Page 151 of Her Rabid Beasts

The easiest option was to simply allow the students to think the serpents were sent home. No one would complain about it anyway.

I don’t have to wait long before Savage and Aurelia arrive, hand in hand. The perpetual vise that forms around my chest every time I leave her loosens and I feel as if I can breathe freely again.

She is breathtaking, as usual. Glowing from sex with her mates last night. And more than that is the casually wild, heady power she oozes. The one that beckons to me with her every step and breath. I watch her, watch everything.

The hall activity lulls for a moment before it starts back up at double the decibels. I monitor the other students for their response to her presence. There is the usual male posturing and preening from the birds of prey and a general interest zoning in from the other males. A few from the feline and hyena orders actually stand up from their tables to get a look at her, before being pulled back down by their more socially aware friends.

They all wonder what I did. What I still wonder. At what type of female demands to have her arms broken for her friends.

Henry sees her next, almost sensing her at the door. He lets out an indignant chirp before shooting towards her like a fluffy blue missile. He’s only a blur as he smacks into her chest, making her stumble back a step and then laugh; a brilliant, happy sound that makes me want to close my eyes and treasure it like a dragon.

“Settle down, hatchling,” Savage chides like an alpha wolf telling off his pup. “Look at her, she’s fine.”

Henry chirps with his whole body, closing his eyes with the force of it.

“He’s telling you off for keeping me,” Aurelia says with a smile. “And he has every right.”

A small growl rumbles out of my chest and Savage gives me a reproachful side-eye.

“Did you say something, Lyle?” a low female voice asks by my elbow.

I tear my eyes off Aurelia as her friends run towards her, surrounding her with exclamations and hugs.

“I was saying that the line is moving too slowly,” I say loudly, pointing at a loitering tiger, who’s too busy staring at Aurelia to realise the line has moved ahead. He hastily shuffles down the buffet with his tray. I glance at the cassowary anima I assigned to Aurelia as her female counsellor so many months ago. “How are you, Theresa? How are Felicity and Jess?”

“Were they keeping you in their dorm?” Sabrina asks Aurelia excitedly andloudly. “Were theytendingto your wounds?”

“How was the sex?” Connor asks with equal volume. “Don’t lie to me, girl, you glow!”

Theresa huffs a laugh at the sight of them. “I’m well, thank you. So are my women. I’m just happy to see Lia is back and looking healthier.”

Felicity and Jess are Theresa’s mates, a cassowary and emu shifter, respectively. I met Theresa during my training inpsychology at Blackwater Penitentiary. There weren’t enough males wanting to do the course in jail, so the few of us males were put in with the female cohort. It’s one of the reasons I hire so many ex-cons. Theresa was in jail for manslaughter at the time. The so-called victim just so happened to be a human ex-boyfriend of Felicity’s who’d been stalking them, but Theresa had a good lawyer and got a reduced sentence for her clean record and good behaviour.

I’m immediately aware that Theresa is looking between me and Aurelia. “Glad to hear it,” I say. “We’ll need to keep an eye on Titus.”

She nods in understanding. I’ve already briefed the entire staff and guard roster on what happened on the day of Aurelia’s student-run trial and the precautions we’d need to take. I have no intention of letting Titus get anywhere near my regina ever again.

Minnie, for her part, looks truly awful as she hugs Aurelia. All my male instincts are telling me she’s not a female who’s coping. I was hoping that with Aurelia’s return, the tiny tigress would perk up and reengage with her classes and teachers. It’s why I didn’t insist on Aurelia moving in with Savage just yet. Her friends need her.

On that, Icanfight my primitive urges.

My phone vibrates and I glance at it to see Georgia is taking sick leave for the next few days.

“I love you guys,” Aurelia sniffs as she finally breaks free of her friends. Something vital in my gut tightens.

Her friends chorus, “We love you more!”

Savage and Aurelia get their food, both pointedly ignoring me.

“Eat your vegetables,”I say to Savage, mind-to-mind.

“Prick,”Savage replies in the same way. He loads up his plate with chicken thighs, bacon, eggs, and one thin slice of tomato.

“I held her legs open for you, asshole,”I reply.

He smirks as he turns around.“And how sweet it was.”

As Savage leads her to their new larger table, Aurelia’s mouth drops open upon seeing it. “Wait, what?” she says in shock.

---