Page 123 of Her Rabid Beasts

In our world, this is a language that speaks volumes.

“She’s his fucking girlfriend,” Raquel grits out without stuttering. “And he puts her behind them!”

We watch with bated breath as she lines up at the buffet behind the pair and Titus doesn’t even spare her a glance. He’s even feeding her last.

“Fucker,” Stacey chokes out.

“That limp-dicked neanderthal,” Sabrina sneers. “I hope he catches salmonella from all that raw chicken he eats.”

Eugene caws in agreement from where he sits between me and Raquel.

My blood is boiling, my heart is racing, and my fists are tight around the edges of my chair. I don’t know why Minnie is insistent on following Titus around when he’s treating her like this. Surely this is not what love is supposed to look like. It’s through clenched teeth that I say into Sabrina’s head,“Let’s get this bastard.”

Chapter 50

Aurelia

Sabrina nods, her body also taut with anger as the two of us exit the dining hall. Minnie doesn’t look around as we pass her for the doors, but her body is stiff right up to her shoulders and she’s still in the way of someone trying to keep themselves together. She’s in a simple, loose black dress and Gertie is like a tiny ball of sunshine that is clucking in her ear.

Black is Minnie’s least favourite colour. And apparently, it’s Titus’ favourite.

“You can hear me?”Raquel projects.

“Loud and clear,”I reply.

Outside, the autumn sun beams down on us, warming my cold veins. We walk down the path towards the anima dorms before slipping into the gap between the central building and one of the wings. There are no guards around, nor anyone to watch us as I slip a bubble of my invisible eighth shield around my leopard friend and me.

With yesterday afternoon’sactivitiesunder Lyle’s desk, I’m powered up and feeling confident that the shield will hold all the way in and out.

“Fast walk,” I instruct Sabrina. “And remember, it doesn’t block sound.”

“Got it.”

With my arm looped through her slender one, we leg it back out and head right for the animus dorm, weaving through the steady stream of animuses heading in the opposite direction for lunch. Luckily, I don’t see any of my mates, which surely would have spelled disaster. Scythe can hear my heart beat, so there is no escaping him, and Savage can just… well, bloodyfeelmy presence, can’t he? He’s the best tracker out of all them. Hopefully, they’re cosied up in their secret level eating all the fun food the rest of us don’t get. For once, that benefits me.

The second thing I’m nervous about is Bastian, the animus dorm gargoyle, leering down at everyone through his monocle. I don’t know how far his magic goes, but it turns out he’s too busy ogling animus asses as they leave their dorm to notice two invisible girls. Sabrina huffs as we hear a slyly muttered, “Buttocks as firm as a fresh peach on that one, ripe for the plucking!” before we slip inside after two spikey-haired hawks.

In the cool of the dorm foyer, we find a corner and catch our breaths because I don’t want anyone to stalk us from our panting. When our breaths are slow and even once again, we tip-toe our way up the stairs and to the first floor.

The corridor is empty, bar a few stragglers at the end who appear to be on cleaning duty, steadily mopping the floor around their rooms.

“It’s the third door on the right,” I mutter.

Sabrina grunts and gets out her lock picks. “Shouldn’t take me long.”

We reach the door and both press our ears against the black wood to sense if anyone is still in there. After hearing nothing, Sabrina sets to it with her lips puckered adorably. It’s fascinating to watch. She doesn’t even use her hands, just her telekinesis as the picks make tiny adjustments I can barely see. Her ability to handle tiny delicate things would come in handy for manydifferent things. In another life, Sabrina might have made a great animalia scientist, handling dangerous chemicals.

With asnick,the lock opens. We both cast a look around before Sabrina pushes the door open. A shout from the end of the corridor gives us both pause. I grab Sabrina’s arm.

“You can’t collect rat bones in your room, Ray!” Savage bellows loud and clear from a room at the very end of the corridor.

“Why not, sir?” whines a male, presumably a wolf. “I’m saving them up for when I meet my regina?—”

“It’s not hygienic!” Savage cries.

“I’m torching it.” Xander’s dry voice makes both Sabrina and I stare at each other. “It’s downright offensive to my nose.”

I split my invisibility shield in two, right down the middle. It takes a moment of intense concentration, but I manage it, and it enables me to step away from Sabrina.

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