Academy of Beasts XXXI Page 3

  Luckily, I managed to keep my powers under check when our meeting began.

  “Prince Dracus, care to share what you summoned us here for?” The speaker sounded a little miffed.

  I lifted a brow. Summoned? Never had I thought one of us could have summoned our bosses. I glanced at Dracus, wondering just what his relationship with them really was. He stood before the four robed Officials, looking every bit as authoritative as they were.

  “I’ll get to the point. Dante has escaped imprisonment.”

  There was a chorus of gasps as four hood-covered heads swiveled from side to side, looking at each other. “The witches―”

  “Said nothing, that’s right. Apparently, they wanted to avoid mass panic. They’ve asked for the Core Council to help with apprehending their prisoner. I called you out of courtesy.”

  I held back my own gasp. Was I missing something? Dracus made it sound as if he would have gone ahead with whatever plan he has without telling the Officials if he wished. What had gotten into him? With bated breath, I waited for his superiors to show their outrage. They just looked at each other again and nodded.

  “We appreciate that.”

  My jaw-dropped. I glanced at the others. Theo’s mouth was open too. Jasper and Enrique had raised brows and Ren… well, he just looked bored.

  “And I’d appreciate it if you allowed us the chance to find Dante before alerting anyone else. I think the witches are right. Although, it would seem fair to give everyone a heads up, it might be better to avoid a panic. If panic ensues, chances are, Dante will be alerted at every turn and it will make it that much harder to find him.”

  “You think a group of students can bring a powerful warlock to justice?”

  “It was this group of students who fought the war and brought him to justice in the first place without your help, isn’t it?” Dracus’s tone rang with irritation.

  My gaze repeatedly swung between The Officials and Dracus. Something must have gone down between them before the meeting to cause Dracus’s strange mood and the way he was suddenly addressing our superiors. I practically felt the others hold on to the edge of their seats. Dracus’s current mood could very well get him into trouble. If that happened, what would it mean for us? I wanted to stand up and intervene but I stayed glued to my seat―partly out of fear. I’d already messed up with them by accidentally attacking them.

  To my amazement – and I was sure the other’s too – the Officials didn’t reprimand Dracus. One of them said, “So you did. However, we can’t keep this to ourselves.”

  “I’m sure you can for a little while. It would be in your best interest.”

  “What makes you think we should take orders from you,” another growled.

  His colleague held up a hand. “It wasn’t an order, it was a suggestion, wasn’t it, your highness?”

  My brows dipped. Your Highness? All along, I didn’t think I’d ever heard them refer to him as that. Something had changed and the rest of the council wasn’t in on it. The rest of the guys looked just as confused as I was.

  What shocked me even more was that Dracus didn’t even answer the question. He just stood there, holding the four under a cool gaze. The one who had stepped in to quell his colleague's annoyance continued. “I’m sure we can keep things quiet for a little while. However, if things get out of hand, we’ll have no choice but to make things public.”

  “Of course,” Dracus said.

  “The witches gave you this information, we take it?”

  Dracus nodded. “Yes.”

  “How did that happen?”

  I inhaled, ready to get roasted by the Officials for breaking the rules. Maybe they kick me out of meetings again or off the council altogether.

  “I don’t think that’s of any importance with a killer on the loose, do you?”

  For the umpteenth time, my jaw dropped. Okay, Dracus was really pushing it.

  They were quiet, their attention on Dracus. I waited, holding my breath, waiting for what they would do to him. The memory of them hitting me with that containment spell surfaced. Would they do something like that to him, too, for his blatant insubordination?

  “Dracus,” I hear myself hissed. My mouth clamped shut as the hooded heads turned to me. Drawing attention to myself was the last thing I wanted. I sighed. “It’s okay, just tell them.” He was trying to protect me. It was sweet but I didn't want him getting into trouble.

  “Tell us what?”

  “That I went into Death Forest and sought out the witches?” Dracus lifted a brow. “Fine, that’s what I did.”

  I blinked, gazing at Dracus beseechingly. He had to stop lying on behalf before he dug himself into a hole. I opened my mouth to confess the truth, damned the consequences. Dracus gave me a sharp glance that had me shutting my mouth.

  “Why would you seek out witches, Dracus?”

  “Sheer curiosity.”

  “About what exactly?”

  “I don’t much like to be questioned about my personal affairs.”

  My heart almost failed. Had Dracus gone mad? There was a moment of tense silence before a surge of power rose. “We expect to be updated accordingly about your progress with Dante,” one Official announced. Then they were gone.

  Dracus straightened his jacket and casually pulled his chair to face us. He sat and hooked his ankle over his knee like some lord of the manor on his throne. “So, any ideas on how we go about hunting down a warlock?”

  He was met with shocked silence. We all gawked at him for what seemed like forever. He lifted a brow.

  “I was expecting more input than this.”

  There was a chorus of responses.

  “What the hell was that?” Enrique asked.

  “Have you completely lost your mind?” I glared at him.

  “Dude, do you have a death wish?” Theo threw his hands up.

  “That was certainly interesting,” Jasper smirked.

  Ren glowered at Dracus but said nothing.

  “Silence, please.” Dracus held up a hand. “One at a time.”

  I stood up, furious. “Why would you do that? Thanks for protecting me but they could have... punished you.”

  “They wouldn’t have.”

  “So, you’re above the law now?” Enrique lifted a brow.

  Finally, Ren spoke. “Apparently, he is. You all saw how he spoke to them and they just let it slide.”

  “Well, they do own him favors.” Theo’s eyes narrowed. “Care to explain?”

  “No, I don’t.”

  Dracus and Theo had a glaring match that would have probably set fire to anyone who dared to step between them. I got why Theo was pissed. He was next in line to lead the Core Council. He was a friendly soul, but there was no doubt he could be just as domineering as Dracus. I’d seen him switch from sweet to deadly before. Plus, out of all of us, he was the best choice. I was still clueless about half of the things that went on in the shifter world, Ren was too much of a loner, Enrique was too irresponsible and Jasper was a shady individual with more secrets probably than all of us combined. I suppose Theo thought he should be let in on whatever was going on between Dracus and the Officials.

  “You’re keeping secrets from us? How is that fair?”

  I sat at the sound of Theo’s snarl. Secrets. If Dracus was keeping secrets from the council, I couldn’t say a word. I was keeping secrets from them too. My gaze shifted to Ren and skated away when he scowled.

  “He can do anything he wants. He’s a prince,” Enrique spat. “I suppose half of the shifter world has to kiss his ass including the Officials.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” Dracus said calmly.

  “But isn’t that what just happened here?”

  “You don’t know anything so I suggest you stay quiet.”

  Now it was Dracus and Enrique having the deadly stare down.

  “Theo asked you to explain what favors the Officials owe you. Why don’t you answer, Dracus? Better yet tell us what you do for them.” Enrique’
s challenging stare made Dracus lift a brow.

  “Maybe I wasn’t clear before. Let me put it in terms you’ll understand. None of your goddamn business.”

  I gasped. I’d never heard the ever proper, composed prince sound like that.

  An argument erupted where everyone started talking over each other. Tempers were flaring and animals were surfacing. Words sounded more like growls. I could feel the anger mounting and soon things would turn to violence. I could feel a brawl brewing. What had gotten into all of them? As a team, we had plenty of squabbles. That was expected with four arrogant male egos but it had never been like this. Dracus had never been like this. He’d be the first to step in and calm the tempers. It was like some invisible force had crept in. The poisonous fingers of malice weaving a spell.

  A spell.

  I wasn’t sure how that came to me. It was just a thought seeping into my mind but it felt right. While the guys argued, my attention was drawn to where the Officials had stood in a line. It was like I was seeing apparitions of the four bodies standing side by side in a line. I was seeing the impressions of them long after they’d left, just as I’d seen that shifter get murdered days after it happened. I peered at the robed individuals. It was then that I realized the one to the far left who hadn’t said a word was doing something with his hands. Why hadn’t I noticed before? Why hadn’t Dracus? Something like that wouldn’t get past him.

  “Guys,” I called, still staring at the space the Officials had vacated. “You all need to calm down. Something isn’t right.”

  They were all too caught up in their heated arguments with me. Even Ren, who didn’t waste his breath with words when not necessary, was riled up and going back and forth with Dracus. It was three against one, but Dracus didn’t seem to be phased. He just got more aggressive. I couldn’t believe it. One of the Officials had woven some kind of spell right under our noses.

  “You all need to stop,” I shouted. Still nothing. Frustration rose like a tsunami-sized waved, making my skin prickle. Maybe the spell was affecting me too. “I said stop!”

  A blast of energy left me and hit the guys, sending them scattered in all directions.

  Chapter 6

  The room was quiet. It was a relief after all the angry insults being hurled around the room. However, guilt pricked me as I gazed at the guys on the ground. “Oops,” I squeaked.

  They all blinked rapidly, wearing confused expressions. Rubbing the back of his head, Enrique gingerly stood up. “Gosh, Princess, remind me never to piss you off again.”

  “What was that for?” Theo remained on the ground and sent me a questioning look.

  “I didn’t mean to do that. It just... happened. I just wanted you guys to stop fighting and listen to me.”

  Dracus, who had appeared dazed, was fully recovered, it seemed. He gracefully sprang to his feet and glowered at the spot the Officials had been standing. “Bastards,” he spat. “How didn’t I realize?”

  “Oh, good,” I clutched my chest and sighed. “You realize what happened.”

  Jasper stood and growled. “I should have realized too.”

  Ren slowly got to his feet and eyed Jasper, Dracus and me. “What have you three figured out that we’re clearly still lost on?”

  “Some kind of spell,” I explained. “It had you guys’ tempers out of control and going at each other’s throats.” Almost literally. I was glad my surge of power had knocked them on their asses because I didn’t see how I could have broken up a fight between four deadly shifters. I would have been torn to shreds.

  “It didn’t affect Fiona,” Theo noted.

  I rubbed my forehead. “No, I think it did at first. I mean, I was feeling super suspicious towards Dracus for a moment, like the rest of you, but I got over it pretty quickly. I suppose it was because I realized something wasn’t right. None of you guys were acting like yourselves.”

  “They did it,” Dracus snarled. “They’re going to pay for this.”

  “One of them did it.”

  “What? How do you know?” Ren stepped forward to peer at me. “Did you pick up on that with your calm power because,” he glanced around, “clearly they’ve grown.”

  My face caught fire. “Clearly beyond my control. I’m really sorry you guys. It was an accident. I’ve been having too many of those accidents lately.”

  “Throwing people across the room and disappearing,” Ren grumbled.

  “What’s this about disappearing?” I could practically see Jasper’s ears perking up. He was ever the curious scholar.

  “Need I remind you about the matter of us being hexed by some anger spell?”

  Ren glowered, and I sent him back a warning look that said: not now.

  “Fiona, how do you know it was one of them? And which one?” Dracus asked.

  I hurried to where the Officials stood. “Okay, it was the one to the far left. He or she was quiet the entire time. The hands made this strange motion.” I closed my eyes and mimicked what I saw. It was very subtle. That’s why none of us noticed. We were all focused on Dracus giving the Officials serious lip.”

  He shrugged. “I don’t like them.”

  “Clearly. Anyway I know because I saw it. You know, how I saw that murder after it happened.” I lifted my shoulders. “I don’t know how to explain half of what I do.”

  Dracus rubbed a hand over his face. “There’s no telling if the other three knew what was going on.”

  “Why would they hit us with that kind of spell?” Enrique rubbed his chin.

  “To throw us off our game,” Jasper concluded quietly. “Could Dante have gotten to someone high up already?”

  “One of his followers infiltrated the Official’s organization,” Dracus murmured. “They don’t just pop up here to tell us what to do. They’re high ranking government officers who operate in the shifter world.”

  I groaned my dismay. “Dante having that kind of help does not bode well for anyone.” He was dangerous on his own, but with minions who were brainwashed to loyally follow him meant another war. “What do we do?”

  “We certainly can’t throw out accusations on the Officials yet. There are consequences.”

  “Now you’re worried about the consequences?” Enrique folded his arms and studied Dracus keenly. “You didn’t sound worried when you were speaking to them like they were your royal subjects.”

  “It was the spell.” Theo, who had calmed down and was back to himself, jumped to Dracus’s defense.

  “No, I don’t think it was. It might have fueled things, but Dracus was in a strange mood before the Officials even got here. Something is up.”

  Was Enrique right? We all turned to stare at Dracus. This time, with the atmosphere apparently cleansed of any extra malice, he was calm. “Enrique is right. Something has happened. However, I can’t talk about it, not yet.”

  “Dracus, if something is going on with you and them you have to tell us so we can help. Are you in trouble?” Although, I didn’t see how he could be in trouble with the Officials and still speak to them the way he did.

  “I’m not. It’s nothing bad, at least I don’t think so. But I can’t speak on it.” He looked at each of us. “You’re all just going to have to trust me for now.”

  “We’ll want answers soon,” Jasper said in a quiet tone.

  “And you’ll get them. Right now, whatever I have going on takes the back seat to Dante. We have to get started with our efforts to find him.”

  I knew curiosity about Dracus’s business with the Official was killing the others because it was killing me. We wanted to press for information, but he was right. The Dante situation was top priority. I supposed I’d have to wait a little before revealing Demetrius’s innocence. Frankly, I was a little relieved because I was dreading that conversation with every fiber of my being.

  “Should I go back to the witches and tell them we’re on board? We can combine our efforts.”

  “Like hell,” Ren practically growled. “You’re not going anywhere ne
ar them.”

  I rolled my eyes. “I told you, they didn’t do anything to me.”

  “What are we missing here?” Dracus demanded, his gaze swinging from me to Ren suspiciously.”

  “Nothing.”

  “Fiona had an incident.”

  Ren and I spoke at the same time, I glowered and repeated, “Nothing.”

  “Clearly, there’s something.” Enrique grinned. “Come on, what’s the big secret?”

  “Something happened to Fiona earlier, and I don’t think it’s anything good. It can’t be.” Ren’s eyes bored into mine and he bit out, “I told her I wouldn’t keep it a secret no matter how pissed she gets.”

  And I was pissed. Severely. I couldn’t believe him. There we were in the midst of a much more important crisis and he was bringing up my disappearing act. Of all the times to keep my problematic powers under wraps, it was now. The council didn’t need the distraction.

  “It wasn’t a big deal.” I folded my arms over my chest and sent Ren another seething glance.

  “I think disappearing is a huge deal.”

  “One or both of you explain now.” Dracus huffed. “We need to get on the Dante situation.”

  “See? I agree with you Dracus. Completely. Finding Dante takes precedence. My freaky powers can be addressed later. Come on, guys,” I waved a hand to the door. “Let’s get to it. We have an evil, murderous warlock to hunt.”

  “Your enthusiasm is inspiring,” Enrique snickered. That made Theo chuckle. I gave them both withering looks and marched to the door.

  I didn’t make it out of the room. Dracus cleared his throat, and I froze. “Not so fast. If this involves your powers, we address it now. We can’t hunt an evil, murderous warlock, with a member of the team not functioning at a one hundred percent.”