“Did you ever wonder what happened to your friend Atticus?” Beck taunts, and my muscles stiffen.
I haven’t heard that name in years. Atticus was one of my best friends growing up, besides Zeke. Atti was the Fossa shifter I hung out with all the time. He was part of the Ozark pack but wanted to transfer to mine the summer before school. Dad had already made the plans and everything, but on the day of his transfer, he ghosted me, and his family told Dad that his mind had changed. Needless to say, I was upset and hurt by the decision, but I understood.
“I already know,” I say simply as I turn to face him and his two stooges.
“Oh! So you know, the night before he was supposed to transfer, we called a blood match?” My blood turns cold as I take in his arrogant stance. “His fossa was no match for my lion.” He smirks. “But I’m sure you would have already known that since you wanted that weak shifter in your pack. I honestly think I did you a favor.”
Fury hits me like a rock, and I feel my muscles flex and expand.
“Oh, look, more assholes trying to spoil the night,” JP says, placing his hand on my shoulder and giving it a squeeze.
JP’s presence helps pull back my unwarranted shifting. I’m not even sure which animal would have taken over, but I know if I had attacked and maimed or killed Beck, I wouldn’t be eligible for the Gauntlet tomorrow.
“Who the fuck are you?” Beck sneers.
“Only the guy who knows the real reason for you attacking Atticus.” JP gives the group a wide smile, and Beck’s confidence wavers slightly.
“What?”
“Only a true coward attacks a man because he gets spurned by the very type he keeps hidden in the closet,” JP shares, and Beck turns white.
“Wh—” his friends turn to look at each other, confused.
“Here, let me break it down for ya,” JP starts before Beck can stop him. “Beck hit on Atticus and was denied. Since Atticus was about to leave the pack and Beck’s control, Beck killed him.” JP raised his eyebrows. “It’s all up here,” he states, pointing to his own head. “Maybe instead of learning how to kill people, you should learn to shield your thoughts better,” he advises with a stone face.
Heat flashes over me as I encourage any one of my animals to come forward. I do not care about the fucking Gauntlet. Fates help me, I will make sure Beck doesn’t take another breath.
“Knox. He’s not worth it,” Levi tells me as he lays his hand on my arm, siphoning the rage from me. He looks at Beck and his goons. “You need to leave and find something better to do with your time.” His voice takes on a low resonance, and I swear I hear another voice along with his as he speaks.
But I shake it off as Beck and his lap dogs leave, shaking their heads as if pulling out of a trance as they walk away.
“You okay, man?” Zeke asks, knowing how much Atticus meant to me.
“I will be once I sink my teeth into Beck’s throat,” I tell him.
“Well, it’s a good thing there are no rules against killing students during the Gauntlet,” Ryker says, bumping into my arm with a smile.
“True,” I chuckle, but soon my stomach churns as I catch Emer smiling off to the side at Ryker’s comment.Now that might be a problem.
CHAPTER 23
Say What?
Rez
Getting ready this morning is a somber affair. There isn’t an official dress code for the Gauntlet, so while the other academies are planning on wearing some form of their school uniform, we decide to go with old faithful—our old outfits from Hell. At least with our battle armor, we know it will stand up to the task of protecting us, since we have no idea what we are going up against.
Yesterday, Knots took my mind off everything after we made love and had a picnic under the stars. I had one bout of dizziness while we ate, but it was short-lived and quickly passed after lying down for a few minutes. Once we got back to the dorms, I found out the guys had gone out to a festival and had their own run-in with trouble.
Apparently, Emer hung out with them for a bit, and Knox ran into a rival. I don’t know how I feel about them allowing that fucking sea serpent even close to them, but since she didn’t pull anything, I can’t be too mad. I mean, they are fully grown, and they are men, notmy property, technically.Now ask me if thegreen goblin and voice inside of my head truly believes the shit I just said.
No, not one iota. I want to rip her grimy little claws out of her fingers and shove them down her throat and then scream at Levi for his lack of judgment. But I love him, and I don’t want to become the psycho bitch I feel raging underneath my skin.
Last night, everyone slept in their own beds so we could get one last night of proper sleep on a bed and pack for a week of camping conditions worse than Hell. Or so I’ve been led to believe, since while I was in Hell, I was sleeping in a mansion, and this time, I’ll be roughing it on whatever I can find on the land and the sleeping bags we’ve packed.
Oh shit! Sleeping bags. I need to pack a sleeping bag!
I don’t want to take any chances of them becoming targets without extra protection. Even though I spent time in the healing waters last night, I know the one-time dip didn’t completely heal me of the God’s Trumpet.
