I lay like a rag doll, my eyes half open, panting for a long while.

  "Oh my gods," I breathed. "That was…"

  "Yes," he agreed, "it was. You're incredible."

  "No, you, sir," I replied sleepily.

  He slid out of me. I would hurt like hells later, but I had no regrets.

  "Are you arguing with me?" he asked.

  "Would I dare?" I rolled over to face him.

  He regarded me for a moment. "Yes. Yes you would. Lucky I'm here to keep you in line. Otherwise you'd tear off and do gods only know what."

  That brought Dyson and Kane right back to my mind with a jolt which made me fully awake.

  I sat up. "We need to go looking for the guys."

  "No, you need to stay here where it's safe," he said firmly. The crease between his brows deepened. I probably imagined the slight glow of his eyes and the hint of scales on his cheeks.

  "Is that what this was about? Distracting me from them?"

  He blinked. "I needed you. Wanted you. You wanted me, too." He averted his eyes.

  He was right, my brain had been firmly in my clitoris.

  I sagged. "If anything happens to them…"

  Nash put his arms around me and drew me close. "If anyone can take of themselves, it's those two." He placed a finger under my chin and made me look at him. "They're resilient. They will be fine, okay? And if they don't turn up by morning, I'll go out there myself."

  "Are you going to go all dragon on them?" I asked, half teasing.

  He hesitated. For a moment, I thought he might be angry, but then he smiled. "Would it turn you on if I did?"

  "Yes," I replied firmly. "But only after I've replenished my energy." I covered a yawn with my hand. "You've worn me out, sir."

  He chuckled softly. "I have? I haven't even begun yet." He rolled me onto my back and moved down my body to suck my nipple.

  "Maybe one more time," I said breathlessly. Gods, the man would drive me crazy and I would enjoy every moment of it.

  6

  Midnight came and went before I finally crawled into bed. Thank the gods I had the bottom bunk. I doubt I would have made it to the top one.

  I fell asleep to the sound of Ariana snoring and woke as the sun slanted in through the window.

  I shot up and hit my head on the bunk above me.

  "Shit." I rubbed my head and leaned against the wall.

  "Are you all right down there?" Ariana's face appeared, upside down.

  "Yeah, all good. I'll just have to remember to sit up more slowly from now on." I rose carefully and grabbed a change of clothes.

  I had showered—yes, with Nash—the night before, so I just dressed and brushed my hair. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and grimaced.

  I still had the streak of green hair. I had gotten used to it. Mostly. Truthfully though, I looked tired. Satisfied, but tired. My body ached in the best way possible. Even so, I would have killed for a long soak in a hot bath.

  I had to step to one side to let Ariana climb down and dress. We were both all but pressed against the walls in an effort to keep out of each other's way.

  "This is a little too cozy," I said after ducking her elbow for the third time. "At least they've given the teachers more space." I told her about Nash's room and how we'd have to keep our liaisons secret.

  "That's exciting," she grinned, her eyes wide. "The thrill of the forbidden."

  I sighed. "I suppose so, but it's a bit silly to make consenting adults hide. I mean, who are we hurting?"

  She paused for a moment. "You could be hurt if he fails you."

  "He would never do that," I replied quickly. After a moment I added, "And I wouldn't give him an excuse to."

  "I know you wouldn't on purpose, but you could pass without going to his classes if you wanted."

  I was about to argue, but realised she was right. I did have an unfair advantage over the other students. "I'll make sure that doesn't happen," I said firmly.

  "I know you will." She gave me a hug and opened the door. "Ready to face the dining room?"

  "Why does that sound as if I'm going to my execution?" I grabbed my jacket and followed her out the door.

  "Because you haven't really met any of the UA students yet," she replied. She wrinkled her nose. "It's like we smell of AMM or something."

  "What does AMM smell like?" I hung my jacket over my arm and followed her toward the main building.

  "I don't know." She laughed, but it faded almost immediately. "Dyson might."

  I sighed. "He's probably in the dining hall, eating all of the bacon."

  "That's possible," she agreed. "We should hurry, before it's all gone."

  I didn't think either of us thought that was true, but we walked faster anyway.

  The dining hall was huge; probably bigger than the accommodation UA set aside for us. The chatter didn't skip a beat as we entered, but eyes turned to stare at us anyway. I saw what Ariana meant. They seemed to know we were from a different school, even though we all wore the same uniform.

  I lifted my chin and walked toward the food service area. "I'm having flashbacks to high school," I muttered. "Bad ones."

  "Same," Ariana replied. "They really don't want us here, do they?"

  I met a few hostile glances with my own and they turned away.

  "Too bad, they have to deal, just like we do," I said firmly.

  There was no sign of either Dyson or bacon amongst the warming trays of food. Rather, everything looked… I groaned softly. Healthy.

  "Are they trying to kill us?" Ariana asked. She grabbed herself a bowl of oats and fruit and made a face at the bottles of skim milk before she poured some onto her cereal. "There's not even coffee."

  "Thank the gods there's tea," I said, until I realised it was all the herbal stuff. "You're right, they are trying to kill us." Or have us kill each other in a caffeine-withdrawal induced rage.

  "It might do you some good." Matt appeared behind me, his usual guarded expression on his face.

  "Not a chance," I replied. "But remember that when I'm ripping your head off because I need the carbs."

  He chuckled. "I would have thought a fitness fanatic like you would enjoy this kind of food." He gestured toward the large variety of fruit.

  "I like fitness," I agreed, "but I also like flavour." In spite of that, I snagged two bananas and a tub of yoghurt. A girl had to eat. Later I might ask Nash to smuggle me some chocolate. "Any word on the guys?"

  "Now you ask," he said reproachfully. "No, there's been no word."

  "I should be out there looking, too."

  "That's a good idea," Matt nodded. "You should absolutely put others at risk again, just to satisfy your ego."

  I rolled my eyes. "Fuck off. I just want to help. It's my fault they're missing."

  "Your help won't find them sooner," he replied. He picked up an apple and bit into it.

  "You don't know that." I picked up a spoon and resisted the urge to stab him in the eye with the blunt end.

  "I know Zeta will be looking for you."

  "As if I need reminding of that." I made a face.

  "Then go to class and let people more qualified deal with Zeta. The guys will be fine without your help." The look on his face made me want to slap him. So much for our uneasy peace.

  "I don't…"

  I stopped talking as a UA student with a broad chest stepped between us.

  "Don't mind me," he said, his voice a pleasant rumble. He picked up an orange and started to peel it. "I couldn't help but overhear. You're the one Zeta came after?" His ocean blue eyes held no hint of his opinion of either me or Zeta.

  "They came after the whole academy," I snapped. I was in no mood for more accusations.

  "But because of you, they knew where to look?" Still, his expression gave away nothing.

  "It's not that simple." I frowned.

  He smiled, just slightly. "Simple enough that your presence puts us all in danger. Apparently it's already done that, if the mention of missing guys is an indication." His brow quirked upward in question.

  I flushed. "It's complicated."

  "It's really very simple," he said slowly. "You should leave before you get anyone else killed." With that, he turned and stalked away.

  Tears prickled at the corners on my eyes. "Maybe he's right."

  "Hey." Ariana put her cereal on the table beside her and put an arm around me. "He's not right. You deserve an education as much as he does. Maybe more. This place should be safe, right?" She looked toward Matt.

  "It should be," he agreed. "It's been here for at least a hundred years, teaching paranormals and breeding bigots like that." He patted my arm. "Do what I said—go to class and forget all about this."

  I swear, if he had said, "Don't trouble your pretty little head," I would have decked him then and there.

  "I will go to class, but I'm not going to forget. Not until the guys are back here, safe and sound."

  Matt shrugged and walked away. Damn, why did he have to be such an asshole with a perfect ass? I didn't know what I wanted to do more, cup it or kick it.

  "Is it possible they decided not to come back?" Ariana asked as we searched for a place to sit. "Maybe they agree with that guy." She gestured to where Asshole 2.0 sat with a group of friends.

  Every now and again they would all look in our direction and glare. I fought down the urge to climb onto a table and scream at the top of my lungs, "This isn't fucking high school, you morons!"

  Instead, I slid down in my chair and sliced banana into my yoghurt.

  "If there's one thing I know about those two, it's that they'll be back." As long as they are able to. "They're both dedicated to their educations."

  "And to you," Ariana said slyly. "I know they're both hoping you'll choose them some day."

  I blushed. She was right. They made that clear enough. I ]told them I wouldn't choose either of them if I came between them, but they still vied for my attention.

  "Right. If they don't come back, you-know-who would win by default." This place had far too many ears for me to say Nash's name out loud.

  "I'm sure he wouldn't mind." She smiled.

  "Hey." Hamish Small flopped down in the seat beside her and kissed her cheek.

  While she flushed, I smiled. It was nice to see her happy and Hamish was a nice guy.

  "Looks like AMM has its own table," he remarked.

  That proved accurate when more and more of our fellow academy students filed into the hall and sat with us. Violette, Mustafa, and Carter I knew already. Some other faces looked familiar, some not. Everyone seemed as anxious as I felt.

  "Do we have to take classes with them?" Violette moaned.

  "I don't think so," Carter replied. They had changed their hair to solid black during the holidays. It was an interesting look. "They have their own lecturers."

  "I heard Mr Nash will be working with them as well as us," Mustafa remarked.

  I swung my head to look at him in surprise. "Who did you hear that from?" I asked.

  He shrugged. "One of the UA girls. They were talking about how hot he was." Mustafa made a face, but he watched me carefully. A couple of dozen AMM students had seen him kiss me outside the bus before we were evacuated from the old campus.

  I shrugged. "Student-teacher relations are forbidden here," I said as lightly as I could. "So all they're going to get to do is look."

  Mustafa nodded, but he didn't look convinced.

  I wasn't either, truthfully. The idea of Nash touching another woman made me want to claw her eyes out, but technically he owed me nothing. I was seeing two other guys, after all. When they weren't missing, that was. I told myself jealousy was stupid, but I didn't believe it.

  "We'll mostly be relegated to our classrooms," Carter said. "At least until they find us somewhere else."

  "Let's hope that's soon." Asshole 2.0 stopped at the table to regard us as if we were a nest of cockroaches. Did cockroaches even have nests? I didn't know, but that was what his expression looked like.

  One of his friends laughed. "My father said they should just close the AMM and be done with it. It's nothing more than a second rate university to begin with."

  "You're right, Jacob," Asshole 2.0 said. "Second rate at best. Maybe third."

  "You know Xav, I think you might be right." Jacob sneered and moved on.

  Xav—short for Xavier, I assumed—lingered for a while longer, hostile eyes on me.

  I gave him an eye roll. "Are you done with your preschool crap? If so, then fuck off."

  A flash of anger crossed his eyes. He stepped closer to me. "You'll leave here, if it's the last thing I do."

  I stood and drew myself up to my impressive height, which brought my face all the way up to his chin—he was tall, okay, be quiet—and glared.

  "Don't make idle threats," I hissed.

  He snorted. "It's not an idle threat, bitch. You're a danger to everyone here. You'll leave if I have to carry you out of here myself."

  Before I could respond, or punch him, he turned and walked away.

  Fucker.

  7

  The paranormal history classroom was freezing. I ran my hands up and down my arms to keep warm.

  "I think I know what I want to do when I finish studying," I said.

  "Heater installer?" Ariana said hopefully. Her lips were slightly blue and her hands trembled.

  I laughed, but it was almost as bitter as the cold. "No, I think I want to teach."

  "Like Dyson?" She gave me a meaningful look. "Are you choosing him?"

  I frowned. "No. I mean, I'm not not choosing him, I just…" I shook my head. "I mean, teaching at a place like this."

  "What, cold?"

  I chuckled. "No, like a university. Maybe not one where people are assholes to other paranormals, but…"

  She nodded. "I get it. You want to work with Nash. Are you—" She stopped talking as my eyes widened in warning. "I was going to ask if you're inspired by him?"

  I held back a snort. Sure she was. "Yes, very inspired. Who wouldn't want to teach young paranormals to defend themselves?"

  "Can you teach me?" she asked. "I think Mr Nash has pretty much given up on me."

  It was not in his nature to give up, but I was happy to give her extra help. "Of course, I—"

  "Shhh," Violette hissed, "I'm trying to listen."

  "Sorry," I mouthed. I rubbed my hands up and down a bit faster and tried to focus on the lecturer who paced back and forth at the front of the room, probably trying to keep warm as well.

  She had introduced herself as Ms Dannon and apologised for the room temperature. Evidently our former history teacher had decided not to return to the academy. I wasn't sure I blamed them. Wherever they were, it was warmer than this. Gods help us in winter.

  "And that brings us to your research project for the semester." She pressed a button on her projector—the kind normal schools used twenty or more years ago—and brought up the details. "This will all be on the website, but we can go through it all now."

  I sighed and tried to focus on what she was saying. I enjoyed history, but knowing the guys were out there made it hard to concentrate.

  "And so, being second years, you can choose your own study project." Ms Dannon's words got my attention.

  "Anything?" I asked.

  "Anything pertaining to paranormals, yes, but run it past me first." She smiled, then nodded. "All right, I'll see you next time."

  "What are you thinking?" Ariana asked while we filed out of the room into the warmer air. "Please tell me you're not going to study the rise of Zeta."

  I slipped my jacket off and hung it over my arm. "Why not? I know at least two hybrids."

  "Neither who seem interested in talking about their upbringing," she reminded me.

  I hesitated. "I suppose you're right. I could—" I was interrupted by the appearance of Matt in front of my face.

  "I did not step in your way," I told him immediately.

  He snorted. "Not this time, no. You're both wanted in the Chancellor's office."

  "Which one?" Ariana asked.

  Valid question. Unless the AMM Chancellor had resigned. Honestly, I would be surprised if my mother hadn't demanded his job after I was almost killed last year. That was precisely the kind of thing she'd do and she would probably get away with it.

  "Mr Ridgeway," Matt supplied. He gestured for us to walk with him.

  "Ah." So he'd kept his job. For now. Maybe no one else wanted it. Paranormals with the credentials to run a tertiary institution must be few and far between. I added that to my list of ambitions. "They gave him an office in the mansion?"

  "They couldn't very well…" Matt stopped and sighed. "Yes, I suppose they could. It's on the ground floor, though."

  "Right. No fancy view of the grounds. Are you his assistant now?"

  "That's what I was wondering," Ariana said. "Shouldn't you be in class, too?"

  "Yes," he replied dryly. "I'm trying to help clean up the mess from yesterday. And last year. The repercussions… It doesn't matter, just hurry up." He walked faster and I had to almost trot to keep up.

  "What repercussions?" I asked as we drew closer.

  "Having a campus here, for one thing," he replied tersely. "The Paranormal Council is hunting for a suitable alternative. They're also dealing with different factions. Some want to…" He stopped outside a door and knocked.

  "Some want to what?" I asked.

  When he pushed the door open, I knew I wouldn't get an answer. Not now anyway.

  "Come in." Mr Ridgeway looked tired. He had more grey in his hair than he'd had when I saw him last, and more lines around his eyes. He must be around my parents' age, but he looked older.

  He only drew my eye for a moment though, until I saw a figure huddled under a blanket on a chair opposite the chancellor.

  "Kane!" I hurried to embrace him and kiss his mouth as he stood. Judging by the way he held the blanket with one hand, he was still naked underneath it.

  Hashtag shifter life. Under other circumstances, it might be funny. Not today, though.

  "Where is Dyson?" I leaned back to look into his eyes.

  Tears shone and he blinked until they trickled down his cheeks. "Zeta has him." He sniffed.

 

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