Page 38 of Defiant Princess

I laugh again, even though I’m not usually big on naked hugs, even with friends. I’m shy for a shifter. Always have been.

But when Ford gathers me up in his arms, lifting my feet off the ground with the force of his embrace, I don’t feel anything but happiness to be this close to him. Well, happiness and a strong desire to jump on his cock, but that’s just how we are now. I might as well get used to it.

I’ll accept the things I can’t change and save my energy for those that I can.

I wrap my arms around his neck and hold on tight, whispering, “Thank you,” into his ear.

“My pleasure, baby, so proud of you,” he says, using the term of endearment for the first time in front of other people.

But I’m so blissed out from my first shift, I can’t bring myself to care about that, either. I pull back, grinning into his handsome face. “I’m proud of me, too. And I’m starving. I want to eat five tubs of ice cream. With salty popcorn and peanuts on top.”

Ford grins as Layla laughs and Catherine gags behind me. “Let’s do it,” Ford says. “The snack shop’s open until nine, woman. Let’s go get all the junk food and celebrate. My treat.”

“Sadly, I’ll have to skip that repulsive sounding indulgence,” Catherine says. “I have to get back to the dorm and set up for late night tutoring. If either of you are worried about being prepared for your final quiz tomorrow, feel free to swing by later. We’ll be there until ten.”

“I can’t study anymore,” Layla says, pulling on her clothes. “My brain is already leaking out of my ears. I need to eat, sleep, and visualize success.”

“And I need food,” I say, my stomach snarling in agreement. “I think flying and shooting fire burns a lot of calories.”

We pull on our clothes and squeeze back through the tunnel onto our private beach. We’re starting toward the other tunnel, the one that will take us back to the student beach, when Alexander appears at the entrance, a worried expression on his face.

“What is it?” Layla asks.

“They found a body in the woods,” Catherine rasps, reading her brother’s mind as she so often does. “They’re locking everything down. We have to get inside before they close the Sea Gate.”

“Now,” Alexander adds. “Five minutes ago, if possible.”

“Hurry,” Ford says, ushering Catherine and Layla in front of him. “You all move faster in tight spaces than I do. If I don’t make it back before they shut the gates, don’t worry. I can handle myself.”

“We’re not leaving you behind,” I say, grabbing a handful of his shirt and dragging him into the cavern with me.

Ford’s played hero enough since we got to Lost Moon.

It’s my turn to make sure he stays safe, even if it means we’re both stuck outside the gates.

Hell, it might actually be safer on the outside.

In my gut, I already know it’s a Variant who’s been killed. I know it, even before we rush back through the Sea Gate just seconds before the defense unit seals the opening to find a stricken Natalie running toward us from the quad.

There’s still just enough sunset light to make the tears on her cheeks glow a soft gold as she stops in front of us and whispers, “It’s Diana. Goddess, I’m so sorry.”

Layla falls to her knees on the ground. A beat later, Catherine goes down beside her, cradling my roommate as they both begin to cry.

A part of me wants to fall with them, but I shock myself by saying, “Show me. I need to see her.”

“Me, too,” Ford agrees. I turn to remind him that he shouldn’t be seen with me, or caring about murdered Variants, but he growls, “I don’t care what the other wolves have to say about it. I need to see her. To see if I can smell who did it. This never should have happened.”

“I can’t bring students into this right now,” Natalie says, pressing a hand to her heart as Catherine and Layla continue to sob. “But once things calm down, I—”

“I know their scents better than any member of staff,” Ford insists. “I’ve been spending every night running the woods with the brotherhood. If one of them did it, I’ll be able to tell you. But only if you get me to her body before the scents have time to fade.”

Natalie hesitates, cutting a look my way before fixing her attention back on Ford, “Okay. I can make a case for that. And we’ll say Juliet’s there because she’s Diana’s roommate, to give us a second affirmative I.D. on the body.” She waves us toward the walkway leading to the pond and the woods beyond. “Hurry. Before they move her. They were almost done taking pictures when I came to look for Layla and Juliet to break the news.”

She starts down the path, with Ford close behind.

I turn to Alexander, who’s standing guard over Catherine and Layla. “Tell them I’ll meet them back at the dorm as soon as I can.”

He nods stiffly and I turn to jog after Ford and Natalie, some desperate part of me praying that they’ve gotten this wrong, that it’s a wild owl they found dead in the woods and not my new friend. But when we reach the edge of the cemetery, where a small crowd of teachers, faculty, and military staff stand around the body, still roped off with yellow crime scene tape, I instantly recognize Diana’s unique plumage.

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