Zane’s talk of hellhounds had frightened me. I still recalled how terrified I’d been all those years ago when a demon found me. The stupid prank a few weeks ago hadn’t helped. Honestly, if a real-life hellhound appeared right this minute, I would legit pass out.
Something furry brushed past my legs. The witch in front of me shrieked when Kenji jumped onto the counter and grabbed a metal dish of crispy bacon.
“Ew, that’s so unhygienic!” She scowled at me in disgust. “You need to train your familiar. It has no manners.”
“It?”Kenji huffed in annoyance as he gobbled down some bacon. “Is she blind? I have an excellent pair of balls. Not to mention a huge—”
“Stars, Kenji, no. Just… no.”
I grabbed a bottle of chocolate milk and hustled over to an empty table before Kenji could cause a scene. Thankfully for all of us, he scampered after me and perched on an empty chair.
“The bear is fine,” he said between bites of bacon. “He’s busy washing off demon mess.”
My shoulders slumped in relief. Thank the goddess. The thought of anything bad happening to my bear made me want to set fire to things.
“I’d stay away from the forest for now,” Kenji added. “Demon activity has increased.”
“I thought witches sealed the portal years ago?” Or so Professor Dunton had said.
Kenji shrugged but didn’t answer my question. I glanced around the hall, listening to my fellow students chatter while sipping my drink. Nobody mentioned demons or seemed concerned, which was odd. Surely if demons lurked nearby, their presence would have set off the wards?
Nothing made sense.
Glynda arrived with a tray of food and sat down next to me. Kenji’s paw darted out and stole a pancake. She glared at him, but he stuck a middle claw up and smirked.
“Goddess, Raven, that familiar of yours is something else.”
“File a complaint. I’ll pass it on to Kitsune Resources.”
“Kitsune what now?”
Before I could elaborate, a huge and very stressed-out bear shifter came storming into the food hall. Conversation dried up as every student stared at our PT coach in surprise.
He growled as he approached our table. Glynda’s jaw dropped when he scooped me up from my chair and hugged me so tightly I could barely breathe.
“Let me go!” I hissed, embarrassed but also relieved he was okay.
“No.”Oh.
Stars above, the bear was in control. His heart thundered in his chest, and I could sense his fear and anxiety. My bear hated that he’d left me and was likely worried about the increase in demon activity.
The hum of conversation kicked off again. Only most of it was about us. Shifters, witches, and mages hooked up sometimes, usually at the full moon parties, but never this publicly. And also, Maverick was a teacher, not a student.
“Mine,” he growled when a male wolf moved past our table and his bulky body accidentally brushed against my hip.
The wolf jumped back, his eyes glowing yellow as his wolf came forward. Stars above, if we didn’t get out of here, Maverick would be throwing down with half the students.
“Err… Raven… is there something you need to tell me?” Glynda’s question broke through my paralysis. I wiggled loose from the bear’s grip, and he reluctantly let me down but kept his arm around my waist. My friend’s shocked gaze swung between me and our coach. From the way her eyes bulged, she was on the verge of a meltdown.
“Um…”
“Oh my stars, have you seriously mated ashifter?” Demelza’s awful shriek nearly burst my eardrums. The witch stared in horror at themating mark on my neck, which was no longer covered by my sweater. I touched the raised bite mark and winced. Not because it was in any way shameful, but because it still freaking hurt.
“Shut the fuck up,” Glynda muttered under her breath while Maverick growled threateningly. Demelza must have recognized how much danger she was in, because she took a giant step back. It didn’t stop her from sneering at me, however.
“How unsurprising. First a filthy familiar and now a filthy shifter mate.”
Maverick pushed me behind his broad frame and grabbed the bitchy witch by the throat.
