A soft ripple of assent moved through the auditorium.
“Stonewick has sheltered us,” she continued. “Respected us. Allowed us autonomy without neglect. If the balance is threatened, we will respond. That is not a favor. It is the responsibility of the magical world. It’s why I was called along with Mara, Opal, and Vivenne. We were never meant to be students, but we certainly enjoy the classes.”
“Thank you,” I said sincerely.
She inclined her head. “That said—” her gaze flicked toward the doors at the far end of the hall “—the shifters may require… more discussion. They haven’t always been…kind to our type.”
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
As if summoned by the question, the doors opened.
The Silver Wolf stepped inside, her presence cutting through the room like a sudden draft of mountain air. Conversations stilled instantly. Several vampires shifted in their seats, not alarmed exactly, but alert in a way that set my nerves humming.
She didn’t look at them. Her gaze locked on me.
“Maeve,” she said evenly. “There are alphas here to speak with you.”
A ripple of unease moved through the auditorium this time, sharper than before. Vampires straightened. A few hands tightened around teacups. Old instincts stirred, territorial and wary.
Twobble made a face and glanced at the vampires.
“Easy now, girls,” he stage-whispered loudly. “Nobody bare fangs. This is a civilized institution.”
Stella snorted softly, and I stepped down from the platform without hesitation.
My heart was pounding, but my resolve was steady.
“Thank you,” I said to the Silver Wolf. “I’ll meet them.”
Lady Limora watched me closely as I passed, her expression thoughtful.
“Choose your words carefully,” she murmured. “Shifter politics are… textured.”
“I’ve noticed,” I replied wryly. “Can you take over for me? Ask if there are any willing to make the journey with me to the Hollows?”
Keegan was already moving toward me, his presence immediate and grounding at my side. He didn’t speak, just fell into step, his shoulder brushing mine with quiet reassurance.
Twobble planted himself between the vampires and the doors.
“All right,” he announced. “No dramatic lunging. No historical grudges. This is a listening exercise.”
Skonk crossed his arms behind him, which somehow made the point land.
As Keegan and I followed the Silver Wolf down the corridor and toward the entryway, I felt the weight of everything pressing in again. It wasn’t crushing. This wasn’t the sensation of chaos about to erupt. It felt like a convergence, or maybe that was merely my naïve hope.
I glanced up at Keegan. “Ready for another unexpected meeting?”
He smiled faintly. “At this point, I’d be worried if things went according to plan.”
I laughed softly, and squared my shoulders as the entry doors came into view.
Whatever the alphas wanted, they’d come to the Academy to ask, and that meant they were willing to talk.
For now, that was enough.
Chapter Thirty-Six
The Academy doors opened with a sound that felt too loud in the moment.
