Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Our first class of the day was sadly with Willa and that always involved shifting.
I was ready to disobey her and remain in my human form, my promise to Harpy was more important to me than being a good student.
So, as she spoke about different power dynamics in shifters, and how we actually thrived being near similar shifters, I thought about how to confidently inform her that I wouldn’t be shifting today.
Willa clapped her hands. “Let’s test it out.
For the next week, you’ll be partnered up with similar shifters, you’ll be in your shifted forms and will only be with shifters of the same form as you.
Hans, since you’re the only phoenix shifter in the group, you’ll be with the dragons, Damon and Nym. Good luck everyone!”
I cursed my luck, giving Harpy what I hoped was a confident grin as I strode over to Damon.
“I can’t shift,” I whispered once I’d reached him. “I haven’t claimed my mate yet.”
Damon’s eyes widened, then he leaned in and whispered back, “What should we do then?”
Shrugging my shoulders, I tried to see if Willa was free, but she was busy talking to a group of students. “I guess I’ll tell her my situation when she’s free.”
“Hey guys,” Hans said. I’d never spoken to him before today, but if we were supposed to spend the week together, I might as well be friendly.
“Hey,” I greeted, then turned my focus back on Willa. Just how long could one conversation take?
“You’re not going to shift?” Hans asked, looking between us with a smirk. “Afraid to get pummeled to the ground again, eh?”
What?
I eyed him with confusion. Did he think what happened to me was amusing?
Damon growled. “It was an accident.”
“Sure,” Hans drawled. “That’s the reason neither of you have shifted yet.”
“You aren’t exactly shifted either,” I pointed out. “Besides, I have to speak with Willa.”
“Hmm, and what you need to talk about wouldn’t have anything to do with your fear of shifting next to Damon, would it?”
I already hated Hans.
“No,” I gritted, still looking in Willa’s direction, ignoring Hans’ goading.
“Man, look, I get it, okay? I would be afraid too if a dragon bigger than me showed up and proved who was superior,” Hans continued, his tone laced with humor.
I caught Harpy’s concerned gaze from where he stood with the other cat shifters, none of them shifted yet either.
“It was an accident,” Damon growled. “Instincts took over.”
“Uh-huh,” Hans muttered. “I think the whole dragon instinct thing is just made up because you’re the biggest shifters there is. Of course, you would milk more leeway out of being the biggest and strongest, too.”
Was this guy for real?
I ignored him, but was rewarded with a hard push for it. “Hey! I’m talking to you, asshole!”
“And I’m ignoring you,” I drawled, my dragon itching to show Hans just how powerful we dragons were.
“You know I’m right,” Hans continued, his tone managing to be both mocking and condescending all at once.
“Leave him alone,” Damon growled.
“Or what?” Hans goaded. “You’ll hit me too?”
I whirled around. “Enough!” I snapped. “Just shut up or go shift! You can talk to someone who gives a fuck.”
“You can’t talk like that to me!” Hans hissed, then pushed my chest as hard as he could.
The scent of oranges filled my senses and my dragon roared inside of me. Harpy shouldn’t be close to this asshole.
“Stop that!” Harpy shouted, appearing next to me and glaring hard at Hans.
Hans’ surprise was slowly dissipating as a wide smile spread across his face. His eyes went from Harpy and then to me.
“Oh, this is interesting. Have you come to defend your mate’s honor? Or perhaps you can enlighten me on why Nym refuses to shift?”
My eye was twitching from the strain of not hitting that smug bastard.
“And why are you demanding he tell you his reasons?” Harpy snarked.
“Because,” Hans began. “We’re sort of in this group thing together all week, are we not?”
I quickly shot a look over to where Willa was, her attention was on us, thankfully, and I watched with relief as she approached us.
“That doesn’t give you the right to be such a jerk,” Harpy stated.
“What did you just call me?!” Hans shrieked, his hands flying up to push my lovely mate in the chest.
“Fuck!” Harpy cursed, rubbing his chest where he was now sitting on the ground. The bastard had pushed him hard enough for him to stumble. I saw red.
My dragon took over. No one hurt our mate.
NO. ONE.
My shift had pushed Damon to the side and he cursed as he fell on his ass too, but I ignored him, my gaze firmly on the asshole who dared touch my treasure.
I roared him straight in his shocked face, his skin paling with fear. He tried to back away from me, but I followed, my eyes never leaving his. I smelled urine and grimaced in disgust. He’d pissed himself.
“What’s happening?!” Willa demanded behind me.
I was still locked onto my target, daring him to lie.
“Hans pushed Nym’s mate to the ground after goading him about shifting,” Damon explained.
“Hans was acting like a huge asshole,” Harpy agreed.
“For fucks sake, Hans!” Willa exclaimed. “Haven’t you learned anything these past few weeks?”
It was almost amusing how little Willa cared for Hans’ safety, almost agreeing with us that he needed to be punished. I made a quick move, startling Hans so he fell on his ass, his face twisted in fear as I bared my teeth at him.
Then another need took over. The threat had been dealt with, and now all I could think of was claim, claim, claim.
I turned around, no longer interested in the pathetic excuse for a shifter. Harpy was standing next to Willa and Damon, the other students were watching with interest around the area, not even trying to hide their curiosity.
I ran forward, making the students scramble out of my way. If only they knew my target would be a very willing one.
Harpy stood still, already knowing I was coming for him, he smiled at me as I approached. His small nod was answer enough as I grabbed him in my arms and flew away with my treasure.