Page 65 of Her Feral Beasts

The thought makes me shudder, right down to my bones, because it makes so much sense for that shark to be in a position like that. I’d known from the moment I saw them all in Halfeather’s dungeon that they were into illegal business.

We make it to the deputy headmaster’s office after the guards loiter to talk to another set of guards about who’s on break next, so I’m pissed offandlate. But as the elevator opens to the top floor, revealing a plush, carpeted seating area worthy of the Prime Minister’s offices, I’m chewing my lip with anxiety. I’m still frazzled from yesterday. Couple that with the lack of sleep and I’m practically jittery. Henry vibrates on my shoulder to try and settle me down.

The guards take up positions by the elevator and my panic ramps up a notch. Am I going to be in a room alone with the guy? He has a vendetta against me because I escaped him that one time, and that detention he gave us was out of spite. But surely the guards will be with me for the meeting?

A sophisticated lioness with a long mane of golden hair and a sexy pink business dress that hugs her curves gets up from a receptionist’s desk. I suddenly feel very drab in my faded old shift dress. She’s smiling when the elevator opens, but when she sees it’s me, her smile drops immediately. For some reason, that irritates me, and I pointedly look around for Lyle’s office door. But there are only closed doors in the lush burgundy ambience. Potted ferns are strategically placed around the room, bringing a little nature into the corporate space.

“Hi, I’m here for—”

“You’re late,” she snaps.

I’m about to say I’m sorry when she turns on her black red-bottomed stilettos and strides to an ornate door on the far wall. She knocks briskly, then opens it without waiting for a response. I think that’s a little rude, but what do I know? I’m just a felon.

“She’s here,” the receptionist announces. I don’t like the way she says ‘she’s’ like I’m a dirty tissue.

The deep male voice from within says, “Thank you, Georgia.”

Georgia, whose dress clings to her body in all the right ways, narrows her eyes at me and jerks her head towards the room.

She’s trying to show her dominance, and for some reason, maybe instinct, it sets my anima off. My spine straightens, my chin comes up, and my walk becomes more of a stride. Henry lets out a warm, reassuring warble on my shoulder as I don’t break eye contact with ‘Georgia’, and walk right up to the door with bristling purpose. My new flip flops slapping against my heels ruin the effect but still.

Sweeping past her dismissively, I enter the room—

And promptly trip on the edge of a thick carpet. I let out a little squeak before I catch myself and straighten. Henry leaves my shoulder for a moment, but lands right back down with a low, annoyed cluck.

Behind me, fucking Georgia snorts before closing the door. My anima and I decide we hate her and both of her supermodel legs.

So it’s with great attitude that I lock eyes with the massive suited beast sitting behind the redwood desk. His long honey blond hair is neatly tied back, and his grey three-piece is so perfect I feel sick. It’s like I’ve walked into purgatory only to be met by an archangel who’s about to interrogate me in front of a set of golden scales. Will I be allowed into heaven, or will he judge me as only worthy of hell? It’s easy to forget that he’s twenty-seven, if rumours are to be believed.

“Don’t be late again, Miss Aquinas,” he says tersely.

His deep voice moves across my skin like heavy silk. I’m so annoyed by this and the receptionist that I just stand there and seethe. Lyle’s perfectly clean-shaven jaw clenches and my heart becomes a racehorse when he says in a cold clip, “It’s customary to apologise when you are late to an appointment. I expect better of you.”

What a prick. But I do remember that this guy is the archangel of feral and rabid beasts because he’s supposed to teach us how to operate in society and not just be animals. But I’m also still annoyed he brought me here against my will. And… he ‘expectsbetter’ of me?

I cock my head at that statement. “Do you?”

His face is so cold that I feel a chill down my spine and the anima in me begs to submit to his sheer alpha dominance. But he literally foiled all my well-laid plans. Enemy number one, whether my anima likes it or not.

He says nothing and I realise he’s not going to proceed until I apologise. I sigh so deeply it moves my shoulders.

But I’ll be damned if I’msubmissiveas I say it.

So I keep my chin up. “I’m so sorry for being late, Mister Deputy Headmaster.” Was that a mocking bite to my voice? Shit, there definitely was. Why am I literally poking the lion with a stick? A smarter woman would bare her neck, then stab him in the back afterwards. But I just can’t stomach that, because right now, defiance is all I have left.

“Sit,” he orders, pointing to one of the two chairs sitting opposite one another by a set of fancy bay windows.

My anima shoves me forward as soon as the pure command hits my ears. I hate my beast so much, but I can’t resist without tripping over again, so I just shuffle over, then plonk down in the hard seat. I take Henry in my palms and pet his fluffy goodness to distract myself. He’s so cute; he just blinks up at me and bobs up and down on those silly feet. I keep my eyes on his liquid black ones as Lyle gets up and strides over to sit opposite me.

But oh-fucking-no. Because now, he’s too close.

Even through my seven shields, I scent him immediately. On the surface, he smells like cologne and freshly pressed books. But underneath that is a feeling of sheer power that has me quivering in my old dress. Why do we have to sit like this? I don’t look up at him and just continue to pet Henry’s soft blue fur with two fingers. His hair will grow long, and eventually I’ll be able to braid it. Connor already has tiny diamante clips in his nimpin’s hair, and I want to treat Henry just as well.

I can see Lyle’s legs from this angle. He’s resting one shiny business shoe over one knee and I can’t help but notice how the grey slacks strain against the muscle of his thigh.

My anima keens and I slap that bitch down. Henry blinks as he senses my discomfort and leans into my fingers to try and comfort me. As soon as we get back to the dining hall, he’s getting the juiciest blueberry I can find.

Everything in this office is perfectly straight and organised. There’s not a speck of dust, nor anything that doesn’t serve a purpose. It’s giving elephant-sized control freak energy.

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