Page 96 of Her Feral Beasts

“You guys are crazy,” Connor whispers. “I fucking love it.”

Minnie and Raquel groan in unison.

The smell of feral males surrounds us like a multilayered blanket. It’s the scent of sunlight mixed with untamed forests, cold earthen caves and the icy depths of the ocean.

My body erupts with goosebumps.

“You wanted my attention, Lia?” Savage’s voice is a wolfish growl. He roughly pulls up a chair next to me, sets his tray down, patting Henry roughly on the head before draping an arm over my shoulder. “Well, you have it. Animas, I’m sure you don’t mind company.”

Though I stiffen, his scent is around me, warm, delicious and inviting. But I get my shit together because everyone in the dining hall is watching.

“Such lovely manners,” I say darkly. “Is that what they teach you in the ferals class?”

Savage, damn him, leans down and puts his nose flush against my neck. I stiffen as his touch sends feathers of arousal fluttering through my entire body. I’m wet within seconds and struggling to breathe. I need to buy underwear asap.

“Fuck, regina, you smell amazing. Climb into my lap right now and I’ll fuck you in front of everyone.”

I know he’s just saying that to rile me up, but wouldn’t it be funny if I actually did that, with that treacherous mark on his finger? The image sliding through my brain is telling me there’d be nothingfunnyabout it.

The wolves and felines are all drawing up seats and crowding around us, huge and intimidating. Sabrina and Stacey are batting their eyelashes and smiling flirtatiously while Minnie shrinks when Yeti takes a piece of bacon from her tray. Scythe sits at the end of the table with his sushi, his eyes cold on me, still a king at court.

Three kings at court who are out to make my life hell.

I’m so suffocated by the smell of male and my own mates that I’m rapidly dizzy and lightheaded. But I asked for this, it’s true. I need to show strength right now. For Minnie, whose face looks as if she’s eaten a firebomb chilli, I need to be strong, and for Gertie, who’s looking worriedly at each animus.

Raquel suddenly growls and snaps their teeth at the wolf trying to put his arm around them.

“Leave Raquel alone,” Savage orders, pointing a finger at the male.

The wolf promptly raises his hands and quickly says, “Yes, boss.”

“Apologise,” Savage says, picking up his toast.

“I’m sorry, Raquel.”

Raquel grunts as if to say ‘apology accepted’.

Dear Wild Mother. His absolute command over them is unsettling.

Savage devours his toast with this right hand, licking his fingers one by one when he’s done. I can’t help but watch and it’s all I can do to keep from drooling at the sight of his mouth moving around the food. I feel as if the weight of the ocean is on my shoulders and we’re all just floating listlessly under water.

Minnie is clearly freaking out because on her other side casually sits the big white-haired Siberian tiger they call Yeti. She stops eating completely.

“Don’t stop on our account, Minnie Mouse,” Xander drawls. “Eat up. You’ll need your strength.”

“For the next kidnap attempt?” Minnie blurts.

We all go still. Then Savage and Xander laugh and everyone relaxes. “No,” Savage says as if it’s all very funny, “we’re not doing it that way again.”

My heart plummets into my stomach, but I try and maintain my calm. Swivelling around in my chair, I turn to face Savage front on. “Are you going to try something else, then?” We’re so close, and clearly he’s feeling it too, because his eyes drop to my lips and he licks his own. Heat pulses all around my entire body and I feel like I’m going to pass out.

But it’s Xander who spits, “We don’t have to. The trial will do that for us.”

Oh no, he didn’t! I flip my hair over my shoulder, catching Savage in the face as I do, but he doesn’t so much as flinch. “Yeah, well, enjoy this while it lasts then,scales, because you’ll miss me when I’m thrown into Blackwater.”

Everyone around the table stares at me, shocked.

“What did you just call me?” Xander’s voice is dangerously low.

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