“I didn’t ask. But he is from an influential Alaskan pack. As you know, funds were running tight. We weren’t likely to make our deadline for opening, so the council put out requests for donations, and his pack offered a significant contribution in return for his admission. It is how we managed to get the dorm furnished in time, among a few other things.”
“He bought his way in?” Cara’s eyes flashed. “Why am I just now hearing about this?”
“The acceptance was at the council level.” Amadeus didn’t meet her glower. “It was above me, even. I have voiced my protests, for all the good it will do. But surely you now see that it would be foolish to place her into that mix.”
Matt moved closer to me, his hazel eyes—more green than brown—dark with concern. “Strewth,Angel. He might be right. Some of those blokes—they could go bonkers if you get dropped in with them. And an alpha...”
I noticed that when Matt was upset, I could actually understand him. His eyes widened as I planted my fists on my hips and fastened a glare on him, before swinging it to Amadeus. “I want this. Bad enough to put up with a bunch of panting werewolves.”
The headmaster stiffened. “They are referred to as Dires. And it isn’t just about you. Your presence will distract the other recruits from their training.”
My eyes narrowed. “Are you saying that I can’t train with them because they can’t keep their dicks in their pants? I just spent the last eight months prepping for the Canadian Armed Forces training. I am fit and ready to learn.”
Amadeus snorted. “All very admirable if your opponents were human, I am sure. But if these guys go off program, they won’t be doing it on two legs.”
Dammit.Teeth and claws. He was talking about them wolfing out on me.
Cara raised a brow. “She did kill a feral Dire.” Her voice remained calm. “She isn’t exactly defenseless. And maybe it will separate the wheat from the chaff, so to speak. Do we want Dires who will pursue a personal agenda over the council’s?”
“That’s a valid point, mate.” Matt stepped up beside me. “But she bloody well needs backup. Put me on the team with her. ”
“I don’t need help,” I protested.
Matt shrugged. “You need eyes at your back.” His gaze rolled to Amadeus. “You know I’ve got the goods. My cousin sent in my resume.”
“Cage fighting?” Amadeus snorted, clearly not impressed. “Half the Dires here engage in that. They’re a feisty lot.”
Matt’s eyes flared emerald. “Not like me. I’m regional champion for northern Australia. I’m no poser. I’m bleedin’good.”
I snapped a look his way. He was a cage fighter? I didn’t know what that entailed for Dires, but it was a vicious underworld thing for humans.
He raised a brow at me. “Not just another pretty bloke, Angel.”
I opened my mouth, closed it again, and spun back to Amadeus. “I can do this, dammit.”
Cara pushed her braids back off her shoulders. “She’s got my vote, Amadeus.”
“It’s my call,” he growled at her. Then his stance changed. “But it likely isn’t worth the whining I will get from you and your Watcher friends.”
He turned and walked to a large whiteboard, perusing the writing on it. “I have a recruit arriving tomorrow—I will switch him out with our cage fighter here.” He fixed an unimpressed eye on me and Matt. “Classes start in two days. You will both be on the last team pieced together—Team Phoenix. You already have one female on it, a Dorinthian Shaker. It also has our single Dragonshifter, and two other Dires.”
My eyes widened. Did he really just sayDragonshifter? Before I could process it, Amadeus’s eyes dropped to Trix, and my stomach clenched.
“The dog has to go,” he demanded.
“Oh, for Pete’s sake, Amadeus. Get the stick out of your ass.” Cara planted her hands on her hips. “The dog stays.”
The knot in my stomach loosened, ever so slightly. I wasn’t sure how I’d managed it, but I had a powerful friend.
Amadeus’s eyes flashed yellow, the first clear sign he wasn’t as human as he looked. But he walked to the door and pulled it open.
Constance stood there, looking a bit guilty.
“Constance,” he ordered. “Take our new recruits here to block ten, rooms twenty-six and seven.”
“Yes, sir,” she replied.
Amadeus turned to us. “Good luck,” he said. “Trust me, you are going to need it.”
