Page 28 of Mortal Shift
We both fell silent for a moment as we walked along the dirt track. The manicured lawns had given way to some kind of woods, and small animals scuttled through the trees, startled by our approach. If I wasn’t so pissed off about being here, I might have found it kind of…beautiful.
“You never answered my question,” I said, realizing Istillhad no idea what had prompted this little hike. “What are we doing out here?”
We abruptly emerged from the trees, and found ourselves in a grassy clearing that seemed to stretch for acres, lined on the far side by more trees, dappled in the magical sunlight. There were dozens of figures gathered here, all watching us as we emerged from the woods. One of them was set a little apart from the others, and his lack of uniform, coupled with the gray streaks running through his short-cropped hair and his sun weathered face, marked him as an instructor. He turned a pair of cold gray eyes our way, and they seemed to change shape and flash yellow for a second as he addressed us.
“You are here for your first shifting lesson. And you’re both late.”
Chapter Ten
I wanted to point out it wasn’tmyfault we were late, but one glare from the instructor had the words falling away from my lips. Two for two… I really wasn’t making a great impression here.
The instructor scowled out at the gathered group of students and I felt the dominance rolling off him in waves, sending a shiver through me from head to toe.
“I am Instructor Ryker, and let’s get one thing clear. If any of you show up late to my lessons, or so much asthinkof skipping them, there will be serious consequences. You. Human. Come here.”
I darted a look at Cole then shuffled forward to stand in front of Ryker.
“I’m sure it’s very exciting for you to find yourself mated to a shifter, and one whose rank is far superior to anything your human mind could have dreamed of, but I’ll thank you to keep your hands off him long enough to make it to class on time.”
Sniggers rose from the other students and I flushed red.
“That’s not what—” I began, but Ryker’s eyes flashed again, cutting me off.
“You dare to contradict me?”
I opened my mouth then clamped it shut again and shook my head, because not even I was dumb enough to answer that question. He looked over my shoulder at Cole.
“Is that what happened, Mr. Bryant?”
I twisted round, glad that I would have at least some back up.
“Yes, Instructor Ryker. She couldn’t keep her hands off me.” He shrugged and then met my eye. “She’s only human, after all.”
I ground my teeth together. It was like that, was it? I should have known I could never count on that self-absorbed asshole to back me up.
“Perhaps a reminder is in order, then,” Ryker said, his eyes narrowing in cold amusement. “Give me your hand, Ellis.”
“I…What?”
“Do not make me ask you twice.”
I swallowed hard and tentatively raised my hand. He snatched it and flipped it over so it was palm down, then flicked his thumb over the back of it. I gasped and yanked back as pain seared over it, and stared at the red slash marring it. On Ryker’s hand, a claw was shifting back into his thumb.
He’d just clawed me. Cut me. On purpose.
“Every time you’re late to my lesson, I’ll reopen that. So if you don’t want it to scar, I suggest you make arriving on time a priority. Understand?”
I held it against my chest, watching the blood trickle from the wound, and swallowed.
“Yes,” I whispered.
“Yes, what?”
“Yes, sir.”
He curled his lip. Fuck knows what I’d done wrong now.
“Close enough,” he grunted. “Now get out of my face. I have a lesson to run.”
