Page 20 of Blood on the Ice

“Your dad is a douche.”

“I’m well aware.”

I turn to look at him, and we burst into laughter. These are the moments I wish were more frequent. Kaspar is far too serious now and I love when he lets go. It feels normal and when there aren’t a bunch of gaping onlookers, there’s no reason for him to not drop the act and be my friend. Out of nowhere, he socks my arm, jerking his head at the house we’re walking past.

“Dean’s quarters,” he explains.

So this is where the enigmatic Morgana lives… interesting.

“Who are those people coming and going?” I frown, wondering if this is a scheme by the less-than-friendly staff.

“Looks like decorators? Makes sense. I wouldn’t want to live in the cheating, thieving ex I killed’s house, either.”

I roll my eyes at him as I watch the elves in coveralls hustling in and out. “I guess we won’t stop by to say hello today, then. She’ll have her hands full when she comes home to this nonsense.”

“Liam, we’re not stopping by to say helloever. Why do you insist on courting trouble, man? The last thing you need is to have some ridiculous paparazzi sneak on campus and catch you leaving the house of a convicted criminal.”

“Don’t be such a drag.” I pick up my pace as we head down the street, eager to get home where I can let go of my glamor. “Danger is fun and boredom is a mind killer. Besides, wejustadmitted she was likely justified.”

“But she went about it the wrong way and you need to stay away from scandal for the next three years, Prince. Your family hasenough issues without you bringing negative attention to it.” Kas looks exasperated, but I will not let him guilt me into not living my life.

“No press is bad press, dude. Besides, anything to distract the folks from my long gone brother or party-going sisters is probably more of a blessing than a curse. Even my inappropriate behavior is better than anyone else’s. My mother said so herself.” I stop as we reach our doorstep, batting my lashes at him playfully.

“Mab, save me from spoiled, rottenbratswith no common sense,” he grumbles as he walks up the stairs to clear the house before I enter.

Ignoring him, I look around, making a list in my head of what modifications I want Kaspar to schedule for the front and back yard to accommodate my nature fix. I’ll need a lot more vegetation to wander in and I don’t give a single fuck if the other people on this street are put off by the impending ‘Fae upgrades’ I’ll be making.

When he finally comes back out, he arches a brow. “It’s clear.”

“Oh, good. I was worried some evil villain was camped out in the linen closet.”

“Liam, shut up and get inside before I shock the shit out of you and haul you in over my shoulder.”

I ponder that for a moment. I’m not adverse, but I don’t think he’s ready to hearthatyet.

Fae are incredibly flexible with finding pleasure, you see.

i need help

As I glide over the campus, my mind is racing. I’m not sure what the information I found on all the different species means, especially since I’ve been trying to apply it to my former lovers and coming up short. None of them ever did the things I know their people for around me—a fact that only highlights our relationship defects. Apparently, I wasn’tintended for any of them, despite it feeling real. I’m not denying my feelings or those of my exes—well, except the dead fucker—but simple biology seems to say that I’ve never found my genuine family.

It’s both depressing and enlightening, that’s for certain.

I still don’t know what happened to Lucas. Certain species, including mine, are rare and secretive, resulting in insufficient documentation or verification of their habits. My information quest didn’t shed more light on what I should watch for regarding myself, nor polar bears. The latter seemed odd, but since those shifters are tied to an ancient, very influential family tree, it’s possible the details are well-guarded. I can’t imagine Fraü Wolfenberg or her ancestors wanted people to fake mating behaviors with their family members. It would facilitate several issues with marriages and media, even in the time before the Internet.

My only option now is to seek expert advice. I bank right on the next updraft, squinting at the buildings I’m above. TheVon Lichtenstein Science & Medical Centerlooms like a shiny, boxy eyesore at the farthest edge of the northeast portion of the campus. I assume they placed the new building there for ready access to the main roads, allowing transport to the city hospital with ease. What I read about the ugliest structure at State U told me it houses labs, lecture halls, the health center, a morgue, and various fancy-ass facilities in one huge mirrored sub-campus that extends seven levels underground and fifteen floors into the sky.

I hate it already.

It’s probably the gargoyle in me, but all the lovely architecture of the rest of the university makes me feel at home and thismonstrosity reminds me of L.A. or Singapore. Everything is cold—made of glass, steel, and a soulless design that does nothing for your heart when you look at it. Plus, there’s zero places to perch outside of a rooftop and that’s a tragedy. At a college with various species of winged creatures and animals, there shouldalwaysbe places for us to rest on high. The person who designed this place was a major asshole, if you ask me.

With another grumble of disgust, I pin my wings back and descend. My feet hit the ground a few feet short of the statue in front of the entrance. The post-modern sculpture is some kind of abstract of a DNA molecule in colorful metals and polymers—yet another abomination in construction masquerading as art. I have a distinct feeling this place will be one of my least favorite on campus after the sports stadiums and arenas. As long as nothing shady is going on, I won’t mess with their budgets out of bias, but there’s no way this high-tech nightmare is operating within its constraints. They will put my face on dartboards in the offices here.

“Good afternoon, Dean LeCiel! Welcome to theVon Lichtenstein Science & Medical Center. How may I direct you?”

My eyes widen as a sunny woman beams at me from the screen of an iPad on some sort of Johnny-Five robot contraption.What in the name of Zeus is this?!It takes a moment to compose myself and thankfully, the remote assistant chick allows me to do so without interjecting. “Hello. Have we met before?”

“No, ma’am! TheVon Lichtenstein Science & Medical Centeris a state-of-the-art facility. Facial recognition notified us of your entry immediately and Rhoda was dispatched so I could greet you. Since this is your first visit, would it be presumptuous to assume you’d like a tour?”

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