5. Riley
Riley
Seconds after we left the office, Montes stalked off without a backward glance. I stared after him, speechless, while trying not to ogle his ass like a creep. What a douche.
My wolf didn’t appreciate being rejected. For some strange reason, she’d decided she liked the wolf.
You have terrible taste in males, I told her. Have some self-respect. She whined softly and turned her back on me as I left the admin building, bag slung over my shoulder.
Once outside, I scanned the area, trying to get my bearings.
Even though night had fallen, I could see well enough thanks to the tall lampposts at regular intervals.
According to the campus map I’d just received via email, the main building behind me, constructed from gray stone, contained the admin and faculty offices, as well as an assembly hall, a ballroom, and other communal spaces.
Five dorm blocks lay to the left and right, and behind them, several more buildings containing classrooms, laboratories, an arts center, and a gymnasium. These buildings were newer, constructed from red brick and blocky in design. Green ivy snaked up the walls in places, softening the sharp edges.
The main building, from what I recalled from researching the place, was once the home of a prominent human family, but after they’d all died a century ago, their ancestral estate became a school for humans and then magicals.
I headed down a gravel path toward the nearest dorm building. A small group of males swerved around me, chattering to each other in low voices. They seemed young, so I assumed they were first-years.
All of them ignored me, which was just fine. Being ignored would make it easier to snoop around in peace.
The first building I reached was dorm two, according to the map, so I carried on. It took me another twenty minutes of walking before I reached dorm five. A crow perched on a lintel above the door. When I stared up, it flapped its wings irritably, cawed loudly, and then flew away.
Was that a crow shifter? If so, it was my first sighting of one.
I almost grinned. Being raised as a human meant I’d had few interactions with other shifters, so this would be a fun learning experience.
The wind picked up, so I pushed open the heavy door and stepped inside the dorm building, eager to find my room and take a hot shower.
The key in the packet Beak gave me had the number fifteen engraved on it. Felix had assured me all the rooms were single occupancy. I prayed he was right.
Sharing a room would prove tricky, especially as shifters were comfortable getting naked around each other. My refusal to strip would raise more than a few red flags. While in theory Tamara’s glamour would hide my female attributes, I would feel safer fully dressed around the males.
The entrance door opened into a large open-plan living area with a small kitchen and dining space to the right. The decor was plain and modern, with cream walls and simple furnishings. There was a list of dorm rules pinned to a notice board next to the entrance, which I scanned and dismissed.
The chances of me smoking witch weed or inviting females back to my room were minimal, and I didn’t expect to shift inside the dorm.
A quick glance inside the kitchen said the dorm occupants were lazy fuckers. Dozens of dirty mugs sat stacked on the counter, even though I could see a dishwasher. But at least there was a microwave and a refrigerator, so if I wanted to make food, I could.
Not that I had any intention of doing so; the on-site canteen served free food for all students.
Several guys sat in front of a large flat-screen TV in the living area when I walked past, all shouting at the screen as they played a game. None of them looked up.
A wide, polished-wood staircase led up to the upper floors.
When I reached the third floor, I located my room at the end of the hallway.
It was small but neat, with a queen-sized bed, an attached bathroom, and a small closet.
The furniture appeared to be of good quality, way better than I was used to.
The bathroom was modern, clean, and also a significant improvement on our cramped trailer’s shower cubicle.
Maybe spending some time in this place wouldn’t be so bad after all. It was definitely an upgrade from our trailer. The one that was no longer my home, according to Frank, who’d regretfully informed me the day before I left for Moonfall Academy that Mom hadn’t paid the rent for six months.
I hoped the next resident didn’t mind sharing his living quarters with mice and cockroaches.
After dumping my bag on the floor and making sure the door was securely locked, I called Felix.
He picked up immediately. “Met any hot guys yet?”
My mind jumped straight to the wolf who’d abandoned me outside the admin building. Sure, he was hot, but his personality sucked, even if my wolf disagreed.
“Nope,” I lied. “The admin guy seemed surprised a hybrid wolf like me would receive a scholarship place, but evidently you did a good job updating the admissions system because he stopped short of throwing me out on my ass.” My lip curled at the memory of Beak’s sneer when he realized I was a hybrid.
Felix snorted. “Of course I did, cupcake. I’m good at my job.”
“Yeah, I know.” I wouldn’t be here without my best friend’s top-tier tech skills. “And I owe you big time.”
“You sure do, but we can talk about that once you’re back home, safe and sound.”
“With Lorna.”
“Yes, Riley, with Lorna.” I pictured him rolling his eyes and smirked. “So, what’s your plan? Remind me?”
“Um…” I had no plan, if I was being totally honest. Just a few half-baked ideas that might get me into trouble.
“I want to go to Trinity Falls and see where Lorna lived and worked.” It hadn’t been that long.
Surely her things would still be in her apartment?
The sooner I took a trip there to check it out, the better.
Felix huffed out a sigh. “Keep me posted, yeah? Oh, and I added some cash to your account.”
“You’re the best, Felix.”
I lay back on my extremely comfortable bed and exhaled slowly. It had been a long, exhausting journey, but I was here, and no matter what obstacles I faced, I promised myself I would find out what happened to my sister.
But first, I needed to sleep.