“Naturally,” I say, knocking the top of my head like it’s wood. “Like it was never broken.”
“Good. The human mundanes signed off on the legislation as I planned. We’ll be commencing the final phase tomorrow.”
“Very good, Your Majesty.”
“You need to fill your well, we cannot afford failure on your part yet again. Ensure our males well fed and fucked. I don’t care how they do it.”
Hearing Mace cuss is unusual and tells me just how excited he is for his life’s plans to be coming to fruition. Oh regina, I hope you’re ready.
Chapter 95
Aurelia
The next morning, Scythe and Lyle command the students to pack their bags and load them into a number of waiting coaches. Some put up a protest, worried about their various court dates and legal records, and other students simply don’t have accommodation in the outside world. So while many of the students leap at the chance to go home, some simply refuse to leave. Sabrina, her surrogate mates Blair and Blade, and Stacey included.
Xander and Savage, who has taken to wearing Eugene in a sling similar to Toastie’s, oversee the loading of the coaches, wrangling apart those who get into fights and anger-shift. I watch all this from the top of the animus dorms, my arms crossed against the chill that’s encapsulated my heart. Animus Academy already feels emptier, and that space inside of me made for Ghoul gapes open like an infected wound.
“I hope you’re alright,”I send across the ether.“I know what Mace wants you to do. I know everything.”
No reply comes. My nails scrape against the black stone wall.
That afternoon, Marduk messages our Devi-Boneweaver pack group chat. Four words that shake me.Mace is on TV.My pack all rush to the TV room as fast as we can. We exchange looks without speaking, crowding around the TV, none of us wanting to sit down. Sure enough, my father is standing next to a lectern, patiently waiting to speak. The red banner beneath his wan face reads:Joint initiative proposes dissolution of Animalia Council Structure.
The camera pans to the human state premier, a brunette woman in a red pantsuit, standing at the lectern. I wonder how much mind-control basilisk venom my father has spiked her drink with over the years. “The Animalia Council has voted,” she says with a bright smile to the journalists seated for the press conference. “The current system has not been working. We require a united front, led by a single impartial party. Only this will allow real progress. I am pleased to tell you that tonight we have hosted an election. Each council member will now present their votes for the new leader of the animalia population.”
The camera pans to a screen above the lectern, and it flicks to an unidentifiable room with a black-curtained background where the four council members are seated. Charlotte Naga stands before them in a professional suit, her blond curls perfectly coiffed. The camera zooms in on Irma Goldwing’s thin, unblinking face. Even without my avian healing powers and training, I know she’s unwell, likely being poisoned with Ghoul’s venom within an inch of her life. She drones, “I vote for Mace Naga.”
Ablo Obon’s face appears, dripping with sweat, his pupils dilated almost all the way. “Mace Naga,” he says in a halting staccato.
Lunissa, her mouth downturned unhappily, deadpans, “Mace Naga.”
The video pans to Charlotte Naga with her clipboard. “The marine regent did not reply to communications.”
“Liars!” Savage snarls, glancing at Scythe. And of course, there is no longer a dragon regent now that Flores Drakos is dead.
The human premier shouts into the microphone. “I am so pleased to present to you, the new regent of the animalia, Mace Naga!” They shake hands, and Mace raises his hands in a benevolent way to the audience, who gives an enthusiastic round of applause. Somebody whistles, and I swear I hear a party popper in the background.
Lyle takes my hand and squeezes it as I try to hold myself together. I’m not even sure what to feel, but an awful, biting dread sits in my stomach like a new type of poison. My eyes search for Ghoul in the group of my father’s supporters on stage, but there are no generals present, only my great uncle, the lawyer, and other males in suits.
My father waits for the crowd to settle before he speaks in a booming, deep voice that commands the entire room. “I will serve the animalia and human populations better than any previous member of the council ever could. The federal hunt and retrieve warrants will pass over to the serpent court team. We will ensure the job gets done.”
The room breaks into loud cheers once again. He begins his speech. “My first command relates to the issues of crime and ferality within the animalia population. For too long, the humans have suffered under the tyranny of beasts who simply think they are above the law. Who wish to overpower thehumans at every turn simply because they can. The old ways have failed. Hence, I initiate the dissolution of Animus Academy. Under the administration of Lyle Pardalia and Celeste Agnis, the program has never shown evidence of improving ferality or rabidity. With a significant draw on council funds, I cannot allow this program to continue. All adult criminals masquerading as students will be transferred to Blackwater Penitentiary where they belong.”
Lyle snarls under his breath, and it’s my turn to squeeze his hand. I have to turn away from the TV and place another hand on Lyle’s clenched jaw. “It’ll be okay,” I say, blinking fast. I don’t know if I’m telling him or myself. “It’ll be okay.”
I duck away from him to sit on my favourite part of the couch, lowering my head to my hands as I try to get the words out of my head, and my father’s terrible, smug smile. Above it all, my heart aches as I wonder where my fifth mate is and what he’s thinking. My vow, still red and scabbing over, burns on my left forearm.
This is it. This is what my father has been waiting for his entire life. Now he has the entire human population and parliament behind him. It’s Animus Academy against the might of everyone else, my father at the helm, for no reason other than power. How easily everything could slip away from me if I let it.
I stand up, trembling with rage. I can’t take my eyes off my father, still standing at the lectern, smiling. The greed. The sheer will to destroy everything I love. My voice trembles, but I speak anyway. I’m not ashamed to carethisdeeply. “I’m going through the portal,” I say to my mates. “I will not let my father win this, but I don’t think we can do it alone.”
Xander is the first to step forward. “I will go with you.”
“Me too!” Savage all but leaps into the air. “It was calling me, I just know it!”
Scythe’s eyes glitter as Lyle turns to regard me. “I don’t like the thought of our pack being separated again.”
“We can’t leave the academy unmanned,” I say, frowning at the thought.
