Page 7 of Her Rabid Beasts

Being on the pointy end of a shark’s stare, especially Scythe’s—a light enough blue to be almost white at times—should make any animalia, even a lion, want to run. But Scythe has something in him that no other shark on the planet does.

One part of my soul group.

Scythe Karkhorous—gangster, mobster, killer—is my brother by destiny.

Slowly, he takes out a hand-rolled cigarette and I watch his tattooed hand extend it towards me.

My nose tells me it’s not tobacco, but blue ganja; a special type of marijuana grown extra strong for the beast population. I haven’t had one in years.

I take it.

“They used to charge a lot for this in Blackwater,” I say, putting it in my mouth as Scythe pulls out a lighter. It’s a novelty one, in the shape of a shark with open jaws.

“They still do,” he says. As he lights my joint, the corner of his mouth ticks up because we both know who controls the illicit substances coming in and out of the federal penitentiary for beasts, and it’s certainly not me.

I choose to ignore his reply as an orange flame comes to life from the open jaws of the shark and I take a long drag. The joint hisses as the chemicals fill my lungs. It’s been a while, but the familiar way it burns through me focuses my mind. Takingout my phone from my pocket, I send a quick message to my superior.

The identity of the noble leader of Animus Academy is kept so secret that few even knew that the so-called “Headmaster” is actually ashe. It is kept that way for her own safety. Against powerful beasts that would try to use her. I now wonder if Mace Naga was one of them.

Xander snorts. “Mace is not going to be happy with the way you lassoed him and his generals right out of the gates like that.” His glowing eyes stare at me from the bay windows, the moonlight reflecting blue off his midnight hair.

I grunt as I sit down at my desk because I won’t admit to him that the use of my power had not been intentional. That seeing Aurelia and her mating mark—our mating mark—blazing gold like that… I lost control. Plain and simple. Everything I’ve worked for over the last decade crumbled down in the split second it took for that skull and five curling beams of light to register. I’d pulled myself together, of course, but…

My animus could not be released. Not ever. And my regina presenting herself to me was forcing that disastrous power to come forth out of the bindings I placed upon him with so much care.

I glance at Savage, still snoring softly into the carpet, a dark curl flopping annoyingly over his forehead.

“He won’t be asleep for long,” Xander drawls, dropping his head back as if he’s tired. “I had to re-dose him five times. Who’s going to break it to him? And who’s going down to find her?”

Both beasts are watching me far too closely for my liking.

“She trusts me the most,” I say.

“The fuck she does,” Savage groans as he rolls onto his back, grimacing. “Why’d you put my neck like that, Xander? You’re—” And like he suddenly remembers who and what happened tohim, he’s on his feet with a swiftness I expect from a beast with combat set like cement into his bones.

Savage snarls and lunges for Xander with fury saturating his eyes, leaping right on top of the dragon. “You fucking asshole!”

“You’ll want to listen to this!” Xander shouts, grabbing the wolf’s head with both hands as Savage’s suddenly wolfish canines enclose around his throat.

“Listen, brother,” Scythe says sharply.

Perhaps it’s his tone, because Savage abruptly jumps off Xander, his hazel eyes narrowed and suspicious on his shark-brother, then on me. His voice is guttural, fully descended into his wolf. “Where is she? Where is my regina?”

Without waiting for an answer, he closes his eyes and I know he’s sensing her.

I’m suddenly very aware of Aurelia’s scent on him. Her aroma is sweet and heady, and I realise it’s not just her scent, but…her scent. I’m on my feet before I realise it, a soft growl escaping my throat, my eyes set on the wolf.

The three beasts’ heads snap towards me at the latent threat, and I shake myself and lower my ass back onto my seat.

“Well, well, well.” Xander is amused as he crosses his arms. “Hedoesfeel his regina’s pull.”

I glare at him because he’s the last person to be taunting me about this.

Savage stalks towards my desk, predatory eyes on me, all male arrogance and swagger though his teeth and eyes are back to normal. “Why does she feel different? What happened at the trial? If anyone fucking hurt her…”

The fact that Savage has had sex with Aurelia complicates a great many things. Hewantsher now. More than ever. Is calling her his regina.

I glance out the bay windows, into the dark of the school grounds. We can all sense her. Our souls feel that primordialtug towards hers, like the moon feels the tug of the Earth. It’s unavoidable. Unignorable. And even I can feel the wild tangle that’s new. The primitive force that envelops her.

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