Annoyance exploded into anger as students poured from opening doors.
“Someone kick you out of bed?” a giggling voice asked from nearby.
What the hell had Adira been thinking?
I jumped to my feet and started toward the library, storming down the hall in my socks. Students moved out of my way as if I had Oanen at my side. Only, this time, it wasn’t fear of him. They were finally seeing me for what I really was.
“Hell hath no fury like me,” I said under my breath, trying to ignore the way some of the students called to me.
Adira had pushed me too far this time. I’d stayed home for several very valid reasons. One, the curriculum at Girderon Academy was a joke. This wasn’t an institution for learning but endurance. And, two, I was running too short on any form of tolerance for anything. The students crowding the hall didn’t help.
A boy left a classroom, stepping into my path at the last minute. Had his wickedness been on par with Oanen or Eliana, I would have walked around him. Instead, I body-checked him without hesitation and smiled at his outraged yell as he fell. His backside barely hit the floor before I reached down and grabbed the front of his shirt to hoist him to his feet.
“Who do you think you are?” the boy demanded. I changed my grip from his shirt to his throat. He made a strangled noise, and his face began to turn red.
Another student tried to move in front of me. I backhanded him with my free hand, pushing him away, and focused on the wickedness coming from my victim.
“Francis Moss.” My voice once again had that booming echo from the alley. “Conf—”
Something hit me from the right. The impact jarred me enough to loosen my hold. Thin arms wrapped around my waist, and a hand snaked up under my shirt. All the anger left me as I fell to the side.
My head hit the cement floor with a hollow thump. My ears rang for only a second, though.
“Don’t let go of me,” I said.
“I won’t,” Eliana promised in my ear.
“We have her,” Ashlyn said from nearby. She continued talking, and I realized she was on the phone.
“She didn’t hurt anyone…yeah, she’s okay…Eliana, Oanen wants to know how warm Megan feels.”
I just lay there and kept my eyes closed as if it would protect me from the reality of my life.
“Hot, but not burning me. She’s cooling down already,” Eliana said.
Ashlyn relayed the message to Oanen.
“He says he’s on his way,” she said after a moment.
A small groan escaped me.
“No. Tell him we’re doing a girl’s night,” Eliana said quickly.
Snickering filled the hallway, reminding me that we weren’t alone.
“Help me up,” I said.
It felt like the entire student body of Girderon was trying to get a good look at the drama I’d caused. The kid I’d backhanded lay on the floor not far from me, shaking his head and blinking up at the ceiling. The boy I’d tried to strangle stood nearby, glaring but silent.
“Stop doing shit you shouldn’t be doing, and I’ll stop attacking you in hallways,” I said. I pivoted and started walking, Eliana’s hand still plastered to my back.
I’d only managed to clear the ring of gawkers when I realized I had no idea where to go.
“Which session is starting?” I asked.
“None. That was the final bell,” Eliana said.
Adira had sent me here just to expose me to the students. Anger lit me from the inside again only to quickly disappear.
“Adira is such a bitch.”
“Do you want to go home?” Eliana asked.
I immediately shook my head. I wasn’t ready to face Oanen, who was likely still there with Adira.
“Want to come with us to Eugene’s?” Ashlyn asked.
“Yeah, I’ll ride along.”
We took the back halls to the pool area before using the main hall to the parking lot. By then, most of the students had already left. Still, Eliana kept her hand on me, and Ashlyn gripped her phone, most likely ready to speed dial Oanen.
The trip to Eugene’s was short. Ashlyn pulled up in front of the house then looked back at me and Eliana.
“You two waiting out here?”
“Yep,” Eliana answered.
As soon as the car door closed, Eliana removed her hand and turned to me.
“What’s going on?”
It wasn’t an accusatory question, only a concerned one.
“I don’t know. Sometimes I’m fine. Sometimes I’m not. That guy in the hallway? His wickedness was way less than Trammer’s, but I was still ready to kill him.”
“I noticed,” she said.
I exhaled heavily.
“Oanen thinks I can control whatever this is because my mom obviously did. But, it’s getting worse. You saw his face.”
“Oanen’s right. If furies couldn’t control themselves, they would be on the human news. There’s got to be a trick to it.”
“I’m sure there is. And I’m sure my mom knows. Too bad Adira has zero interest in allowing me to ask her.”
Eliana set her head on my shoulder.
“I know you probably don’t want to hear this, but I have faith in you. You’ll figure it out without the help of your mom. Just like I’ll figure out what kind of succubus I want to be without my mom’s help.”
I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and gave her a squeeze. It was so easy to get caught up in my own problems and forget Eliana had problems of her own.
“I’m sure you’re right.”
She lifted her head and gave me an understanding smile.
“I think this calls for some chocolate,” she said.
“Good luck with that. Unless you have a stash at home, you won’t find any at the store. I’ve been checking.”
Her grin widened.
“You up for some more people time?”
The idea of going to her house made my stomach turn.
“Not really. Especially not anyone associated with the Council.”
“That’s perfect because where we’re going, the Council avoids. Let’s move to the front.”
We did a seat switch, and she sent a quick text to Ashlyn, letting her know our plans.
“She’ll text when she’s ready for a pickup,” Eliana said, handing me the phone.
She drove through town then stopped in front of a shop near the bakery.
“You should know that the lady running this shop is bringing in non-Council approved goods from the human world and selling it at crazy high prices to teens like us.”
“Are you telling me she’s wicked?”
“I’m telling you she’s breaking Council rules. Personally, I think anyone who’s willing to sell chocolate to a craving teen is as close to a saint as this place gets.”
“The Council’s rules are stupid. I’ve broken several, myself. I hope that isn’t enough to make a person wicked.”
“Let’s find out,” she said with a smile on her face as she got out of the car.
I did the same but with a frown. Fall’s chilled breeze swept over me. Now that my temper had cooled a bit, I felt every digit of the low temperature. Especially in my feet. Given the time of year, it wouldn’t be long before snow covered the ground.
“I’m still pissed Adira didn’t even let me put on shoes,” I said.
Eliana glanced at my stockinged feet and grinned before entering the shop.
As soon as I stepped through the door, I could smell the chocolate. I inhaled deeply in appreciation and looked around at the homespun mittens, stockings, and hats hung on the walls.
“Can I help you?” the woman behind the counter asked.
“Hi, Mags,” Eliana said. “I’m interested in the usual.”
The woman glanced at me before answering Eliana.
“More mittens?” the woman asked.
“Gods, no!” Eliana said. “This is Megan. She’s fine. We’re interested in cocoa powder if you have it. If not, anything milk chocolate will do.”
“Sounds like you have a craving,” Mags said. As she spoke, anger threaded its way under my skin; and I reached out to hold Eliana’s hand.
“Whatever you’re thinking of doing, don’t,” I said. “Being wicked isn’t healthy around me.”
Mags grinned. “So, you’re the new fury? I have some cocoa powder in back. Stock’s low so I was going to charge double. But I’ll give it to you at the regular price.”
She shuffled to the back room, and almost thirty minutes later, we left the shop with not only cocoa powder but five pounds of sugar, too.
“Ready for some brownies?” Eliana asked.
“As long as we’re talking the chocolate kind, yes.”
We got into her car and drove to Eugene’s to pick up Ashlyn.
“Please tell me that you convinced him there are better options,” I said as soon as Ashlyn got in.
“I know you don’t like it here, but for a lot of us, it’s not a bad deal.”
“You were almost drowned by a mermaid.”
“And Eugene will escape gang rape if he stays in Uttira. He said he saw it happen to another boy his age. That’s why he was sleeping in the cold by the dumpster in that alley. The men you saw, they only beat the boys.”
“You know what frustrates me the most?” I said. “That there are people here who have the money and influence to make a difference, but they aren’t. They’re too caught up in their own petty problems.”
“To them, controlling the creatures here is making a difference to the people out there,” Eliana said.
Her phone beeped.
“Can you check that for me?” she asked.
I turned it over and found a new message from Oanen.
Where did you take Megan? I’m home and you’re not.
“It’s Oanen stalking me,” I said.
“You better answer him,” Eliana said. “You don’t want him worrying and hunting you down.”
“Unless you do,” Ashlyn chimed in.
I rolled my eyes and started a text back.
“What are you saying?” Eliana asked.
“That you’ve tied me up and stuffed me in the trunk but were stupid enough not to notice I grabbed your phone. And that I’m running out of air.”
“Don’t send that!” Ashlyn said at the same time Eliana tried taking the phone from me.
I laughed at their reactions.
“Relax. I’m telling him to calm down his stalkerie, that we’re on our way to my place to make brownies, and that he’s not invited.”
“You’re making this hard on him, aren’t you?” Ashlyn said with a grin.
“Making what hard on him?”
“Nothing,” Eliana said.
I hit send and stared at her. When she didn’t cave under my scrutiny, I turned to Ashlyn. She held up her hands and shook her head.
“She’s my ride to school,” she said.
“I’ll drive you. Start talking.”
“She means you’re playing hard to get,” Eliana said.
“What’s to get? I already agreed to be his girlfriend.”
Ashlyn snorted.
“Griffins don’t do girlfriends.”
Eliana slowed and signaled for my driveway.
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“Sweet mother Mary,” Eliana said softly.
At first, I thought she was frustrated with Ashlyn saying something about griffins. Then, I noticed her attention focused on my car in the driveway. Through the back window, I saw the spidering cracks in the windshield. It looked like someone had hit the glass repeatedly with a baseball bat.
“What the hell?” I said, opening the door as Eliana parked.
The three of us walked to my car, all staring at the mess.
“We should call Oanen,” Eliana said.
“No, we shouldn’t. There’s nothing he can do about this. Someone else might be able to help, though.”
I went inside the house and picked up my phone from the coffee table where I’d left it. There was a message from Oanen telling me to text him when I got home. I ignored that and sent a text to Fenris.
Up for a favor? I need someone with a good nose to come over and tell me who bashed in my windshield.
I didn’t have to wait long for a reply.
Will I be paid in spaghetti?
How about brownies? (The chocolate kind; not the ones with the wings.) We’re making them now.
We?
Eliana and Ashlyn are over, I sent back.
Be there in 15. Can’t wait for a taste.
“Um, who are you texting?” Eliana asked.
“Fenris. The Council’s always getting his dad to sniff things out. So, I asked Fenris to come over and give my windshield a sniff. I promised to return the favor in baked goods, so we better get started.”
“Oanen is not going to like that you called Fenris,” Ashlyn predicted.
I waved off her concern. “I didn’t call Fenris. I texted him. And Oanen will be fine with it. He knows that Fenris and I are just friends.”
Eliana and Ashlyn shared a look before I strode to the kitchen. Having my car abused didn’t put me in a good mood. Feeling like my friends were keeping secrets from me didn’t help improve it.
“If you have something to say, just say it. All the looks you’re giving each other isn’t helping the situation,” I said, setting the mixing bowl on the table a little harder than intended. “Keeping secrets about presents or the Easter bunny is one thing. This feels like you’re not telling me something really important.”
Eliana shrugged sheepishly, and I knew she wasn’t ready to admit what was going on. So, I looked at Ashlyn.
“I saved you. Don’t make me regret it.”
“Griffins don’t date. They mate for life,” she blurted.
I stared at her blankly for a moment. So they mated for life. Big deal. Why were they acting so weird about it? Then, it clicked into place. Oanen wasn’t dating me.
Almost robotically, I sat in a chair.
“Do you think she’s mad?” Ashlyn whispered.
Eliana bent in front of me so we were eye to eye.
“You’re pale, which I’ll guess means you understand. He made me promise not to talk to you about it. He didn’t want you to worry.”
“Why?” The word came out more of a croak.
“Griffin males are very protective of their mates. They care for them with a singular focus that’s almost…”
“Scary?” I asked.
“I was going to say enviable. Succubi invoke complete adoration in their partners but rarely care for anyone more than they do themselves. Griffins aren’t bespelled. Their adoration is their own. To be loved so completely by someone for what you are rather than some unnatural pull sounds like what love is supposed to be.”
“I meant, why me,” I said. “I was willing to give being a girlfriend a chance, but mate? I can’t. My head feels like it’s going to explode just thinking about it. How do I tell him no? I have to be the worst possible person for him to even consider spending forever with.”
“Megan, just breathe.”
I looked up at Eliana, who now stood by the kitchen door with Ashlyn. Both of their faces were flushed.
“Breathe?” I said. “You just told me Oanen already has me in a white dress in his head, and you want me to breathe?”
She swore under her breath, and Ashlyn fled outside.
“Megan, the heat coming off of you would be enough to cook an egg. If you don’t want to hurt me, you need to calm down,” she said slowly. “Focus on your breathing and nothing else.”
I closed my eyes and tried. I really did. Only, once my eyes were closed, all I saw was Oanen’s burned face.
The sound of the door let me know I was alone. I felt the first tear fall and wiped at my face, knowing it would be blood. It just made me more upset. What was wrong with me? Why was I so out of control? What the hell was Oanen thinking picking me?
The screen door creaked, and I opened my eyes to tell Eliana to leave. Instead, I saw Fenris.
He strode right up to me and wrapped me in a hug. I could smell his hair burning.
“Stop. You’re going to get hurt.”
“For the right girl, I’d do anything. Even risk my life for her best friend,” he whispered in my ear. I jerked back and looked at him in surprise. His face was red and his hair a bit singed. However, no pain showed in his gaze.
“Feel better?” he asked.
I didn’t know what to say or think.
Just beyond him, Eliana stepped up on the porch. Worry reflected in her gaze.
“I don’t need brownies, just your silence,” Fenris said softly before hugging me close again. He buried his nose in my hair and breathed in deeply. “Mmm. Her scent is all over you.”
Eliana grinned big and wiggled her eyebrows.
“I told you so,” she mouthed.
She didn’t know. Like me, she had no clue. I wished I could go back to having no clue.
“You’re getting warm again,” Fenris said. “You’re going to hurt my feelings if you keep thinking about him while I’m holding you.”
I snorted.
“That’s better. Now, do I have your word? She’s not ready, and I don’t want to upset her.”
Since I wished I could go back to not knowing, I readily agreed with a nod.
“Good.” He took one last, long inhale then stepped back from me. “The scent on your car is familiar. Someone from Girderon. I’ll be able to give you a name tomorrow.”
He leaned forward and, with a playful smile, licked the bridge of my nose.
“See you later, my sweet-tempered fury.”
He turned and walked out the door with a polite nod to Eliana and Ashlyn.
“Is it safe to come in?” Eliana asked.
I nodded. Fenris had done his job and calmed me down by distracting me from my own drama. He was right. Eliana wasn’t ready to know about his interest in her. Was it just interest, though? That thought led back to thoughts of Oanen as my friends joined me in the kitchen.
“Still want to make brownies?” Eliana asked.
“Yes. I’m sorry for losing it. Yet again.”
“Don’t worry about it,” she said with a wave of her hand. “What are you going to do about Fenris?”
“Nothing. There’s nothing to do. He’s just a friend.”
She rolled her eyes. “That’s a lot of friendly hugging.”
“I’ve kissed you. Do you see me as more than a friend?”
“Fair enough.”
I sat in the chair and let Ashlyn and Eliana do most of the batter prep while I considered my situation with Oanen.
“I just don’t see how this will end well for him,” I said.
“Him who?” Ashlyn asked before licking some chocolate off her finger.
“Oanen.”
“It’ll be fine because you know you’re meant to punish the wicked,” Eliana said. “Just like I know I’m supposed to turn into a raving sex-addict and feed off the sexual energy of the thousands of poor souls I’ll enslave in my lifetime. Who says I have to start now? Who says when you see wickedness you need to punish the person right on the spot. There’s no timer for any of it, except these urges we get. So, next time, ask yourself why you need to rush it. Tell yourself you’re taking your time to discover what the person did and even more time to weigh a suitable punishment. Be creative. Why let the gods have so much control even after they’re long gone?”
What she said made sense. The gods had far too much control when they weren’t even around.
