Page 150 of Her Rabid Beasts

And I was jealous of that.

That instead of being two parts in one body, Savage was whole. A fully integrated animalia. Ferality was looked down upon in our community, but I was starting to think that we’d let the humans force us into an unnatural state of civility. Becauseat the heart of it, our beasts were powerful. And the suppression of our beasts made us not civilised, butdocile.

More controllable.

For the first time in years, I doubt my work. I doubt my own teachings.

So, I’d carefully considered Scythe’s perspective and agreed on a compromise to our situation. Celeste didn’t like it, but she agreed that we have no other option.

I exit the elevator, take a short walk, and then go down another elevator and a set of stairs.

Ruben meets me at the first door, swiping his card to let me into the shadowy tunnel beyond.

“Any trouble this morning?”

“Only the usual,” he gruffs. “But I did want to ask how long you were intending to keep them here.”

I level him a look because he usually never questions my authority. Or my actions. Ruben looks down at me from his great height, the dark shadows creating harsh lines across his grey eyes and ruddy brown beard. I find myself wondering how long it would take me to decapitate him.

“As long as it takes to eliminate the threat,” I reply evenly.

Ruben nods. “Roger that, boss.”

Entering the tunnel, the automatic lights turn on, showing me the earthen cavern beyond. When I emerge into the circle of brighter lights, the shouting immediately begins.

From the serpent students we locked up in here two days ago.

“My father will hear about this!” one of them shouts.

“This is wrong!” a female voice screams. “This is fucking wrong and you know it, Mr Pardalia!”

The cells are carved into the rock itself, wide arches that are closed off with obsidian bars. There are not only serpents here, but a few hyenas too. Those Scythe informed me are friendly with Mace Naga’s people.

There is a feral sort of satisfaction I get from seeing the enemies of my regina locked up. I know it’s not healthy. I know my animus is leading me to do this.

But in this, I cannot stop the urge.

These serpents helped trap and torture my regina. They will try to do the same thing and worse once again to not only Aurelia but my other anima students.

They tried to cut off her mating mark.Ourmating mark off her precious skin.

“You are being fed well,” I say coldly to them. “You are receiving your classes. You are allowed outside.” Under cover of darkness with a full guard, but I don’t feel the need to mention that. “All your needs are fulfilled and more.”

“How long?” someone cries. “Just tell us how long, Mr Pardalia.”

I inhale, scenting fear and anger, human tears, andserpent. I exhale it all out. “Not long now,” I say, before turning and leaving.

In the dining hall, I nod at an excited Sabrina and Stacey, waiting by the giant table they’ve made with Scythe’s males at the back. Savage and Scythe felt the need to take Aurelia’s animas under their wing. Savage saw them red-eyed and glum on that first day she didn’t show up to breakfast and ordered the joining of tables. That cheered them right up.

Today, I allowed Stacey and Sabrina to set up a giant, multicoloured banner across the back of the hall:

WELCOME BACK, AURELIA!

There’s no name for the primal feeling I have at seeing her name emblazoned on my academy in gold and purple, as well as the illustration of an eagle, its wings surrounding the bubbled words in a hug.

Henry is jumping up and down on the table, zipping around Minnie’s pink crown in jubilation while they all wait for her. Eugene is in Raquel’s lap with a handmade necklace around his neck and brown goggles securely on.

On one of the feline tables, Titus is white-lipped, his nostrils flaring, eyes darting around the hall. A predator assessing prey. His eyes land on the two serpent’s tables on the other side of the hall, the light from the stained-glass windows falling on all the empty seats.

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