Page 114 of Her Rabid Beasts

It’s his surname that makes me stare. That makes the back of my neck prickle and recognition twist through my bones.

Titus Clawson.

I know that name. My hands tremble as I brush a finger over his surname and realise why I thought Titus looked familiar. Quickly thumbing through to the first page where his personal details are listed, I run my finger down his age and address until I get to his next of kin.

Next of Kin: Cain Clawson

Relationship: Father

I stare and stare at the paper. At the memory of a tiger who I once saw stalking up the stairs to my father’s manor. I’d just returned from kindergarten and was riding my tricycle through the foyer at full speed. He appeared on the threshold and I rammed right into his bare feet, hitting his shins before my tricycle rolled backwards. I’d looked up… and up… and up. He was tall. As dark and wild as Titus, but his eyes weren’t nearly so hard.

I thought the sight of him would offend my father because he was sort of feral, with dirt on his chest and rumpled, dirty track pants. Humans might have thought the guy looked homeless if not for the arrogant swagger, the obvious threat he posed.

But he knew my name. “Aurelia,” he greeted far more gently than I expected. “You have beautiful eyes, like your mother. I wonder if your father has noticed.”

“Cassius?” My usually gentle mother’s voice was sharp as she strode into the foyer. I remember being scared by that tone. “Since when is it commonplace for territory leaders to wander into foreign land unannounced?”

“Athena.” When the tiger replied, I had to stare. I didn’t know the word for the way he spoke to her then, but I do now. Reverent. There is no other descriptor for it.

I don’t remember what happened after that, except that my nanny Rosalina ushered me away. But a part of me had sensed who he was. What he was to my mother.

I’m very tempted to take this file and run so I can study everything completely, but Lyle would probably tear the school down until he found the perpetrator, and I don’t want to implicate my friends. Sighing, I leaf through each page of boring notes by vets, nurses, and the zookeeper, Rick. Lyle’s notes are handwritten in long detailed paragraphs. I leaf through them faster and faster until I hear a sound that makes me and Henry freeze.

The pinging of the elevator.

“Henry!” I breathe. My nimpin is hovering by Lyle’s computer and whips around, zipping up to me in alarm.

Slowly, I grab the file and close the drawer, retreating into the corner of the office and enveloping both Henry and I in my invisible shield. If I stay super still, then?—

But it’s not Lyle who peaks his head around the wood panelled door. It’s a head full of dark waves and hazel eyes that gleam with mischief.

“Regina,” Savage sings softly. “I’ve been tracking you all over the school. Are we playing a game?”

“Fuck,” I say it out loud.

Savage’s head snaps to my corner, his face lighting up. “Caught you!”

He steps in, kicks the door closed and prowls right up to me. “I’m thinking we make love in here to fuck with Lyle.”

Henry makes to go over to Savage, but I grab the nimpin and shake my head at him. But that’s all the distraction Savage needs to bound right over to me and press me up against the wall.

“Regina,” he coos.

Henry coos back.

Savage makes a face.

I sigh, and lower my invisibility shield, revealing the both of us squashed against the wall.

“You’re up to no good,” Savage tuts. “Naughty girl.”

I push at his hard chest. “Get out of here. I’m busy.”

His gaze narrows on me. Then he sees the files I’m clutching to my chest like treasure. “What’s this?” He grabs the Titus file out of my hands, but of course, he can’t read it.

“Tuh,” he says, trying to sound out the letters. “Tie—” He frowns.

“I really need to teach you to read,” I mutter. “Anyway, you don’t need to know what it says.”

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