The conference room doors swing open, and Alpha Thaddeus Dire walks through, his eyes sparking with lightning as they land on me. If it weren’t for Alistair’s freshly-showered appearance, he and his father would be spitting images of each other—except, I realize, for their eyes. Alistair’s are a honey brown while his father’s are a frigid blue. Alpha Dire speaks in a low tone to his son, inclining his head just slightly, before stepping up to the flame basin in the center of the rotunda and crossing his hands in front of him. I stare at him, and he stares right back.
I’m tempted to yell, but I don’t know what I’d say.I didn’t kill your eldest sonisn’t a great conversation starter, nor is sayingyour current heir is an arrogant sack of shit. Neither would win me any points in my favor, and unfortunately, I may need his approval if I’m going to stay at the academy.
By the way he turns his nose up, I can tell that I’m already on his shit list.
“You’re lucky to be alive,” he says after a long, tense moment. “Wild girl.”
My eye twitches as I tamp down my annoyance. “I prefer to be called by my name.”
Whatever snarky comment is on Alpha Dire’s mind doesn’t make it past his lips, but I can see it in his eyes—the disgust.
“How does it feel to know that I’m destroying your bloodline, Alpha Dire?” I smile as sweetly as my sudden nausea will allow. “First, your eldest son, and now...” I glance at Alistair and immediately regret it.
He’s fuckingfuming.
I guess I’m not fighting against the allegation that I enrolledat Heartsflame to ruin him. Oops.
Feigning indifference, I shrug. “Must suck to know that your sons have shit taste in women. I wonder if it runs in the family?” I tilt my head to the side. “How’syourmate, Alpha Dire? Is she worth the trouble, or has she run off with a wolf whose dick hits all the right places? With only two heirs to your name, I’m sure she’s hurting for a good fuck.”
Alpha Dire’s muscles tense. There’s an unspoken rule in the shifter community about insulting someone’s mate—you don’t do it if you value your next breath. “Recant your statement,” he commands.
I’m too pissed off to regret my choice of words, no matter the danger crackling in the air. “No.”
His eyes flash bronze, and he takes a single, steady step forward. “You insolent child?—”
The remaining elders and Alphas choose to exit the conference room at that precise moment. Silently, they stand beside Alpha Dire at equidistant points in a semicircle and face forward, their eyes focused on me. A few are scrutinous in their approach, assessing me like they would a sow at auction, while the vast majority—mainly non-shifters—take a softer, curious approach. Councilwoman Navarro, who was interested in me as soon as her nephew Callum expressed his interest after the entrance trials, smiles fondly at me. Her porcelain skin, delicate cheekbones, crimson eyes, spiraling dark curls, and perfectposture are reminiscent of him, and I wonder what he’d do if I’m suddenly expelled.
At least then he won’t feel the need to follow me around anymore if I’mliterallynot here. I shiver as his voice whispers in my mind, reminding me that he isn’t helping me out of the kindness of his unbeating heart, but rather, for his own good.
Assisting you helps me determine if we’re a good match.
If I make it out of this meeting alive, Callum will be waiting for me on the other side.
“You can’t say I’m want for choices,” I mutter, unable to stop a blush from warming my cheeks. The councilwoman’s smile grows, and my blush deepens. Shit, I didn’t mean to say that out loud.
Headmaster Loreander walks slowly among his comrades and takes a position at the front, edging slightly in front of Alpha Dire, standing nearest to the flickering violet flames in the center of the rotunda. His robes are more vibrant tonight, the flame embroidery along the edges reflecting the glow of the fire. He twirls a strand of his hair around his finger as he speaks. “Sienna Ashburn.” At least his smile is kind. Some of the others wear pinched and puckered expressions like they’re going to be sick. “We have discussed your predicament as well as your enrollment here at Heartsflame. Would you like to hear the verdict?”
I brace myself by taking a deep breath. “No need to sugarcoat it. Shoot.”
The corners of his eyes crinkle. “You’ll be pleased to hear that your enrollment stands. We are happy to continue your education at Heartsflame provided that you abide by additional rules.” Lowering his chin, he levels me with a serious gaze. “What you’ve experienced tonight is something we haven’t seen in many centuries, and until you can harness its power appropriately, you need to use caution when calling upon your power.”
Blinking, I try not to feel incompetent but fall short. “I don’t call upon any powers. I can’t even heal.” I swallow, and the cuts on my neck sting as evidence. “I also never intended to shift into...whatever that was.”
Loreander nods. “Precisely. Your power lies dormant within you.” Lifting his hand, he taps the space directly over his heart. “When your lover was in danger and your own life threatened, it unlocked something. In here.” He taps his chest repeatedly. “That is not to say that living in the wilds was without its dangers, but we believe that being near your fated mate?—”
Alpha Dire’s jaw clenches.
“—and under the influence a full moon during the winter solstice, no less, may have amplified what little of your power you already harness. Therefore, you should not be able to complete such a dangerous shift on your own again anytime soon.”
One of the other elders—a fae judging by the slight jade glow of his skin—smiles broadly. “This is a good thing, Sienna. We believe that your powers will grow the longer you are in contact with your fated.”
My gaze flicks to Alistair, who’s turned to stone.
“However,” Alpha Dire interjects, his gaze as icy as his tone. “We agree that completing a mating bond is too dangerous. You are not permitted to mate with anyone until you have proven control of your...gifts.” His lip curls. “Not that your true mate even exists. That remains to be proven.”
“The Dire boy shows genuine connection with her,” another elder scoffs. “Just because you do not approve of the union, Thaddeus, does not mean that it is illegitimate.”
“There is also the wild wolf,” someone else murmurs, the pale blue scales trailing down their arms iridescent in the moonlight. “He has proven his loyalty time and time again.”
