The shark’s face is pure, lethal cold. Anything that concerns children or innocents will send Scythe into an Antarctic fury, and his regina being in the eyesight of the biggest predator as aninnocent fourteen-year-old is possibly the worst possible version of this. He confirms. “Whatever you want, brother.”
Savage slaps me on the back, and in seconds, we’re charging downstairs onto the wolves’ corridor. “Pickle!” Savage shouts. “Pickle, I need you!”
The skinny wolf stumbles out of his room just as we get there, his glasses askew. “Yes, my lord?” he says, eyes wide with fear. Savage chatters excitedly, waving his hands wildly in the air, and marches right past him into the room. I follow, listening closely. Half an hour later, we’re back out on the roof and into the sky, zooming towards Ghoul’s townhouse like the clouds are my own personal zipline. Savage wears the backpack Aurelia used tonight, holding tightly onto the straps like it’s his first day at school.
“We’re not even going to get in trouble for this!”he says excitedly into my mind.
“Well, one or two people might have something to say about it.”
“The only person who actually matters is Lia, andshedid something similar not long ago, so I think she’ll approve.”
I snort into the night air, the thought of revenge warming me from the inside.
Chapter 63
Ghoul
Apre-dawn blue lines the horizon as I re-materialise on my doorstep, getting out my keys from my pocket. But something smells off in the air beyond my mask. Pausing with my keys inches from the lock, I tilt my head upwards and sniff. The skin on the back of my neck prickles as the hairy scent of wolf fills my nose. Savage was here. But my motion detectors hadn’t registered movement inside the house. My key finds the lock, and I twist it right to open.
A tinysnickis the only warning I get.
My body is engulfed in flames as I fly backwards, my skin bubbling and boiling, my uniform melting into flesh. Half a thought later, I’m in the air, inhuman, watching the carnage from above.
“SAVAGE!”I telepath towards Animus Academy.“YOU’LL FUCKING PAY FOR THIS.”
It’s only an echoing cackle that replies.
Ten minutes later, I’m striding into the drawing room of Naga House, where Mace sits with Generals Brown and Taipan. I tear my melted clothes off, taking sheets of skin with them, and dump them on the tile for the servants to clean up. I’m already healing, but even basilisks don’t heal instantly. Blood drips on the floor from every limb; blisters pop on my burning face. The generals leap to their feet.
“Permission to destroy Animus Academy, Your Majesty,” I snarl.
The serpent king regards me with disdain. “We’ve already discussed this; you know we need the location intact. Why did they catch you off guard?”
He already knows who it was. Why would it be anyone else? In this moment, the hold I have over myself slips. Ancient fangs buried deep, deep, deep lose their purchase and hatred pours out of me. My eyes burn and I?—
Mace’s voice is sharp when he speaks my true name. My mind snaps to attention, those fangs clenching around my proverbial neck, and I’m blessedly psychopathic again. “Permission to destroy anything at all, then,” I say darkly. “Especially Savage Fengari.”
Mace steeples his fingers under his chin, eyes alight with running thoughts. He’s always been emotionless, something that’s just gotten worse over time. Part of what makes him a formidable enemy is that he doesn’t react out of anger. “He didn’t act alone, of course. The security system did not alert us to intruders, which means the electrical signals were disrupted. That would be the work of Xander Drakos.” I curse under mybreath. There had been no scent of dragon on my porch, so no doubt he had done his work from a distance away.
“Disappointing,” General Brown purrs. “The famed General Ghoul thwarted by a wolf pup.”
“Hardly a pup,” Mace says coldly. “The wolf is undefeated in battle, and we’ve seen why on the footage of the Drakos battle.”
“The Silver Tooth pack will take care of him,” Taipan says. “We need not worry about any of those brothers for long.”
I hiss, turning away from them all as my shadows violently charge about me. My house. My trunk. This stinks of retaliation. They’re making a point. They think I’m not a member of their pack and I never will be. Perhaps it’s time I asserted my dominance.
“Calm yourself,” Mace says. “Their time will come. We’re almost ready. The units are coming along as planned. I need you to contain your strength so we don’t have a repeat of last time.”
Of Halfeather’s dungeon, I only remember darkness. But I turn and bow all the same. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
“You will lodge here from now until Phase Three,” Mace continues. “You are due for a milking in any case.”
“As you wish.”
I have to wait until the next night to fulfil my own desires. But to my utter delight, my regina once again seeks me out. Her constant stalking of me is a thrill like no other. I have her full attention, her every breath is poised on my movements, and her wing beats are drawn to me like I am the darkness and she the high priestess of the night.
My healing skin prickles as she watches me from the backyard of Naga mansion. No doubt she has seen the ruins of my townhouse and came here to check on me. My weary heart flutters just a little at the thought. I saunter around the lawn like a peacock being appreciated by a peahen, smoking a new joint before handing it to General Adder and dissolving into the air.The winds speak of change tonight, and my shadows whisper their own vow. My dark soul-brothers cannot be allowed to think they have laid full claim to our regina. I won’t allow this insubordination. I was born to reign over men and beasts alike.Someof them have forgotten that.
