Page 15 of Dragon Unleashed

“What the hell are they doing in the Academy of Light?” Chano says.

“Nothing,” Val snaps. “Fae keep to themselves. They don’t like the Angel King and they make no bones about it. They’re stuck-up assholes, but needing a correctional institute? That’s bullshit. I should know, I spent six months in that academy.”

“What?”I do a double take. “Why were you there?”

Hewie lets out a little screech, but he sounds amused. This time it’s him who stretches across Val and taps my knee. “Because Val’s half fae? Duh.”

I didn’t know, she’s my friend and I genuinely had no idea what she was, other than a harpie cross. Harpie cross fae, now that’s some mix.

Val sighs, and chews on her guitar pick before speaking again. “I don’t keep it secret, but I don’t advertise it either. I’m already twenty, a year older than you guys. That’s because I went there first. I got chucked out, had to start again here. Fae aren’t exactly accepting of crossbreeds, not like here. Being a cross there was a…big issue. They pride themselves on being fae, everything’s all ?be more fae’…and of course I was only half fae.”

I run my hand through my hair. “Val, I’m sorry. That’s crappy.”

“Don’t be! It made me into me. I wouldn’t be rocking out onstage across the supe world with my own band if they hadn’t kicked me out. It made me re-evaluate.”

“So, theyareassholes. They deserve this?”

She sighs. “The fae at the Academy of Light are privileged, small-minded pricks, but no. I doubt they deserve whatever the Angel King has planned.”

I snort. “They sound like the students here.”

She flashes me a smile, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “What does he mean ?correctional scheme’ and social ?rehabilitation’? It sounds sinister.” Val shivers and we all lean back, letting it sink in.

She’s right—whatissocial correction? I tune back into the dean. He doesn’t seem to care that half the student body is no longer listening.

“Year two—this year, you select your short thesis piece. If you have an allegiance you will work in this, otherwise choose yourpartners carefully. You have to trust them to pull their weight the rest of the year.”

He drones on about how he expects excellence, even in our extracurriculars. The students’ fidgeting cranks up a notch. Their hearts pound and pulses thrum, right inside my head. I stare at the floor, swallowing down the saliva pooling in my mouth.This can’t take much longer. Val’s arm grazes mine and I focus on the pulse at her wrist. The whoosh of her blood fills my ears and I lean toward her.

With a grunt, I stand, knocking my chair over. I bolt for the door.

I don’t notice which row I’m pushing down until Naeve grabs my hand, her big eyes peering up into mine as she mouths, “Are you okay?”

My teeth ache. The desire to feed is so strong that it takes everything in my power to shake her hand off rather than bite into her wrist. I give her a curt head shake and keep moving for the door.

Barging through, the cool fall air hits my face. The heavy oak swings shut behind me, putting blessed space between me and the rest of the students. I swipe a hand over my mouth, and it comes away streaked with blood. I flick my tongue over my teeth.

One of my fangs is out.

Chapter Seven: Lorelei

The farther I am from the hall, the easier it is to breathe. I step into the deserted cafeteria. It’s not going to fill this emptiness inside me, but one of Mrs. Cocci’s chocolate muffins is a damn good start.

And a fucking coffee.

“I’ll just leave this here, dear.” For once Mrs. Cocci isn’t doling out unsolicited hugs, instead giving me space as she sets the tray with my usual on it at the nearest seat. Probably something to do with my having one incisor stubbornly refusing to recede. What the hell am I going to do? How can I be so weak that I need blood to survive? A shiver racks my body as I sit in front of the tray.

“You got all sorts of company coming,” she mutters as she scuttles away.

The doors at either end of the cafeteria swing open simultaneously. Naeve, Zephyr, and Farrell march in the side farthest away while Chano barrels through the doors closer to me. Worry etches his brow, and his jaw is clenched. His expression softens when he catches sight of me, muffin halfway to my mouth.

Four extra bodies in the same room ignites the stupid craving again. I place the muffin down carefully, its appeal now dry as dust. Gripping the edge of the table, I will my other canine to stay in my gum.

It’s getting worse.

“You can’t keep on like this,” Chano says. He sits across the table, careful not to touch me. “It’s consuming you.”

“Won’t eat meat,” I pant out, swallowing hard and averting my eyes from his jugular. “Won’t prey on supes just because they’re weaker than me. It’s disgusting. I’m disgusting.”

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