. She just hoped it would catch on before she ended up looking like an idiot. Or worse, she scratched her forehead off thanks to the cheap fabric. “Because shifters are allergic to pretty much everything else. Do you ever even use surgical instruments?”

  There were a few snickers around the room, and Kenzie smiled big, teeth and all.

  Ms. Heather frowned. “There are circumstances when we have to rely on our knowledge as much as—or even more than—we do on our magic. Remember, a harpy often takes on physical punishment when healing, and requires a great deal of light to even try. We can’t all just whisper a few words and make the world right again.”

  Kenzie sunk in her chair, the verbal smackdown hitting the mark. It’s not that she needed the reminder that she wasn’t exactly one of them—there were plenty of students willing to pound that lesson home—but she had a hard time turning off her devil-may-care attitude. No need to add to her problems by looking like a nerd. Besides, she’d put up those walls ages ago. They were as much a part of her as her mousy brown hair or big hips. And despite no longer having to hide her “freakish” magic, she still needed the armor. She loved the shifter school, loved all the friends she’d made, but she still bore the stigma of an outsider—of a freak.

  She wasn’t one of them. Not really. The shift wasn’t in her blood, it was in her magic, and only if she wanted it. If Gram was to be believed, selkies basically created shifters. And vampires. Maybe they had good reason to fear her kind, but Kenzie didn’t have that kind of power. Or knowledge. And she doubted any of the other selkies did, either. Besides, keeping selkies out of the school wasn’t protecting anyone. Vampires could be seeking selkie magic as they spoke.

  For about the gazillionth time, she wished Oberon would at least consider the benefits of having more than one selkie in the school. Maybe then she wouldn’t feel so different, so alone.

  The lunch bell chimed, and students grabbed their tablets and scurried out. Kenzie got stuck behind the rush in her attempt to remain cool and collected. Not to worry, though. The kitchens were always well stocked.

  “Ms. MacLugh, I’d like to have a word with you before you go.”

  Kenzie turned back to Ms. Heather, her stomach gurgling in protest. Loudly. Dang, that thing was a beast.

  Kenzie pursed her lips and flipped the ball on her hat back as she trudged the couple of steps back to where Ms. Heather stood.

  “I hate to jump on this so soon after break, but I feel I need to ask. How are you doing?” Ms. Heather leaned back against her desk, blinking her pretty eyes.

  Kenzie shrugged. “I’m fine.”

  “Because I feel like you’re not taking things seriously, particularly this class. Are you enjoying it?”

  Kenzie shrugged again. “I mean, it’s great to know this stuff and all, but I’m just not sure when I’ll ever use it.”

  Ms. Heather nodded, folding her arms. “Do you know every spell in that grimoire of yours?”

  Kenzie shook her head. “I feel like I’m still finding new stuff.” And based on how tightly that thing had been magically bound, she wasn’t sure she’d ever find the end of the magic spells and potions it contained.

  “But you still try to learn everything, even the un-useful stuff, right?” Ms. Heather pressed.

  “Well, yeah, but—”

  “And if you couldn’t find what you were looking for, what would you do?”

  Kenzie hesitated a moment. “Stop what I was doing?” she asked slowly. That was the correct answer, of course. Experimenting with spells could be dangerous. Heck, even screwing up one she knew could backfire, which was why she’d been put in the Avian mastery class for practice—there were plenty of people around who could help if things got out of control. But knowing the right thing to do and doing it were two different things. As Kenzie had proven on more than one occasion.

  Ms. Heather smiled and shook her head. “I’ve had you in mastery class for how long now? Try again.
The truth this time, please.”

  Kenzie hung her head to conceal her blush. “Use what I know to make something up?” She hazarded a glance and found Ms. Heather nodding.

  “Exactly. You use what you know. Knowledge is especially powerful when it comes to shifters and vampires. Since you’ve inserted yourself into shifter life, I’m assuming you want to make this a full-time thing. Am I right?”

  Kenzie nodded. That had always been her dream, though the reality was less glamorous than she’d imagined. Still, these were her people, if they’d only take a moment to realize it.

  “Have you put any thought into what you want to do when you graduate?”

  Kenzie sighed. “Yes. But I haven’t come up with any answers.”

  “Then let me suggest you allow the knowledge of your classes to sink in, and see if anything surfaces. Sheer determination got you into this school. It’s up to you what you want to get out of it.”

  Kenzie nodded as Ms. Heather gave her a friendly—albeit pitying—smile. Her stomach gurgled again, and Kenzie’s face flushed with heat once more.

  “Go ahead,” Ms. Heather said with a nod.

  “Thank you, Ms. Heather.”

  Kenzie bolted from the room, but turned away from the Dining Hall to head toward Tinkering class. Her stomach gave another groan, but she ignored it. Right, like learning how to heal shifters is going to help me figure out what I want to do with my life. School hadn’t lived up to her expectations, especially once everyone she considered close started graduating—or in Juliet’s case, just got really busy. She couldn’t help but feel she’d gotten her acceptance letter far too late. Whatever. She had other fish to fry. Or kitsunes, as it were.

  She pulled her Santa hat off and stashed it in her back pocket as she neared, ducking behind people to avoid running into Wes. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to see him, but she didn’t want to miss her chance to talk to Mr. Suzuki or delay her lunch any longer than absolutely necessary—and right on cue, her stomach gave another rumble. Soon. I’ll feed you soon.

  She ducked into Mr. Suzuki’s class, but not before she caught sight of Wes leaning in to talk to Ms. Vex, the corner they occupied looking mighty cozy. Kenzie didn’t dislike the gorgeous teacher—whose Columbian hips and sultry mouth did little to discourage the hormonal shifter guys from their open stares and schoolboy crushes—but mostly because she tried to forget the woman even taught Wes. Or existed. But seeing them so close sparked a bit of jealousy, if only for a moment. Wes would never stray. He was too granola for that. Besides, she had a kitsune to convince and a stomach to appease. She didn’t have time for that. Right?