Page 64 of Her Rabid Beasts

“But sir?” To my surprise, Minnie puts her hand up. “We’re sort of built for that, aren’t we? Reginas are normally a bit stronger than other animas.”

“Correct. Stronger physically as well as with your order’s given power. That’s why reginas have an allure that all beasts can sense, whether they are in their pack or not. It’s why, we think, reginas have stubborn personalities. To be able to handle a pack of beasts and lead them is no easy task.”

Minnie discreetly elbows Aurelia, but I still see it.

Savage chuckles under his breath. “I wouldn’t have her any other fucking way.”

“So, then we come to the question,” Lyle continues, “what is theroleof a regina?”

I’m surprised when Aurelia answers quietly. “To lead.”

“What was that, Miss Aquinas?” Lyle’s voice is as sharp as a slap on the ass.

Savage stiffens next to me, practically on the edge of his seat.

But Aurelia is undeterred and replies with all the sass she can muster. “Isaida regina’s job is to lead her pack. To be their reliable centre.” She sounds like she’s reciting it from a textbook, and knowing her proclivity to read, she might actually be. “Toholdthe pack together.”

“That’s right.” Minnie nods firmly, like she’s helping Aurelia fight an invisible argument. “A regina’s job is to keep the peace between the personalities of the group. And she doesn’t even have to do anything to do that sometimes. Her very presence will calm them down and sate their beastly urges. She… She makes them into a family.”

There’s a silence after that. A little bit of it is longing, plenty of it is lust.

A muscle clenches in Lyle’s jaw, and I see a little of Scythe in him. They both hold their emotions in a steel fist. Savage prefers to knock people down. I prefer to let my music and smoke drown my emotions away. Today’s choice: Britney Spears.

Lyle is definitely in a mood because he snaps, “Next time, put up your hand to speak. Both of you.”

Minnie purses her lips and Aurelia rolls her eyes as Lyle stares her down.

Our deputy headmaster stiffens, and suddenly, the temperature in the room goes up. A dark thread of delight winds through me as I sense Lyle’s dominance spread throughthe room. A couple of hyenas at the back let out involuntary, appeasing whines.

With a voice of such quiet menace that even my dragon raises his head, Lyle says, “Did you just roll your eyes at me, Miss Aquinas?”

To everyone’s surprise, Aurelia tilts her chin upwards and stares him down. But her purring voice is not physical when it responds. It resounds within our pack’s telepathic group chat. “I believe I did, Lyle.”

Lyle’s pupils dilate, and the hairs on the back of my arms stand on end at the way I see his animus flash behind that cold gaze. Any male who takes one look at Lyle knows that he has the worst sort of animus, but I got the impression he has a death grip on it. And by the collective sucking in of breaths in the classroom, nobody has seen that dangerous, unhinged flash of his animus before. The dominance of his regina is forcing Lyle’s beast to come forth and meet her. I’m about to warn the group when Scythe’s voice enters the minds of just me and Savage.

“Let it play out,”he says.“Let’s see what our lion-brother is made of.”

Savage gives a soft growl of begrudging acceptance.

No one is moving in the classroom. I don’t think anyone is breathing, either. It’s the natural response of less dominant males to avoid setting off the clearly lethal male before them.

But my dragon? He wants to play. I tell him to stand the fuck down though, because I’m more interested in seeing Lyle’s interaction with Aurelia.

The two of them engage in a heated stare-off, neither allowing themselves to stand down. Minnie gulps. Sabrina licks her lips. Raquel looks like they want to intervene and clenches their fists instead. Smart anim. On my other side, Yeti shifts, just a little, his dominant tiger probably wondering if he could take Lyle on.

And then something happens that has me glaring at the Boneweaver girl. She raises her hand and asks, “I have another question, sir. Why does a pack naturally want to question their regina’s dominance? What makes them want to test her so badly?”

The fucking audacity.

Lyle stares unblinking at Aurelia for a moment longer before rising to his feet. One glance at Savage tells me that his wolf has come out to listen, his eyes blown out, his energy simmering with primitive power.

“You’re right, Miss Aquinas,” Lyle says so calmly that it makes a thrill run down my spine. “A regina is tested by her pack.” He rounds his desk to stalk towards her. “Again and again. She needs to prove her worth. Her strength.” He stands before their group table now, staring down the reginas one by one, and my magical sight can see his power spreading out over them in a show of overt domination. “Her pack needs to see that they are in good hands. That this anima can handle them. Only then does she gain their respect. And their submission.” The animas at the table collectively shiver. Lyle continues, and a lick of his power reaches for Aurelia like he can’t help it. “The animus does not like to submit. It is not natural for them. To get one to submit requires…” Lyle blinks then, as if he realises where he is, who he’s talking to, and his power snaps back into his body. He frowns, almost at himself. “Something special.”

Lyle turns on his heel and goes back to his desk, stiff-backed.

All Aurelia’s sass, attitude, and audacity are gone. She sits in her seat, staring at Lyle as if she’s looking at a ghost.

I could really use a joint right about now.

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