Page 80 of Moon Cursed

Chapter Seven

Iburst into the messhall the next morning—dressed to kill.

That was the phrase for you when you wore six-inch knife heels, an asymmetrical black silk skirt, a tight leather bodice woven with chains, and a diamond-crusted crown.

Marching right on either side of me were Edric and Paxton, looking their usual brand of sinfully gorgeous with no shirts anywhere to be found, and ripped jeans that strained to contain all of their assets.

I marched straight up to the dais and beamed my smile straight into Orion’s gloating eyes. “Good morning, everyone. I want to thank you for keeping my place warm for me, but you can get the fuck out now.”

Orion and Badr laughed out loud, jiggling all four of the girls draped across their laps. The half a dozen alphas and betas sharing the table joined in—Megan loudest of all.

Orion kicked back, propping his feet on the table. “And just how exactly are you going to make us?”

My smile widened. “I’m so glad you asked that.”

A blast of wind roared through the windows, blowing them off the hinges. Orion, Badr, and their lap ornaments didn’t have time to shout before they were swept—chairs, table, and all—off the dais and sent flying across the room.

Before they hit the floor, metal chains appeared from everywhere and nowhere—lashing around ankles, securing wrists, snaking around torsos—and lifted them up into the air.

“Arghgh!”

Bellowing their rage, Orion, Badr, and all of their misguided cronies were slammed against the ceiling. Metal spikes appeared over them all, and shot straight toward them.

“No!”

“Wait!”

“Don’t kill us!”

One after the other, the spikes drove through the chains, securing the bastards to the ceiling—unharmed and unmoving.

“Let us down!” Badr bellowed. “Let us down now!”

I made a show of yawning, already bored of his bleating. “Ahem. My throne, if you please.”

In an instant, my metal wolf ally rebuilt my throne taller, grander, and bigger than it was before. Paxton took my hand, ever the gentleman, he helped me to my seat. I smiled on the dozens of gaping faces looking back at me, because it covered my grimace.

That morning, I woke up feeling worse than I ever had before. I was stiff, achy, queasy, and dizzy. My morning shower sex with Edric was interrupted by me losing my balance and falling flat on my face. The truth was Paxton had to help me onto the throne because that one single step onto the dais was going to defeat me.

Why am I worse?I asked my wolf as though she could answer me. As though she hadn’t been all but comatose for the last two days.How do I save you?

I refocused. “Consider this your first, last, and only warning with a demonstration included. I am not just your headmistress, I am your queen, and disrespect will not be tolerated. Not just toward me, but toward the omega wolves.

“The old ways are over. Luame demands a new, fair, and equal society, and she will have that if I have to raze Wolf Nation to the ground and build it on the ashes.” My gaze swept over them. “It’s your choice if you want to be a part of this new society, or if you want to keep rolling in the filth of the past.

“If you choose the former, stay,” I said, nodding to Tracy. “Corvin Academy will be a safe place for you—alpha, beta, epsilon, and omega alike. But if you choose the filth and fleas of inequality and oppression, you can get up right now, pack your shit, and go.” I pointed up. “Starting with the bastards on the ceiling. Everyone except Badr and Orion is expelled.”

“What?!”

“You can’t do that!”

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