Page 35 of Her Rabid Beasts

The smile slips off his face faster than a sheet pulled off a dining table. His eyes level on me, his body coiled and ready.

Hm. Shit. There are more guards than usual around the hall today, but the problem with that is they step inaftera fight starts, allowing us the opportunity to get some damage in. I wonder if Lyle will let it happen today. I’m almost curious enough to test him out. Push his limits a little bit. Animas are generally not attacked by animuses here. The males are forever trying to get into our good graces and don’t want to ruin their chances with us. But this Titus is new. He might not care about that.

I go to take a step forward but a massive invisible force brushes against the shield I keep around my body, not a dominating warning, but a careful and inquiring request.

It is not Titus’ telekinesis, like I expected, but another feline’s from further away. My shields won’t let that power touch my skin directly, and it does not try to breach it.

I am here,it says.

But I am confused by what Lyle is trying to say. I’m confused by this change in his approach.

But Minnie, as always, comes to rescue, putting her tiny hand on the tiger’s substantial, bare forearm. She frantically looksbetween him and me. “It’s alright, Lia,” Minnie says quickly. “I’m sitting here for a bit. I’ll catch up with you later, alright?”

Titus relaxes the barest fraction and Connor blows out a relieved breath.

Looks like I won’t win this bout. I give my friend a small smile and nod. “See you later, Minnie.”

It looks like I’ve officially returned to the jungle and there are new predators stalking the underbrush.

Chapter 18

Aurelia

After breakfast, Minnie and Titus leave together. Just them. Connor comes hurrying to our table to slap me on the shoulder and berate me about my lack of self-preservation.

“Who is this animus?” Sabrina asks him. “He looks like bad news.”

“Well, I mean, heishot,” admits Connor, shivering a little. “But he’s also one of the rabids treated by Mr. Pardalia. Just got released this morning. I had no idea he was Minnie’s ex, though. That’s some serious shit she’s into.”

Raquel swears.

Sabrina mutters, “I’ll be having words with her when she comes back from fucking him.”

We all groan in dismay before we head back to the anima dorm.

As it’s Sunday, the others need to get ready for the school week by doing laundry, ironing their outfits, and catching up on homework and group projects. But when we get back to the anima dorm, I see something I missed while I was being rushed out the first time. Or rather, someone.

“Nice pumps, Connor,” a nasally voice chirps from overhead.

I gape at the newmovinggargoyle sitting above the door like she’s always been there.

“Aurelia, meet Christine.” Sabrina rolls her eyes. “Old bat, meet Aurelia Aquinas.”

“I’m well aware of who this is.” Christine peers down at me with great interest. “You and I will be great friends, Miss Aurelia!”

“Oh, so you likeher, but not me?” Sabrina puts her hands on her hips.

“She’s got better fashion sense.”

“She gets her fashion sense fromme!” Sabrina shakes her fist at Christine before leading us all sniggering inside.

I drag Stacey and Connor into my room and pull up the academy tablet. We’re not allowed online shopping privileges until second year, but Stacey has managed to hack her way into getting the system to approve us.

We sit on my bed for an hour, giggling and gasping over my purchases with my massive, mysterious school stipend. I wish Minnie was with us, but that’s another problem I’m going to have to deal with. I even get Connor and Stacey a couple things while we’re at it. Considering I can hardly call the free money mine, I feel bad using it without sharing.

We’re just putting through the payment when footsteps come thundering down our corridor.

Connor jumps to his feet straight away, on high alert. He was born with an anima and is gender-fluid, but because he’s a biological male, chooses to live in the animus dorm. Which is a more exciting place to live due to the “pleasantly volatile action” every day.

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