Page 171 of Her Rabid Beasts

A dark shadow scoops me up and the roar of the wind and the scream in my head come to an abrupt halt. Despite the pain splitting my brain open, I know I’m safe in someone’s arms and back on the ground.

I have no time to ponder the how of it as my senses come back online and my vision sharpens within my eagle eyes. My four mates surround me, and behind them, academy guards watch on warily.

Both Lyle’s and Scythe’s phones go off at the same time. Scythe brings his phone out to look at a text while I’m jostled in Lyle’s arms as he answers a call. “What?” he snaps.

We all hear the deep timbre of the voice on the other side of the line. It’s Ruben.

“Mace Naga is at the front gate. Him and his contingent with a warrant.”

“What does he want?”

“He’s saying he’s come to hold you and Animus Academy accountable for the treatment of the serpents at the school. The ones in the cages. He’s saying it’s against the Species Anti-discrimination Act?—”

“I’ll be down shortly.”

The ones in the cages? But I thought Lyle sent them all home.

But that attack on my shields is not done. With a psychic wail, my shield is shredded apart by brusque, efficient force.

Malevolent pain slashes across my stomach. Dark, venomous fangs scorch hot through my already necrotic skin.

I scream, flailing in Lyle’s arms, wings flapping, legs kicking out. I can’t breathe. I can’t think. My head is whirling, my very reality slipping.

Savage’s scent envelopes me. His voice is panicked. “Aurelia, baby, what’s wrong?”

Lyle’s hands grip me firmly as I struggle to maintain consciousness under the assault. But the pain, the burn, the sheer blindingshreddingof it is driving me near mad. At this rate, I won’t have a stomach left.

Burn. Burn. Burn.

Shred. Shred. Shred.

I buck and thrash, trying to bring up my shields, shoving both mates away. But they hold fast. They’re talking, arguing, but I can’t hear what they’re saying.

And then a command, sharp enough to cut through the fog invading my mind. “Shift.”

On instinct, I obey.

Cold air hits my skin, my stomach, and I scream in agony. I manage to set my feet on the grass, but large, firm hands stop me from crashing to the ground.

Then it stops. The assault ceases and I’m left with a malicious slicing afterburn.

I open my eyes and look up in horror.

All four of my mates surround me, staring at my stomach and the four now bleeding, gaping necrotic wounds that have torn the once smooth skin of my stomach into shreds.

Savage is holding one of my arms, his face contorted into pure animalistic outrage.

Lyle’s face is white as he holds my other wrist. His nostrils flare as he stares at me.

Scythe’s glacial figure seems frozen in time and space as his pupils are blown out, engulfing his irises completely.

And Xander’s glowing white eyes have turnedblack.

Behind them, the guards try to crane their necks to see me.

“Aurelia.” Lyle’s strangled voice hits me like a fist to the gut. There’s agony and torment, but I barely have time to register that before I see it happen, like a wave breaking along a beach.

One by one, I watch my mates fall into their animuses. Fall into pure animal rabidity.

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