Page 55 of Her Feral Beasts

And my mates agreed.

My anima cries out in fear, desperation and confusion, but all it takes is Xander striding towards me with a malicious, very dragon-like fixation in his eyes that I come to my senses.

Some instinct speaks to me, and before I know it, I’m holding my breath and heading through the glass doors of the dining hall, clutching my duffle to my chest like a shield. My heart pangs a little, but I think it’s a good thing that Henry had the sense to abandon me. He’ll be much safer without me.

Everyone is in the dining hall for lunch, so there are many witnesses, meaning they can’t do a thing. Staying invisible, I jog inside, where the buzz of voices and laughter settles my terror a little.

I glance behind me to find Scythe and Xander entering the hall, closely followed by a stony-faced Savage. I rush over to my regular table where Minnie is picking at a barbeque chicken and pasta salad with Raquel, Sabrina, Connor and Stacey. Coming up next to her, I mutter a quiet “Minnie, it’s Lia.”

Minnie drops her bamboo knife. Gertie squeaks from her shoulder. I swear internally and look up to see all three men have their eyes on my Minnie.

“Minnie. Emergency,” I mutter. “I don’t know what to do. Don’t talk now. Hide your mouth with your hand before you speak.”

Bless my little pink-haired Sherlock Holmes because Minnie rests her elbow on the table, resting her chin on her hand and whispers, “Lia?”

Raquel looks up and frowns at her and I know I need to get Minnie out of here, but I also don’t want to get her hurt.

But Savage is pushing the other two aside and is now in the lead, prowling over to the table, his eyes fixed on my best friend.

“Shit,” I whisper. “They’re trying to abduct me. They’ve made a contract with my dad. I don’t know what to do.”

Minnie looks up with alarm when she sees the three beasts making a beeline for her. But I can’t wait any longer. I dart between tables, making a sharp left and heading back outside, hating myself for getting her involved. But they don’t need her, they’ll track me right out here, if Savage is right about my breathing being so loud.

Fresh, warm air hits me and I look up at the cloudless sky and know at once what I’ll do. I need to fly, maybe get up onto the roof of the school where they can’t track me, but that would leave my duffle for them to find and they’ll know my plan at once. I break into a full sprint, heading as far away as I can towards the warehouses where I can dump my bag.

“Lia.” Savage’s voice cuts through the air like a brutal knife and I hear a small squeak of protest. “I have your little Minnie Mouse.”

I skid to a halt on the grass, whirling around to see the three monsters with Savage gripping a frightened Minnie by her bicep. A snarl tears from my throat and I know they have me.

“Don’t you dare!” I cry. Both Gertie and Henry are in Scythe’s hands and he drops the blue and yellow fluffballs to the grass where they stay, eyes closed. Fury rips through my being. I sprint towards them.

“Run, Lia!” Minnie cries, her eyes searching the area. “Don’t worry about me! Go! Run!”

We’re far enough away from the dining hall that no one hears us and I curse myself for this trap. There are no guards in sight.

“Tigger tiger talks big talk.” Savage shakes Minnie a little. “She wants to play with the big boys.”

“No!” I cry.

They search the area for my voice, but I keep moving so they don’t know exactly where I am.

“Reveal yourself, Lia,” Savage growls, no sign of the hungry mate from before. “However you’re fucking doing it.”

I swear and make a wide berth so I’m behind them. But as I do, Scythe and Xander turn around, following my sound.

“How is she doing that?” Xander mutters.

Minnie looks up at him with alarm.

“Let Minnie go,” I call. “And I’ll come with you.”

“No negotiating,” Scythe rasps. “You’ll reveal yourselfnow.”

That voice of command almost has me, but Minnie cries out and suddenly Savage leaps away from her.

Bones pop and Minnie shifts. Her clothes fall to the ground in shreds as orange and black striped fur bursts into existence.

A snarling tiger stands between us now, her canines white and bared. She snaps at Savage, her eyes furious. In response, Savage explodes into his big black wolf form, baring his own huge teeth and viciously growls at her to submit. Minnie hisses, refusing to back down, and Xander laughs as Savage throws his bigger body at Minnie, leaping onto her and shoving her onto her back, his jaws aimed at her throat.

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