Chapter 9 #2
“I can handle myself,” I said, coming to a decision.
At least, I was pretty sure I could. And if I didn’t?
Well, Logan hadn’t fallen for me because I’d retired to a fainting couch when things looked rough.
It very well could get ugly out there, playing with wolves and panthers, but I had to spread my wings sooner or later. Both figuratively and literally.
We stared off for a long time before he must have come to the conclusion that I wasn’t backing down. “Suit yourself.” His lips curved in a faint smile. “Come on.”
He rose and grabbed a whistle from his desk drawer. He looped the rope around his neck and walked out. I followed suit after one last look at the chains affixed to the wall. I’d ask about those later.
Back outside, the barely visible door now closed behind us, Logan crossed his arms over his chest. “This is the gymnasium.”
“Uh-huh.”
He laughed at my deadpan comment. “A shifter gymnasium,” he clarified.
“Well that clears things up.” I sniffed the air, my nostrils flaring with the heady scent of forest and moonlight. “There’s a lot of magic in here.”
“The Dark Mages,” he supplied, his voice neutral.
Perhaps he’d gotten used to how involved Hendrik’s clan was with the Academy’s workings.
“This is sort of a pocket reality, existing both in Hell and not. With Hell being what it is, there’s plenty of torment and pain the Dark Mages can pull energy from. ”
He lapsed into silence for a moment, his gaze dropping. I could read between the lines. He suffered, too, and with this being his territory, Hendrik had plenty of sacrificial magic to work with.
Taking his hand, I laced our fingers together.
I wanted to do more, but this wasn’t the time or place. He was an instructor now and I knew that he cared about his wolves, no matter how much of a lone wolf he might be at heart.
He was also an Alpha.
He gently squeezed my hand, then pulled away. He guided us down a worn path as silver moonlight glittered down through the branches.
“The Dark Mages managed to link this pocket realm to my original realm,” he said, grinning. “The world of the wolves is governed by the Moon Goddess. I’ve heard that their world is a parallel version of Earth, with cities, only run by wolves.”
“Are there any humans?” I ventured.
He nodded. “I believe so, yes. The wolves were originally human, so it would make sense. It’s the goddess magic that changed them—changed us.” He sighed. “My wolf enjoys this place. It’s brought me a measure of peace.”
That made sense and I was grateful for Logan to have a sanctuary when I couldn’t be there for him. It made me want to forgive Hendrik, at least in part, for giving Logan this place.
We ventured through the forests and I didn’t feel like I was in Hell anymore.
While I knew walls surrounded us, the magic made it impossible to see.
Instead, all I saw were trees and the filter of silver moon rays through the branches.
Darkness ebbed on the horizon and if I tried, I could forget the outside world entirely.
“What does it feel like for you?” I asked.
Logan threaded his fingers through mine as we walked.
“It’s been a place to connect with our wolves.
The Panther Shifters enjoy it too, even though their magic comes from their Queen rather than a deity.
From what Aaron has learned, their magic is passed down genetically or through the Queen’s blessing.
Although, all shifter magic has a similar thread, so since we can’t bring their Queen to us, they run with the wolves. ”
I laughed. “I bet that’s been a challenge.” The wolves and panthers were natural enemies. Getting them to work together? I didn’t envy Logan that task.
He hummed in agreement. “We’re making progress, albeit slowly.”
I opened my mouth to respond, but he stiffened and held me in place. He tipped his head as if listening and I raised an eyebrow.
“It seems the class has found us,” he informed me as he tugged me closer to his side. “They’ll smell you, so I suggest you don’t move and do exactly as I say.”
That wasn’t very comforting. I remembered the shifters and I had kicked their ass, once upon a time.
That had been a year ago—and before they’d been suped-up by Moon Goddess juju.
Four humanoid forms appeared through the trees, naked, their eyes glittering with emerald and sapphire tones.
Proof in and of itself, wolves and panthers standing together.
Others in their animal forms slunk from the trees and began prowling around us in a small circle.
“Logan?” a feminine voice asked with a purring tone, one I recognized that belonged to Petunia, a Panther Shifter.
“Is this our prey for tonight?” She eyed me, her slitted emerald eyes glittering with mischief.
She twirled the purple streak of hair around a finger, her iconic symbol that marked her in the sports arena where she stole the spotlight.
Until I had come along, anyway.
Something that she clearly hadn’t forgiven me for.
“Not unless you have a death wish,” Logan growled, the authority in his voice startling me. He seemed unaffected by her naked form, her perky breasts and her lithe body. These were his shifters and right now, he was in charge.
He really had changed over this past year.
“Hey, Petunia,” I said, deciding I’d go for the friendly route. Trying to find something to compliment her on, I made a split-second decision. “Nice, uh. Boobs.” It wasn’t like she had an outfit I could say was cute.
That only seemed to piss her off.
Logan cleared his throat but not before I saw the smile he couldn’t quite hide. Not acknowledging Petunia, he brought his whistle to his lips and blew.
I heard nothing, but the shifters around us buckled over and clutched at their ears. Those in shifted form snarled or whined.
In seconds, the small area had filled up with wolves and panthers—some stayed in their animal forms, while others came in on two feet and more still shifted from animal to human when they caught sight of me.
And save for Logan and me, they were all naked.
Wow.
I hadn’t seen this much skin since… well, ever. Any concerns about my short skirt and revealing halter catapulted out of my brain.
Amazed, I surveyed the sheer number of shifters that filtered through the trees. The Academy’s numbers had grown quite extensively over the past year. I recognized a few veterans, including Aaron. One of the females waved at me.
Maybe they weren’t all assholes.
A scuffle broke out when a panther overstepped a wolf’s path and Logan released a snarl, startling me.
“Stay,” he ordered me before he marched over to the offenders.
My eyebrows shot up. Did a dog just tell me to stay?
Petunia giggled and sauntered closer to me. “Yeah, he’s the wolf in charge these days. I bet that takes some getting used to for you. I know it took a bit for me.” She cocked her head. “So, last I heard, you were dead.” Her eyes slid to my wings. “You must have a story to tell.”
I frowned at her. “You could say that,” I agreed. My story wasn’t one I’d be sharing with her anytime soon.
She shifted her weight, clearly displeased with my response.
I hadn’t missed how the panthers kept a wide berth around her.
While Logan was the Alpha, I suspected she ran a close second when it came to the Panthers.
Aaron was officially in charge, but as a panther lunged a second time at the offending wolf, he was too busy helping Logan restrain the shifters from killing each other while Petunia moved closer to me.
“Where are you staying?” she asked, forcing me to back away as she ventured closer. “We don’t have any, uh, angel dorms, as far as I’m aware.”
“I’m staying with Olivia and Yuri,” I supplied, not realizing that would be juicy information to the panther. My back hit a tree, my feathers painfully crunching at the impact, and I flinched.
Her jaw dropped as she crowded me against the trunk. “You’re already in the Elite suites? Seriously?” She scoffed. “The Dean is just going to give you special treatment because she wants your mom’s support. That’s so lame.”
I glared at her. “Or it’s because without me, Calamity is going to rip you guys a new asshole.”
She laughed. “Not if Lucifer doesn’t get to us first.”
“He’s Calamity’s Conduit. That’s the same thing,” I countered.
She waved my comments away as if they were irrelevant.
“It’s all so complicated. Anyway, I have some other speculations about your special treatment.
Want to hear them? You were already a bit of a slut at the old Academy, and I bet Kaito just wants to get back in your pants so he’s priming you with pillows and room service. Am I far off?”
“Petunia!” Aaron snapped, finally taking notice that the panther had cornered me against the clearing while shifters prowled all around us.
She paled at the deep, sharp command and started to back away but it wasn’t quick enough.
Aaron, the leader of the panthers—and her alpha—strode forward and caught her shoulder before she turned away.
“I’m pretty sure nobody gave you any authority over room assignments,” he said, his voice hard. “Unless I missed that announcement. Did I?”
“No, Aaron,” she said softly.
“Then don’t let me hear this shit again.”
A different shifter stepped in, supporting Petunia’s argument. “It’s not really fair, though, is it?” she asked as she looped her arm through Petunia’s.
Aaron glared at her, but based on Petunia’s smug expression, this female wasn’t a panther.
And therefore not under his command.
Aaron glanced at Logan, but he was still laying into the wolf who’d managed to bite the panther.
“Starling,” Aaron growled.
“Hey, gorgeous,” she said, blowing him a kiss before looking back at me.
She raked me over with a bright sapphire gaze, eyes lingering on my wings, then skimming over the rest of me without much interest. “You’re Lily, then. I’ve heard of you.”
“I can’t say the same,” I said.
Her eyes tightened at the corners. “Petunia’s right, you know. Even if you are tight with the Light Mage and all, you have to earn your right to a tower suite.” She grinned, showing teeth. “We’ll test your mettle on that front today.”
Seriously, why was everyone out to get me?
“I’ll tell you what,” I said, beaming at her. “If you have a problem with my room placement, you file a report with your Alpha. If he sees a problem, he can escalate it up the chain of a command.”
Starling rolled her eyes. “So, I’m just supposed to ignore the fact that you and my Alpha are fuck—”
“Starling,” Logan snapped as he marched over to us, finally having dealt with the unruly pup. “Is there a problem here?”
“Nope,” she said with a sweet smile.
I crossed my arms. “She thinks I need to earn the suite I’m sharing with Olivia.” Sure, maybe I was being a snitch, but I didn’t have time for BS.
Plus, I totally was fucking her Alpha, or at least I would be very soon if I could get him alone after class.
Logan hummed. “Well, given what you’ve accomplished for the Academy so far, I’d say your position has already been earned.” He turned on Starling. “However, if you feel my judgment should be questioned, you’re free to discuss it with the Dean.”
Starling paled at that prospect.
“That’s what I thought,” Logan said, turning to address the restless crowd of shifters.
“Now, some of you know Lily already. She’s a student, just like you, and she’s also the Champion of the Third Echo of Calamity you’ve been learning about firsthand.
Kaito has judged the best classes for her to attend to help assist her during this crises, but it doesn’t mean we’re going to go easy on her. ”
The wolves growled in agreement and the panthers roared.
Thanks a lot, Logan.
He grinned at me, having heard my thoughts through the bond.
You’ll thank me later when you come up against Cerberus. He’s Lucifer’s pet, but he likes shifters.
Noted, I thought back at him.
Logan cleared his throat. “Now, she’ll be joining our class today. If anyone has a problem with that, take it to the Dean. And show yourself out while you’re at it, because we don’t have time for division. This class is about teamwork, so start acting like it.”
He went quiet for several long seconds and I fought not to squirm as almost every last student looked me over like I was a piece of meat.
“Good,” Logan said when nobody moved to leave. “We’re playing Catch. For Lily’s benefit, I’ll explain, although most of you have played this before. We’re going by team rules.”
Great.
“I’m going to break this,” Logan said, pulling a translucent orb from his pouch.
It glowed from within, the colors reminding me of the barrier surrounding the Academy.
“It will summon a magical creature from one of the realms close to ours. That creature is your target. You’ll be evaluated as a group based on speed, agility, and strategy. ”
He glanced at me on that last one, which gave me a bit of hope. My speed couldn’t hope to hold up to a shifter’s, but I wasn’t half-bad at strategy.
“Whoever catches the target will get extra credit, but the point of the assignment is about working as a team.”
Before today, I would have laughed at that, but the motley group of shifters, both wolves and panthers, were all here together, sitting or standing companionably.
Minus a few snags, Logan had done a great job doing the impossible.
I had no doubt Aaron played a heavy role in the progression of wolves and panthers working together. He stood at Logan’s side, nodding in agreement, and the panthers seemed to fall in line as the two Alphas worked together.
Pride bloomed inside me, warming me as I watched my mate pace and talk to the other shifters. With all Hell literally breaking loose outside these walls, the packs needed to learn how to operate as a cohesive unit.
Logan glanced at me before looking back over the group. “All right, everybody. Hope you’re ready.”
He hurled the orb into the air.
“Catch!”