Deadly Alliances (Dark Shifter Academy #5)

Chapter 28 Ashlyn

Lizzo blared in my headphones as I made my way across the lawn toward the newly rebuilt greenhouse in the back right corner of the Dome. My body ached from the simulation I’d been forced to run in Defense Class a couple of hours ago, my muscles begging me to go back inside and collapse into my bed. But this was more important.

A soldier, who was standing guard at the corner of the main building, pushed away from the wall and inserted himself in front of me. He looked familiar. Hell, all the soldiers looked the same to me. But this one, I distinctly recognized.

He said something to me with a stern expression, but I couldn’t make it beyond the music. I pulled my headphones down to hang around my neck.

“Sorry, what’s that exactly?” I asked in as polite a tone as I could manage.

“Exactly,” he snarled, reaching for my headphones and yanking them up over the back of my head.

“Hey, what the fu—”

“No devices are allowed outside of private quarters,” he snapped.

I balked angrily, fire flaring in my chest. “Since when?”

“Since General Dracul mandated it,” he said with a snide tone. “I’m afraid I’ll have to confiscate this. You can take it up with the general during office hours.”

Recognition caught at the sound of his voice and his arrogant tone. He was the soldier who caught Niko and me last night. I stole a glance at the name embroidered over his breast pocket. Major Cockburn.

A surprised laugh snorted out loudly through my nose.

“Something funny to you?” he quipped.

“No, nothing, sir,” I said, sucking my lips between my teeth. Just that apparently your cock burns. You know they make an ointment for that. Another snicker skittered up my throat, but I choked it off, holding my breath.

He eyed me suspiciously as he returned to his post at the corner, tucking my precious headphones behind his back. Asshole. I’d figure out a way to get them back, but for right now, I had a prior engagement to attend—though I was a little on edge knowing that douchebag was stationed so close by. We’d just have to be quiet.

I continued on my path, now musicless, and opened the door of the greenhouse. Everyone else was already here, stationed around the large rectangular shack tending to different tasks. Everyone but Niko; the general had him preoccupied with some meeting with other military leaders, and I was afraid it had something to do with the rescue mission Tobias had been sent on.

“No, no, you don’t just shove the seed in,” Mr. Sharp chided a frustrated looking Jackson. “You make a one-inch dip with your finger into the soil, drop the seed into it, and then gently cover it over. If it’s too deep, the seed won’t get enough water, and if it’s too shallow, it will flood to the surface and drown.”

Jackson rolled his eyes but did as Mr. Sharp instructed, planting the seed with embellished movements.

“That’s better,” Mr. Sharp said with a nod of appreciation.

“I didn’t know you were such an avid gardener,” Petra remarked from two raised beds down.

“Well, I’m sure there are a lot of students who don’t know about the lives or interests of their instructors,” he replied with a grin and wink.

She smirked, though she seemed to catch herself in showing genuine emotion and flattened her lips.

Mr. Sharp caught sight of me and made his way toward me. “Good evening, Ashlyn.” He put a sturdy hand on my shoulder. “I just want to thank you guys for volunteering to help with the renovation of the greenhouses. I know how hard you’re all being worked in classes lately, and I really appreciate the effort and sacrifice you’re making.”

“Er, yeah. No problem,” I said with a nervous wobble.

When the call for volunteers went out this morning, I thought it was a much better and safer option than sneaking around to the janitor’s closet. No one would have to run the risk of getting caught. I hadn’t realized we’d be working alongside a teacher. How were we going to be able to talk about anything of value with him here?

He went to the corner and picked up a huge bag of potting soil with his large hands, making it look like it weighed nothing. He came back to me and plopped into my arms, the impact knocking the wind out of me for several seconds as its weight threatened to pull me forward.

“Oops, sorry,” he chuckled. “Sometimes I forget my own strength. You got it okay?”

“Yep,” I squeezed out hoarsely, planting my feet and bending my knees to keep myself upright.

“You can fill the next bed when it’s finished,” he said. “Brett, how’s it coming?”

Brett rose from the middle section with a drill in one hand. “Actually, we’re out of screws.”

Mr. Sharp furrowed his brow dubiously. “But I just gave you a full bag.”

Brett shrugged and flicked his head to toss his surfer bangs over his forehead.

Mr. Sharp closed his eyes in a long-suffering sigh. “Okay. I’ll be right back.” He trudged out of the greenhouse, his heavy footfalls fading into the distance.

I trudged up to Brett and dropped the bulky bag onto the floor against the unfinished raised bed. “Did you actually run out of screws?” I whispered.

He reached under the platform and pulled out a wad of melted metal, spirals, points, and screw heads still visible among the mass.

“Good thinking,” I praised. “That should buy us at least a few minutes. But we still need to keep quiet because a soldier is lingering nearby.”

The other five gathered around us, and I was surprised to see a new face in our ranks. Katya Yoshida, one of the top kitsune students, waved at me, and I nodded to her in greeting.

“Thank you for joining us in our cause,” I said.

“Of course,” she said in her sharp Asian accent. “When Jackson told me about this opportunity, I jumped at the chance. I haven’t had time to contact my family about it, but I will as soon as possible.”

“Thank you,” I said again, then looked around to the rest of the group. “Has anyone made progress?”

Jackson raised his hand. “I spoke to my dad. Just as I thought, he doesn’t want to be the face of anything official, but he volunteered his lawyer, John Phalen, to represent him as his proxy. He’s a good choice, and he carries a lot of respect with the other shifter species.”

“Awesome,” I said, thrill dancing in my stomach at the knowledge that we had at least one notable adult on our side. But we definitely needed more than that. “Anyone else?”

Letti brushed her hair over her shoulder and said, “I talked to my mother, and after hearing about the horrible treatment we’re receiving under military rule, she agreed that it needs to be stopped. She’s going to take the issue to Queen Anali, who I’m certain will not only agree to be on a council but will also intervene. Mer are proud people, and they won’t stand for this bullshit.”

Normally, the sound of Letti’s voice had the same effect as nails scraping a chalkboard, but tonight, it was music to my ears. I never thought I’d be so grateful for the arrogance and pride of the mer.

“That’s wonderful, Letti,” I said sincerely, then I turned to Petra.

She folded her arms, looking cool and collected as ever. “Well, I made a few calls but haven’t heard anything yet. But it’s only been one day. I’m sure I’ll get a response soon.”

I nodded, trying not to frown. She was right about it only having been one day, but the news, or lack thereof, still stung a little bit. I shoved it down. This was all still good news. We had two powerful leaders on our side already, and we would only get more.

“Oh, that reminds me,” Jackson said, then tossed something to Petra. She caught it, her face lighting with joy and gratitude as she looked down at the carton of cigarettes.

“Holy fuck, you’re the best,” she raved, showing more excitement than I’d ever seen from the to-cool-for-school naga.

She wrenched open the package and pulled out a stick with eager fingers. Brett reached over with his thumb extended, and a little flame ignited on the end of it. With a wry smile, she leaned over it, sucking on the cigarette until it began to burn. Then she straightened, her eyelids fluttering with satisfaction as she took a deep inhale and then blew out a stream of smoke.

Leya cleared her throat and stepped forward. “I, um… I did talk to Miss Heather. She liked the idea of a shifter council, but she’s hesitant about allying against the military just yet, especially while she’s stuck on campus. She asked me to keep her informed of those who have committed so she can reach out to them herself, which I think is the best plan of action. I believe she will ultimately agree.”

“Okay.” I chewed my lip. Again, it wasn’t bad news, just not good news either. “Brett? Any luck with your parents?”

He sucked in a breath between his teeth. “Actually, Ash, they suggested your dad, too.”

I scoffed, shaking my head. “No. That just won’t work. I told you, he’s too loyal to the general.”

“Loyal to the general or to the military?” Brett asked.

“What’s the difference?” I asked a little too loudly.

Brett held up his hands in a gesture for me to quiet down. “The difference is that loyalty to the general is personal, but loyalty to the military is having the best interest of all shifters.”

I scowled at him as I reluctantly debated the issue. The truth was, I didn’t know my dad that well. Up until a few months ago, I didn’t even know who or what he was. Since meeting him, I got the impression that he was a man of honor, and I wanted to believe it now. Before the military hostile takeover, our relationship had surprisingly grown into a comfortable one, where I felt free to be myself. And he had tried so hard to foster that closeness.

Was his loyalty to Dracul just part of his job, or did he have personal favor for the man? If there was even a possibility of Brett being right, wasn’t it worth it to find out?

“Ugh, fine, I’ll talk to him,” I relented. “I’ll make sure to just fish around until I’m sure he’ll come around before I fess up to what we’re doing. But I doubt it will even get that far.”

Brett put a hand on my shoulder. “Look, I know you don’t know him that well, but I’ve known your dad for years while I’ve been here. He’s a good man, Ash. He might surprise you.”

I shrugged. “I hope so.”

“What about your soldier boyfriend?” Petra asked before taking another puff.

“I’m not sure yet,” I replied. “He’s sitting in a meeting with some military honchos.”

Brett’s eyes sparked with both interest and concern. “Is it about Tobias?”

“I don’t know,” I said, my tone lilting with mirrored worry.

There had been no word about the mission since Tobias left the school days ago. If he had been successful, shouldn’t we have heard something by now? Surely, the general would’ve made some grand announcement decorating his son’s heroic efforts and the imminent return of the siren. The fact that he hadn’t made me almost sick with anxiety and doubt.

Muffled voices sounded on the other side of the greenhouse a few yards away, and the seven of us immediately scattered back to our original positions. A few seconds later, Mr. Sharp came through the door shaking his head.

“How the hell are we supposed to get anything done with pencil-dick soldiers interrogating us at every turn?” he growled.

Brett and I shared an amused glance.

“Here.” He tossed a bag of screws to Brett. “Let’s get done as much as we can before curfew.”

My phone dinged, and I checked it quickly before attempting to lift the soil again.

“Dinner tonight?” A text from my father.

Well, I had agreed to at least try to talk to him. I guessed now was as good a time as any. “Sure.”