Page 21 of Her Vicious Beasts: The Beginning
Because there is something in my dress pocket that I made this morning when I’d been happy and clearly insane—I’d brought Xander a USB with new music on it, alright? But I can’t very well say that out loud, can I? I inhale a calming breath, trying to ease my frazzled nerves. Then I create a shield-ball around the USB in my pocket, levitate it, invisible, through the cell bars and smack Xander on the head with it.
He flinches, but before it falls to the floor, I sweep it upwards and plug it into the device on his hip.
“Bunch of assholes, the lot of you,” I scowl. “Now be good boys and stay quiet so I can concentrate on my patient.”
My heart is pounding as I sit down on the floor and all I know is that I have to get out of here and never come back. For some reason, the three beastsdoremain quiet, but I hear Savage sit down and can practically feel him poking my side with his stare.
Whether it’s my anger at the three of them, or the actual power boost from one of my mates giving me an orgasm lastnight, I finish healing my patient within the hour. I prise the jaws of the shadow snake’s teeth one by one from around the nape of his neck.
The entire thing dissolves in a mist of black magic.
Chapter 15
Aurelia
The satisfaction at perhaps the best healing job I’ve ever done barely registers, because as I get to my feet, I know I won’t be back tomorrow. I know this is the last time I will ever lay eyes on my mates. I shouldn’t do it, but the wild, primitive anima part of me steps between Xander and Savage’s cells to take one last look at them both.
Xander’s mouth scowls at me and I wish, just for a moment, that I could see his face properly. But he’ll just have to stay as a shadow in my imagination.
Savage’s hazel gaze is searching as he stands half a foot away from me, and I can almost feel the heat of his animus. If my shields were down, I would have been able to scent him, too.
Alas, I will never know what he really smells like. That is the worst thing of all. But it is a safety thing, and it’s smart for me to keep it that way.
I could, in theory,touchhim. He must think this too because he pushes one large hand between the bars, palm up like a peace offering.
I stare at it for a long, long time, and he stares back at me in silence. Something inside of me breaks a little as I close my eyes and turn away from him. My anima whines in sorrow.
“Lia.” Savage’s voice is surprised, like he doesn’t understand what’s going on. I want to say that I’m sorry. That I wish things were different. That if I were a different beast, I would be running into his arms right now, kissing him, rescuing him from his prison, taking him home with me.
But for both his and my safety, I can’t reveal anything. I’m passing Scythe’s cell before I know it and against my will, my head turns to look at him.
He glares at me as I force my feet to keep moving, and it’s the coldest thing I’ve ever seen. I can’t read his expression because there’s literally nothing there. His face has been hewn from ice and all I can feel from him is that he hates me.
I didn’t know my soul could feel so much pain until this moment.
When Beak opens the door for me, it’s like I’ve surfaced from deep water. The heaviness around me suddenly dissipates, and I take a fresh breath.
“Are you alright?” Beak says, briefly putting his hand on the small of my back. I look up at him and smile at his kindness. I’ll missthattoo.
“I’m just happy because I’m done with the patient,” I say. “I don’t have to go down to that awful place ever again.”
He nods as if he understands, but he doesn’t smile back as I expected. “That’s really great,” he murmurs quietly.
Maybe he likes me after all and is thinking about how he’ll miss me, too.
Back in Halfeather’s office, the old eagle is dragging his eyes up my bare legs and I’m very grateful this is the last time I ever have to see him.
“I’ve done what I can for him, Mr. Halfeather,” I say quickly. “It’s up to him and his power to have him wake up now.”
“Indeed?” he says slowly, eyes stuck like glue on me. “Well, I must say it pleases me greatly that this is not the last time we will be seeing one another.”
My brows shoot up as I register what he is insinuating.
“Mr. Halfeather,” I say, as if this is all a pleasant joke. “I’m the consummate professional. I take it my father’s debt is paid as we discussed?”
The corners of his mouth turn down. “Ah, that’s the thing, Aurelia. Your father did not just sell me your services, my dear.”
A chill consumes me as I suddenly realise there have been no signs that Mr. Halfeather has a mate. That is unusual for a wealthy male such as him—usually they are a rex for a group of mates, bonded by fate or not.
