Page 102 of Her Feral Beasts

“Cause of death was declared suicide,” I murmur.

“That is what it says.”

I glance up at him and he shakes his head, precisely once. “I am still making inquiries.”

“Is there a scent profile?”

He nods and taps the side of his nose.

As I read, a single word comes into view, the others fading away. The ghost next to me whispers it out loud and giggles madly.

“You understand the implications of this?” I ask, tapping the paper.

“There are many rare creatures that walk this great southern land, Scythe Kharkorous. I am one of them. You know this secret is safe with me, but… it will get out. These things always do.”

I nod my thanks and hand him a wad of cash. He accepts it with both hands and a bowed head.

As I stride out of the house the night air fills with screams.

“Crazy fucker,” Xander laughs.

Chapter45

Aurelia

The two weeks leading up to my trial pass a little too fast for my liking. The unmated animas train self-defence together in the large room with practice mats. Reuben, the seven foot tall wolf, teaches us basic moves, and for the moment, we only use our human forms.

We went to the village again, and I got to buy new underwear. With my massive stipend, Wednesday night drinks at one fancy café or another are always on me. Every other night, Connor joins us for coffee in the dining hall before we go to bed and we debrief or complain about the various goings on. Apart from the guards watching our every move, we could almost be having a normal time.

Until Minnie and I go to the library, occasionally joined by the others, to see what we can dig up, that is.

I work in the healing clinic on the next two Friday nights, where Hope is very impressed with my healing of the injured beasts who come in from the fights that happen at the academy. Because of all the injuries that come through there, I’ve been able to show my healing prowess that leaves Lyle positively befuddled by Hope’s reports of my work.

Saturday becomes ‘Lyle day’, otherwise known as ‘torture day’ or ‘control yourself, Aurelia day’.

My taunting of Savage by wearing scandalous clothes does not extend to the Saturday mornings I have with Lyle Pardalia. I struggle with his presence enough as it is, with the constant squeezing of my thighs, the damp armpits, the awful giddy feeling in my belly andallover. I don’t need to be wearing a thong and a short skirt, making it worse for me.

I would have loved to see Georgia’s face if Ididrock up with my thong showing, but I couldn’t stand it if Lyle saw.

So, when I get dressed to see him on the second last Saturday before the trial, I put on a nice pink dress—the colour of innocence to further my cause—cute sandals with diamantes on them, and do a full face of makeup with contouring and everything. I’m happy to say I’ve had a bit of a glow up because now I have access to makeup and no short supply of people to learn from. I’m pretty proud of it myself, and Minnie gives me an approving round of applause as I twirl around to show her.

The two guards glance at me and I can’t see their faces, but I think they’re raising their brows. I put my nose in the air and try to ignore them.

As Lyle and I do our walking meeting, the very first thing he says to me is a jab (no surprise at all). “Are you trying to impress me today, Miss Aquinas?”

I stiffen. “Definitely not.”

“It’s not working, in any case. The council will see right through it.”

“I just happen to like pink,” I say defensively. I channel my inner Elizabeth Bennet to match his haughty tone. “And you know, Mr Pardalia, you make itreallyhard to like you.” I suddenly feel like I should apologise, but the blank look he’s giving me is sending me off the rails, so now I’m definitely never apologising to him about anything.

“I’m not here to be liked, Miss Aquinas.”

“Great technique. Must be peer reviewed and evidence-based. I’m sure it works well for you.”

He stops walking and abruptly turns to glare at me. “Might I remind you that you have a trial for arson and murder next Monday?”

“I do not need reminding, Mr Pardalia,” I snap.

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