Held In Contempt (Of Magic and Contempt Book 2) Page 19

  “Look, just watch your back with her. She’s a raving bitch. Get on her wrong side and you’re there for life. I can’t defy her, she’s made sure of that, but I’ll help you wherever I can. I see it as my job to clear up the fucking catastrophes that she makes. I’m Simon, by the way,” he said.

  Nick picked up his pace again, now that the man had caught up. It wasn’t far from the admin office to the provost’s office, but he hadn’t wanted to take a direct route. Nick was counting on the madwoman making a beeline for the arena where they’d fought Bestia so recently. There were only two phones on the entire campus, cell phone reception not making it past the wards around the college, although with them weakened at that point in time, it might have been possible. He didn’t want to risk his future on a maybe.

  Sure enough, when they arrived at the office, the provost was nowhere in sight, but Deirdre, the receptionist was at the table.

  “Nick!” she said with a smile. “What a pleasant surprise. The provost is waiting for you in the admin building, however. I wouldn’t be late if I were you, she’s a stickler for punctuality.”

  He got straight to the point. “Deirdre, I need you to trust me. I need you to put through a call to Councillor Argrum, and I need to talk to him right now.”

  “Nick, you know I can’t make personal calls on the academy lines.”

  “Please, Deirdre, don’t make me do this formally, because we’ll both regret it, I need to prevent something from happening in a few minutes. Something that is not only against shifter rights, but witches rights. It’s against the fucking law, and it’s going to hurt Melody.”

  Deirdre bit her lip, indecisive.

  Nick looked at Simon, but the shifter flushed and lowered his head. “She’s put geasen on me, I can’t go against her wishes. If you hadn’t said you were about to prevent it, I could have given authority.”

  Of course she’d used fucking geasen. Nick wanted to vomit. “You can’t tell Melody about that. She’ll do something stupid and I won’t hold her responsible.”

  “My lips are sealed, Sir,” Simon said.

  The receptionist looked between the two of them. “Nick, you know I want to help you, but my hands are tied. I don’t have tenure in this position, she can sack me with a click of her fingers and there’s nothing I can do about it. The provost’s powers are absolute.”

  Nick groaned. He really hadn’t wanted to pull this shit.

  “Deirdre, by the power vested in me as heir-apparent to the dragon kingdom, as the official ambassador between the witch and shifter councils, I claim diplomatic immunity and order you to place the call.”

  The political ramifications of this were immense, and it would bring a larger spotlight to bear not only on the academy, but on Melody and himself. He hadn’t wanted Melody to meet his father until after they were bonded, but if this played out the way he suspected, then his father would be here sooner rather than later.

  “Oh, goddess,” Deirdre whispered. “This is going to turn into something huge, isn’t it?”

  Her fingers flew across the numbers, the receiver clutched against her ear.

  “Hello? I’m placing a call from the shifter ambassador to the witch council. It is a time sensitive matter and must be dealt with urgently. The ambassador wishes to speak to Councillor Argrum.”

  She paused a moment, listening. “Yes, we’ll hold, but please hurry.”

  Deirdre passed the handset to Nick.

  “Nick? Is that you?” The councillor’s voice was on the line only moments later.

  “Councillor Argrum, I don’t have time for a full explanation, I can only tell you that the new provost is about to order me to challenge Melody and force her to bond me. Of course she can’t make us, but I have a good feeling she’ll use whatever leverage she can, including Melody’s ability to remain at the academy. I am formally requesting your cloaked presence, ready to intervene.”

  “Nick, this is highly unusual,” Councillor Argrum replied.

  “Sir, in your time here, did you find me hysterical? Unstable? Mentally deficient?” Nick pushed.

  “No, of course not. You’re … Wait, she’s saying that? The accords, fuck me, the accords. What do they say?”

  “That she has the right to take whatever means necessary to ensure that I am bonded and subdued,” Nick replied. “For the greater good, in the absence of mental capacity, I am to be bonded to help settle my beast and control my shift. Sir, she means to have me bonded by force. Knowing what you know about Melody, tell me how this would not cause her further mental anguish.”

  “It would likely destroy her,” came the reply. “Where is this travesty to take place?”

  “At the arena.”

  “At the …? Fucking hell. Does she even know what took place there? Of all the idiotic …”

  There were noises in the background. “No, not now, it will have to wait,” the councillor said to someone beside him. “I have urgent business at Adolphus. See if you can find Gregory or Tobias and send them out to the arena there with me. I’m heading there now, they can catch up.”

  “Nick?”

  “I’m still here, Sir.”

  “I’ll be there in five minutes. I’m bringing backup.”

  “Thank you, Sir.”

  Well, at least using his privilege had paid off, even if it did set bigger things in motion. One thing was for sure, although she would be traumatised by what she was about to be told to do, Melody wouldn’t actually be forced to go through with it.

  27. Melody

  Someone pounded at the cottage door, making her jump. It was almost time to leave for breakfast and classes. Nick had disappeared earlier and had yet to return. He’d muttered something about handing over the wards to the witches, although Melody thought it would have to wait until a new provost had been chosen.

  The whole academy was abuzz with rumour over who it might be.

  So, what could possibly be going on now?

  Trent stepped in front of her when she moved toward the door, and Asher dashed over to open it instead, neatly catching the witch as he raised his fist to bang on the door again.

  “The new provost orders you to come to the arena,” the man said, looking around the cottage with curious eyes.

  Trent stepped up beside Asher, effectively blocking the stranger’s view. “Thank you,” he said, calmly. “We’ll be along presently.”

  “I’m sorry, she said right now, I’m to stay here and wait, and if necessary,” he paused and swallowed. “Please don’t kill me, she said I was to tell you if the girl resisted—”

  The two shifters in front of him growled, and the witch paled.

  “What. Did. She. Say?” Asher asked between clenched teeth.

  “— She said if it was necessary, I was to grab the ungrateful slut by the scruff of her neck and bring her to the arena where she would learn her rightful place.”

  Melody gasped. It was like hearing her aunt speak. It was exactly the kind of thing Aunt Georgia would have said.

  Dean walked over to her, wrapping her in his arms, and Oz and Ryan leapt to their feet, snarling.

  “Goddess, please?” the witch said.

  Melody noted a small puddle forming at his feet.

  “For goodness sake, don’t shoot the messenger. It’s not his fault. You’re terrifying him.”

  Melody sent out a lick of her magic, drying his clothing. She might not have been able to remove the smell, but she could at least make him presentable from a distance.

  “Thank you,” he said hoarsely, still staring wide-eyed at the growling shifters in front of him.

  The poor man gave a high pitched squeal when there was a thump behind him, announcing Justin’s arrival.

  “What’s going on? Nick said I had to come to you, to protect you,” he asked, shoving the hapless witch out of the way.

  “I’ve been summoned to the arena by the new provost,” Melody said. “Apparently I’m to be taught my true place.”

  Justin snarle
d, turning on the man sprawled beside him. “And this thing?”

  “Is the messenger, ordered to make sure I comply. Don’t take it out on him. Let’s just go see what she wants.”

  Justin’s eyes glazed for a moment, and he nodded. When his gaze cleared, he looked directly at her. “Nick said to come to the arena. He’s put protections in place. He said to tell you, ‘No matter what the bitch commands, don’t be afraid. He won’t let your freedom be taken from you again.’”

  Dread pooled in her stomach. Just what did that mean?

  The only way to find out what the latest threat was, was to go there and hear the woman out. Melody grabbed her coat and swung it on, weaving her way between the shifters watching her. On the porch, she turned to face them.

  “We still need protection on the cottage ...” she started to say, but they all growled.

  “If you think any of us are staying behind when you could be in danger, think again. These are material things, which mean nothing in comparison to your safety,” Trent growled. His amber eyes glowed with his kitsune’s presence.

  Melody sighed. After what had gone down last time at the arena, he had a point.

  She shrugged and led the way, the others, including the hapless witch, falling in behind her.

  When they got close, the men crowded around her, Asher and Trent taking the fore, while Dean remained on her left, leaving her right hand free to defend herself if necessary. Ryan, Oz came behind her, and then Justin and the messenger. It was quite the procession as they took the shortest route through the central hub of buildings, many students pausing to observe their progress.

  Hushed whispers surrounded them, and with a sense of dread, Melody knew that they were being followed. Even as they walked, small hexes pinged against the hastily built ward she threw around them all. Quickly, Justin added his own to hers, and they ignored the threats and growing murmurs as they headed for the arena.

  Nick stood next to a woman and a man she had never seen before. Presumably the new provost and her familiar.

  The woman was shorter than Nick, although by no means as short as Mrs Hardinger. The counsellor stood off to the side, frowning. It was nothing to match the scowl on the new provost’s face.

  “You took your time getting here,” the provost said. “When I tell you to come immediately, I expect you to do so. Who are all these people?”

  “With respect, Provost, my cottage is on the other side of the campus, your messenger will verify that we came immediately. As for the people, I can only speak for the shifters around me. These are my familiars, Dean, Asher and Trent. The others are the members of the Apex.”

  “And behind you?” the woman snarled.

  Melody looked over her shoulder. Sure enough, at least half the campus had turned out to gawk. She shrugged, turning back around.

  “They’re students who followed us. We spent the whole time defending against hexes which might have slowed us down a little. I guess they decided to keep following until we fell under the onslaught or something equally ridiculous.”

  “That is enough,” snapped the provost. “I will not have your lies or your excuses. Melody, Nick and her bonded shifters may remain. The rest of you are dismissed to your classes. I will hold a formal assembly later today to introduce myself. In the meanwhile, Melody will be helping me with an administrative task.”

  There were grumbles, but the other students turned away back to the classrooms. There was no stopping the gawkers peering down from the shifter dormitories though. Whether she liked it or not, there would be witnesses. Melody decided not to point that out.

  The Apex, however, did not move.

  “Gentlemen,” the provost growled at them. “You were dismissed. If you cannot obey a simple order, then I’ll also have you bound to witches by the end of the day. I will not stand for insubordination from shifters. It seems that my predecessor was far too lenient with the inmates here. Something which I meant to rectify.”

  Melody was shocked, but Justin just laughed aloud at her.

  “Good fucking luck with that, lady. The only witch in this entire academy capable of bonding any of us, is standing right in front of you. We all have a vested interest in her, so we’ll be staying right here, thanks.”

  Melody winced. Whatever was going on, angering the provost even further did not seem like a wise course of action.

  “Janet,” the provost said, whirling to face Mrs Hardinger. “Just what kind of shenanigans did you and that woman allow here? How is it that not one, but two of your Apex shifters think they have the right to speak to me like that, and the remainder of your much lauded little club there, feel that they have the right to defy a direct order from the head of the academy.”

  Melody looked at Nick in shock, but he just rolled his eyes and shook his head. It’s okay, he mouthed to her. Then looked pointedly at Justin, who stepped up to her side.

  “Nick says she’s a raving lunatic, and he wants to warn you that she’s going to try to force you to bond him. He says not to worry, he won’t challenge you, and he’s got a powerful ally cloaked nearby,” Justin murmured quietly to her, over the growing argument between the provost and Mrs Hardinger.

  “Then if you can’t control the shifters here, I will need to find someone who can. You may consider your services terminated. I expect you to be off the grounds within twenty-four hours. You may portal your tattered belongings wherever you wish, the wards do not prevent people from portalling out yet. It is something I will remedy by this time tomorrow, so I suggest that you move quickly.”

  Melody gaped, while around her, the shifters growled. Mrs Hardinger was much loved by students and staff alike, and it would not go well if she were to be removed from the academy. The provost was making a huge mistake.

  “Melody,” the provost said, spinning back and pinning her with a gaze, her features pulled tight in anger. “There is a clause in the shifter accords that states when a shifter is deemed mentally unbalanced, impaired or damaged, that it is in the best interests of all to ensure that they are bonded by a strong witch who can control them. This prevents them from doing harm to themselves or others.”

  Melody nodded, it was an ancient tenet rarely invoked, but she had heard of it.

  “Nicholas is showing clear signs of mental deficiency. He claims to be over almost a thousand years old, present for the Archenine wars and a signatory on the accords of 1487.” The woman clucked her tongue and shook her head sadly. “Obviously he has sustained some previously unnoticed head injury or illness and needs to be taken into hand before he hurts himself or someone else.”

  Melody couldn’t believe her ears.

  “Under the power vested in me as Provost of this academy, and given that you are the only witch capable of doing so, I order you to accept his challenge and bond him, on pain of expulsion.”

  “Forgive me, Provost, but Nick’s claims are true. He and Justin are pretty ancient.” She shot Nick an apologetic look. “If he says he was there, then he was there. He’s a dragon. They live for thousands of years.”

  “Melody, you’ve had a very sheltered life and very limited education. I understand that you are powerful, but it does not give you the right to assume that you know more than your betters. Nick will challenge you, and you will bond him, or be expelled from the school alongside him.”

  That caught her full attention. It was one thing for her to be expelled, something told Melody that her chances of graduating under the new provost were slim to none. But risking Nick’s future? That was cruel.

  “Provost, we both know that I graduated a long time ago. I’m more qualified than half the teachers with my extraneous studies. Expelling me poses no threat,” Nick growled at her. “It is also against witching law, nevermind the agreements made in the accords, to coerce a witch into bonding a shifter.”

  “I think you will find that the law will fall on my side, young man. You pose a threat to everyone at the academy and must be dealt with. If Melody refuses to accede to th
e demands made upon her, then she is putting the wellbeing of the college at risk and should thus be expelled. It is not a threat, Nicholas, it is a fact.”

  Melody seethed. She knew what was coming next. It still made her blood boil when it happened.

  “Nicholas, by the powers vested in me as Provost of this academy, I command you to challenge Melody.”

  “Or what?” Nick ground out.

  “Or I will expel you both, of course,” the provost replied tartly.

  “You will punish a witch for what I fail to do?” Nick asked, quietly.

  “I will do whatever it takes to make you comply, or I will send you both out of here with the hope that you will both gain some wisdom and form the bond,” she snapped.

  Nick tilted his head to the side, as though he was listening. Melody looked around but couldn’t hear anything, but then, she didn’t have shifter hearing.

  “See!” shouted the provost in triumph. “What on earth is he listening to? He is mad.”

  “Actually,” replied Councillor Argrum, stepping out from under some sort of cloaking spell. “He was listening to me. I was telling him to try once more to reason with you, but it seems that you refuse to be reasoned with.”

  All the blood drained from the provost’s face, before returning in a flush that would have glowed in the dark. Her dark gaze fixed on Nick in a glare full of accusation.

  “You did this!” she whispered, low and fierce. “You went behind my back and managed to corrupt a member of the American High Council itself.”

  “Provost,” warned Argrum. “Think very carefully before you speak. Accusations of corruption are taken very seriously, and if they are found to be made without basis, then the spotlight shifts to the accuser and exactly why they sought to lie to the High Council.”

  The provost’s mouth shut with an audible click.

  “I was the member brought in to gather Melody’s testimonial after the battle with Coven Bestia,” he explained. “Through that, I came very quickly to learn of the honour and value of Melody and her bonded shifters, and those who wait patiently for her to be healed enough to accept them. As for Janet. I think you also underestimate her value. I’m sure your dismissal of her was due to the heat of the moment. You couldn’t possibly be foolish enough to dismiss the best counsellor the academy has had in its history. I think you will find that if you spend a little time with them all, they could be of great assistance to you in your service here at the academy. ”