Page 14 of Dragon Unleashed
“Your pupils, Lorelei, they’re b-b-blown.”
I yank myself back in my chair. I was too close to him, to Val. My gums throb, fangs threatening to descend. Chano’s hand lands on my knee and he pushes calming energy into me. Staring straight ahead, I focus on breathing. I know how to breathe, dammit. In. Out.
“We have a new associate dean this year. Please welcome Lady Keres Tenebrae.”
The weird-eyed woman from the Virrey’s party steps forward on the stage to a smattering of applause. A sour look flashes over the dean’s face as he stares at Lady Tenebrae’s back. But it’s gone so quickly I may have imagined it.
“We havemorenew staff arriving,” he says. “Staff directly appointed by the Angel King himself.” The dean bounces on the balls of his feet like an excited kid. “These professors will take over Magical Combat and a new class on your schedules—The Art & Magic of War.”
Our timetable was already crammed, dammit.
He ignores the groaning from the students and continues. “These changes will help to prepare you for the new law. It will be announced officially later today, but we have special permission to discuss it this morning.”
In the ensuing silence, even my craving dies away.
“The new law requires one year of conscription in the Angel King’s army as you leave high school or, for students like yourselves, after your academy education ends.”
The silence is replaced by gasps. Chano stiffens, gripping my knee like a vise.
“As academy graduates you will automatically be officers. This is not only an honor, but an excellent opportunity torub shoulders with the powerful of all Eltanin, of the whole supernatural world. The connections you forge in the king’s army will help you make your way in life, while defending all we hold dear.”
I jiggle my leg, trying to loosen Chano’s grip. His heart hammers harder in his chest, and for once it’s not my blood lust making it seem louder. Anger and fear stream out of him and down our bond.
“The world is becoming a dangerous place,” the dean says as he whips off his horn-rimmed spectacles and polishes them frenetically. “For this reason, we are allowing parents to send bodyguards to the academy. Until the Angel King’s funding enables us to strengthen the barriers around the school, it’s only sensible.”
A splutter on my other side breaks my focus on the ache in my poor knee.
“Who exactly is going to attack an academy? Always portraying life as more dangerous than it is. Same as the news. Fearmongering,” Val says as Hewie screeches over her.
The murmuring around us builds as students digest the information. People shift in their seats. The sheer number of speeding pulse rates threatens to overwhelm my wavering control. Squeezing my eyes shut, I take a few shallow breaths in.I’ve got this.
“Quiet down!” the dean bellows, peering at the room over the top of his stupid glasses. “The reason for this decision will become apparent, if you let me continue.”
As the students settle, I crack an eye open.
“There are other changes coming. The Angel King is determined to make this academy a powerhouse for supernatural education. We have been given the opportunity to be part of a…correctional scheme. You may have heard that the Academy of Light is to be disbanded. Devious fae factions inMoyatura have made the academy itself a breeding ground for discontent.”
Val tenses beside me, her fingers playing distractedly with the guitar pick in her hand.
“Our Glorious Leader has generously elected not to abandon the fae students’ education. Next year, after a period of intense social rehabilitation, they will arrive here. We will receive extra funding, additional teaching staffpersonallyselected by the Angel King, and…” he pauses dramatically “…a new sports ground and an entire recreation building, complete with a handful of shops.”
This time when the students erupt the dean smiles.
“Satyr shit,” Val says quietly.
I quirk my eyebrow.
“My ex will be here.”
“Your ex is fae?”
She glances sideways at me. “Yeah, well, not so much ex. We have an open relationship. It’s normal for fae, you know, before they settle down,” she adds quickly, like I’m about to judge her. “Hey, Lorelei, are you okay? You’re hurting my arm.”
I snatch my hand back. I wasn’t even aware I’d grabbed her.
“You have a boyfriend, you’re in an open relationship, and he’sfae. That’s pretty rock and roll. Why didn’t I know any of this?”
“You never asked,” she grumbles, rubbing her wrist and peering at the little crescent-shaped fingernail indents I left in her arm.
