Page 173 of Her Rabid Beasts

Suddenly, they seem to come to an understanding.

As one, they both turn to me andbow. Leaning down on their two front paws, their heads bend low.

I only have time to suck in a shocked, reverent breath before they both whip around and storm away from me, their heavy footfalls thudding on the academy turf. The guards scatter, shocked and in awe, I think, and one of them stutters into his walkie-talkie.

Scythe snarls and there’s no sign of a man in his face. His shark is visible in his eyes, those irises now a dark, malevolent navy blue, and his teeth—dear Goddess, histeeth—are no longera human’s, but the many-pointed rows of shark’s teeth. He bares them and follows after his bond-brothers a heartbeat later.

“Wait!” I cry.

But of course he doesn’t listen. They’re headed to the front gates. To kill my father, the cause of my wounds. But my father will be ready for this and they’ll get themselves killed in the process. Mace Naga takes guns and strong males with him everywhere. Guns loaded with things worse than plain bullets…

Struggling to calm down, and sending healing power to my shredded stomach, I turn to my remaining mate.

Xander’s glowing black eyes flash gold and are trained on my naked abdomen.

“Regina.” The heat hits me in a wave as he stalks towards me. His voice is like the dark, powerful places where the Earth’s core glows red. “Tell me who did this and I will tear their skull apart and eat their brain, piece by piece.”

“No,” I say quickly, sidestepping him and heading for the side gate where my other mates were headed. I have to stop them. I have to stop Lyle from ruining his entire career. I have to stop my father from killing them all.

“Then command me.” His own voice rings with command.

I pause, thinking rapidly about how best to handle this, eyeing the remaining guards unabashedly staring between us. A frantic Henry and Eugene appear from the bushes outside the animus dorm, where they must have been hiding in fear. Students are now streaming out of the dorm and the dining hall to see what the commotion is about.

“Stay here, keep the students inside,” I say quickly to Xander. “Keep them safe. Tell Yeti what’s happened. Shit is about to go down.”

He says it through gritted teeth, but I know in my bones he will not disobey me. “Very well, regina.”

“And take care of these two.” My little nimpin doesn’t want to leave me, but with a stern look from me, he zips over to Xander’s shoulder. Eugene follows.

“Aquinas,” one of the female guards barks, taking off her sunglasses to stare at me. “What the hell is going on?”

“We need to get to Lyle,” I say quickly. “He’s… I don’t think they’re in control.”

“You need to get back inside,” she says, rounding on me. “Right now.” Her walkie-talkie goes off and Ruben’s voice orders the guards to secure the students.

As we talk, I seal my new wounds. “Listen, everyone is in danger if Lyle is in his beast form.”

Another guard throws an orange academy jumpsuit at me. “You’re out of line, Aquinas. Get back inside with the rest of the students.”

I don’t have time for this.

Shifting into my eagle form, I launch into the sky. The sound of curses and guns being swung up follow me as I sweep powerful strokes to gain height. One shot is fired and I twist sideways, avoiding it entirely. By the time the next shot sounds, I’m flying over the animus dorm and headed for the main entrance.

If Lyle and Savage die on my account, I will never be able to live with myself.

One look at the front aspect of the academy shows me guards letting Lyle, Savage and Scythe through the side gate that leads up to the drive. A second look at the closed front gates reveal a convoy of many black cars, lined up as if ready and eager to enter.

Panicking, I mentally call out to Raquel as I bank.

“What’s wrong, cub?”

“My dad’s here. Shit’s turned crazy. Savage and Lyle have shifted. And… you guys need to be careful. You might be in danger.”

“Slow down. What the hell?”

“My dad’s here, Raquel. Tell the others and… I don’t know, keep away. Keep safe.”

I can only race after my three mates, who have no idea what they’re doing except seeking revenge for me.

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