Page 131 of Her Rabid Beasts

Raquel allows a dramatic beat of silence before their reply. “He had his fangs out.”

There’s a sharp intake of breath in the audience and everyone stares at Thomas in disgust.

Xander tuts and waggles his finger at the Krait as if that isn’t a federal offence. “Truth.”

Thomas is in real shit. He wasn’t in danger and he wasn’t defending himself at the time. With my own transgression, I’d forgotten all abouthis, but brilliant Raquel evidently hadn’t.

And then Titus, clearly growing impatient, spits. “Askher.”He points an ugly finger at me, heavy black brows drawn together.

“Speak when spoken to!” Xander shouts at him. “Or I’ll throw you out of here, Clawson.”

“It’s my own fucking trial,” Titus shouts.

“I don’t fucking care,” Xander shouts back, and those eyes flash red for a moment.

The sight is enough to shut everyone up.

“Aurelia Aquinas. Finally, we come to you,” Xander says out loud, voice dripping with disdain. In my head, he says.“I fuckingknew you were up to something.”Out loud, he says, “How were you involved in this vile thievery?”

“I was the mastermind,” I say confidently. “I forced Sabrina to go with me to the animus dorm and steal Titus’ laptop and take it back with us.”

“Why am I not surprised?” Xander says, then frowns at me. He can’t read my truth or lies through my shields and I allow myself to smirk a little at it.

“See!” Titus roars. “She’s fucking smiling about it! No remorse at all. She’d do it again.”

“Is that right?” Xander asks. “Do you feel any remorse for stealing another beast’s property?”

I turn then, to look at Titus right in his terrible dark eyes. The tiger is panting, his pupils dilated, the rage in his body an obvious threat. He’d tear me apart if he got half the chance. I smile at that violence and match it with my own quiet dominance. “I don’t feel any remorse, and in fact, if I went back in the past, I’d do it all again the exact same way.”

Titus snarls and points a finger at me. “You’ll get what you’re owed, Aquinas.”

“Lia, stop it,” Minnie begs from somewhere behind me.

“Alright,” Xander says, commanding our attention once again. I turn back to be in line with Sabina and Raquel.

“So the two of you”—he points to me and Sabrina only—“by your own admission are guilty of your crime. Raquel Loba?” He turns to Scythe.

“Innocent,” Scythe rasps.

“Who’s the serpent leader?” Xander drawls.

The serpents murmur amongst themselves, because I’m sure that Natalia was their order leader. A round-faced girl steps forwards. There’s a venom registration number on her cheek and she wears ripped black jeans and a black singlet that showselaborate serpent tattoos over both arms. She wears that strange ‘B’ cult tattoo as well.

“Are you content with that verdict?” Xander asks impatiently.

She has no choice but to say a quiet. “Yes. And does Raquel want to press charges?”

“Not worth it,” Raquel growls.

There’s a collective, low rumble of laughs from the males in the hall.

I almost feel sorry for Thomas, being publicly declared as weak, but hewasthe one who landed us here, so I can’t feel too badly.

“Then, Sabrina Panthara and Aurelia Aquinas, you have been charged guilty?—”

“No,” I say quickly, stepping forward.

“Excuse me?” Xander’s voice is a low, threatening rumble.

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