Held In Contempt (Of Magic and Contempt Book 2) Page 21

  Dean knew how he felt. Two shifters helped him to his own feet, and he managed to stagger across the room to the wolf. He could feel his rapid healing already dealing with what he was sure was a fractured skull.

  Melody rushed over to him, running her hands over his body, checking him for other injuries. It made his lion purr and he wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her to reassure her.

  “Carla,” the teacher said gently. “The spell on the bracelet is one for mind control. There is no curse present.”

  Gently, he moved the chain around her wrist until the catch showed. Carla moaned and whimpered, unable to move, fresh tears falling down her face. Carefully, Mr Cartwright undid the catch and removed it, the blue light blinking out.

  “The spell is broken, Carla. There is no curse, and your thoughts are no longer being manipulated. It was a spell to generate hate. I don’t know who it was directed against, but someone you previously liked became your archenemy. Does that ring any bells?”

  He tucked the bracelet into his shirt pocket, and regarded Carla carefully. Free to move, her hands rose to her face and she sobbed into them.

  “Melody,” she said, between heart breaking gasps. “I hate Melody.”

  There were several gasps around the room.

  The door flew open again, making everyone shout. Nick and Justin stood there, dragon scales slowly climbing their arms, their faces elongating and long canines protruding from darkened lips. Slitted pupils regarded them all with cold fury.

  “What is going on?” Justin’s dragon asked, menacingly.

  “Sorted,” Dean told them. “One of you needs to go get Mrs H. The other needs to get a nurse from healer hall.”

  Melody stood and turned to them. “I’m fine, really. Angry at Shawna, and my heart is breaking for Carla and Quinn, but personally I’m fine. Dean might have a concussion though.”

  Mr. Cartwright startled, looking up at him in concern.

  “It’s healing,” Dean said, waving him off.

  The dragons nodded and then jogged away, before Justin doubled back. Justin shoved a small paper bag and thrust it at the person closest to him. “Breakfast for Mel and Dean. Fucking feed my witch,” he growled, before leaving again.

  Mr. Cartwright sighed, nodding at the student. The man came forward and handed the bag to Melody, who took out a foil package and passed it to him. Assured that Carla and Quinn were receiving the attention they needed from the teacher and other wolf shifters who came forward to help, Dean sat back on his heels, unwrapped the sandwich and began to devour it.

  To his side, Melody did the same, the long moan of pleasure she gave made his cock harden.

  Mate, mate, mate mate, chanted his lion. As if the beast needed further encouragement.

  Dean ignored it and took another massive bite. Before he could take a third, however, Mrs. Hardinger and Toby arrived, pushing through the students to the front.

  “In a nutshell, please?” she asked.

  Fuck he loved her ‘get to the point’ attitude. She spoke like an alpha female, and his lion loved it. Loved her like a mother. All the shifters did.

  Mr Cartwright reached into his pocket and pulled out the silver bracelet.

  “Carla received a gift that was enchanted to influence her emotions and behaviours. The longer she wore it, the stronger the effect would have been, although it would need to be topped up on a regular basis.”

  “When did she get it?” Mrs Hardinger asked Quinn.

  “Months ago,” Quinn told her on a moan. “Shawna came and told her that she wanted to make amends. That she wanted to make peace with her and Melody and was going to give Melody a friendship bracelet too. Carla put it on straight away, they had lunch together, and by the end of it, they were laughing and talking like they’d been friends for years.”

  “And you didn’t think that was unusual?” Mrs. Hardinger asked.

  “I thought my witch was amazing and had forgiven the bitch, even though she didn’t deserve it.”

  Dean smiled at him. Quinn was as far gone on Carla as a shifter could be. She might not be his mate, but he knew that the two were sexually active together. As his bonded witch, Carla was the next best thing.

  “It was a couple of days before she started avoiding Melody, but all that time, Shawna and her friends were telling more and more stories about her. Making Melody sound like evil and trouble. And Carla seemed to believe them. I knew she was lying, I’m a truthfinder, but when I tried to talk to Carla about it later, she just said it was a witch thing, and that I wouldn’t get it.” Quinn looked at them helplessly. “She changed. Not just towards Melody, but towards me too. She started treating me like a servant or a pet. She was hanging with Shawna all the time, and just agreeing with everything they did or said. She told Shawna everything she knew about Melody, and Shawna just twisted it more and more to make things sound worse.”

  “Alright, Quinn. I’ve heard enough for now. Let’s get a look at your wolf.”

  Mrs Hardinger took his head in her hands and looked deep into her eyes. Quickly, Quinn’s turned golden, his wolf rising to the surface. Dean had seen this before, had even experienced it a time or two. Whatever the counsellor's magic was, it was able to reach their beasts like nothing else.

  While she examined Quinn, the nurse arrived from the healing center and looked Carla over, but before she could heal Carla’s wrist, Mr. Cartwright stopped her.

  “I’m sorry, but we need to wait a little longer. The evidence must be presented to the provost.”

  “What evidence?” snapped a voice from the door. “What on earth is going on in this classroom.”

  Fuck.

  Dean had been hoping to avoid this scene. If what Nick had said earlier was true, then this was about to blow up in their faces.

  29. Melody

  The provost strode to the front of the room, looking at them all with a sneer.

  “Melody? Are you causing trouble?” she asked snidely.

  “No, provost. It’s actually Shawna Mullins who’s responsible for this mess,” Mr. Cartwright said, unknowingly putting the crosshairs of the provost’s anger on him.

  “Provost,” interrupted the healer. “I really need you to examine Carla’s mind and wrist, and then I need to treat her. I will not condone making her wait in pain and distress any longer than necessary.”

  Melody was sure another target just got painted.

  “Very well,” the provost said. “While I do so, someone will explain what is going on.”

  She placed her long, thin fingers on Carla’s temple, who whimpered. Quinn growled beside her until Mrs Hardinger gave him a tap on the nose with her finger.

  Between Mrs Hardinger and Mr. Cartwright, they explained the situation. Melody noticed that Mr. Cartwright didn’t include Dean’s involvement. Just that Carla had been brought to him to be examined by her familiar. So, the man had some sense of danger after all.

  “And the target of this spell was Melody?” the provost asked, looking at her with a frown.

  “We were roommates when we arrived, before we bonded our shifters. Carla and I got along really well, but then suddenly it all changed and she started hanging around with a different group. If that was what Carla wanted, I wasn’t going to demean myself to get her back, so I let her be. She seemed to be happier.”

  “And this was just a random attack?” the provost asked.

  “Shawna has been here for a long time,” Dean interrupted, drawing her focus. “She keeps changing her subjects.”

  “I fail to see the importance of this information,” the provost said, snidely.

  “Bear with me. A few years ago, Shawna convinced herself that I was meant to be her shifter and did everything she could to not only bond me, but bring me into her bed. Our relationship didn’t last long, but she never stopped trying to get me back.” Dean cleared his throat, clearly embarrassed, but Melody didn’t dare go near him to comfort him.

  “When Melody arrived, my lion went nuts for her
and we challenged her. She threw us back on our ass pretty quickly, but Shawna claimed it wasn’t a proper challenge and had the bond broken. We had to wait a few days to try again, and Shawna tried constantly to get me to challenge her. My lion wasn’t having it, and as soon as we could try again, we did. This time, the bond was allowed to stand. Melody is the witch my lion half needs.”

  There were several sighs from other witches, all of them looking at Dean in adoration, several of them giving Melody envious glances. Melody, however, was hoping that the provost didn’t notice his slip. But, of course, she did.

  “Why did you have to wait a few days, why not challenge again immediately?” she asked, shrewdly.

  “I had a cold,” Melody said, shrugging. “There were exams on and I was unwell. Plus, I wanted to make sure that there were no more challenges based around Dean not being recovered from the bond breaking. It was to give him a sporting chance, and to simplify the process.”

  “And this Shawna is upset you stole her preferred shifter?”

  Melody huffed, annoyed. She would not lose her cool. She couldn’t afford to, the provost had already taken a disliking to her and her familiars. “Dean wasn’t hers to steal. He came to me, not the other way around, I tried to avoid him. I was a new student, I didn’t want to rush into bonding with a shifter.”

  “And yet, now you have three,” the provost sneered. She looked around the room, noting all the gazes upon them and collected herself. “Well, far be it from me to interfere in a small spat between girls. I’m sure you’ll cope with whatever the outcome is.”

  Melody’s heart sank. She’d all but openly condoned Shawna’s behaviour. The provost was more than just angry at her, Melody had made an enemy.

  “What of Carla?” Mr. Cartwright asked, obviously unhappy.

  “What of her? The foolish girl accepted a charm from someone who from all accounts was unfriendly beforehand. She deserved what she got. Get her healed and back to class, I will not stand for this kind of disruption.” Her heated gaze landed on Melody again. “I do not wish to hear of you involved in yet another incident, Melody. It would not look good on your final transcripts. You’ve already killed a talented witch in the Canticum coven, earning a mark upon your record would be like rubbing salt into the wound.”

  With her judgement made, the provost swept from the room, silence in her wake.

  Through her bond, Melody could feel Dean’s anger and his embarrassment. Even though she believed he’d done the right thing, it had brought the provost’s judgement down upon them again, and as much as she might hope otherwise, Melody knew that open season had just been declared upon them all.

  “Melody?” Mr. Cartwright said. “Perhaps you and your familiars could accompany Carla to the healing ward. I will provide you both with a copy of the notes from today’s lecture.”

  “Yes, Sir,” Melody said quietly, thankful to get out of there.

  “I will look after Quinn,” Mrs Hardinger told them all.

  A low murmur had begun amongst the students, several of them casting speculative looks her way. It would only be a matter of time before the small attacks became overt ones, and the provost had as good as said she didn’t want to know anything about it.

  Nick and Justin stood arguing quietly in the corridor when they emerged. It was unusual, because the two of them spoke so often in their mental link.

  “You can’t just force her into it, it’s what her aunt did. She needs more time,” Nick was saying.

  “She doesn’t have more fucking time,” Justin snarled then stomped away when he saw her. He was still angry over the rejection.

  Nick walked over to her and slung an arm around her shoulders, kissing the top of her head. It was an unusual move for him, so she looked up at him, waiting for the other shoe to drop. He was comforting her before he dropped a bombshell.

  Melody’s gaze met his hazel eyes, and her heart stuttered. He was so close, and so beautiful. When he licked his lips, she followed the movement, and his arm drew tighter around her shoulders. Their steps slowed as they stared at one another, Dean following the others, oblivious to the buzzing heat that seemed to sizzle between them.

  “Nick,” she said softly.

  It was like she’d released something in him. He spun her, pushing her against the wall as his mouth crashed into hers. Although passionate, Nick’s kiss was nothing like Justin’s. Where Justin was all fire and urgency. Nick’s kiss burned like ice. Like he was sucking all the breath from her lungs, leaving her weak but willing. Cold fire burned through her veins, searing her, sealing her, claiming her.

  A small whimper left her lips and Nick groaned, beginning to grind his body against hers.

  There was a tapping sound and his head jerked forward into hers, their teeth clashing.

  “Not in the fucking corridor. If you shift and challenge her here, you’ll bring half the compound down,” Trent said, appearing from nowhere. “Either take it to the bedroom or get down to the arena.”

  Nick stood there, leaning against her, crushing her, cradling her. His breath was as short and heavy as hers.

  “My dragon is screaming at me to protect you,” he said, quietly. “Justin’s too. We know what she did in there. Adolphus is more dangerous for you than ever. But I can’t let you leave here without me, because you’d be even more vulnerable out there without us.”

  “I’m not going to leave, Nick,” Melody said, determined. “I’m not going to let them win. I’ve dealt with bullies all my life, and I’ve got more freedom than ever. I’m not going to let them take away the choices that I just gained. Any more than I’m going to let your dragon do it.”

  Nick groaned, grinding his hips against hers, the hardness of his erection prominent. “Mel,” he whispered.

  “Fuck him or bond him,” Trent said slyly. “It’s not a terrible choice either way.”

  Melody turned to stare at him, but Trent’s gaze was on Nick. Calmly, he reached up and put a hand around the taller shifter’s neck, then drew him down slowly. Nick allowed him, mesmerised, until Trent’s tongue darted out and licked across the seam of his lips. Then he exploded into action, shoving Trent against the wall beside Melody, kissing him hard, while he still ground his body against hers.

  She watched the pair of them, fascinated. She’d seen shifters having sex back in the Bestia compound. They’d always tried to hide it from her, to protect her she suspected, but she knew what went on. Occasionally she’d see two men, or two women together, but nothing as up close and personal as this.

  All Melody could think of was Trent and her in bed, when he’d brought her to her peak. She wondered which of the two men in front of her was in control, because although Nick seemed more dominant, Trent was more aware of what was happening. With a start, she realised he was watching her watch them, and his gaze grew more heated.

  “I think our girl likes this, Nick,” Trent said, huskily, when Nick attacked his neck.

  Melody’s core clenched. Yes, yes she did. She’d never done any of this before, but it didn’t mean that she didn’t want to.

  Nick froze.

  Slowly, he turned to face her, drawing in a deep breath. Trent did the same. Nick’s eyes had turned golden, while Trent’s blazed with the amber of his kitsune. Of course it would be the kitsune involved in this. His fox was much more meek.

  “You need to make a choice, Melody,” Trent warned her.

  Worried, her gaze shifted between the two of them. A choice? How could she?

  But Trent laughed. “No, sweetheart. Not between us. Between us and bonding. Either the three of us take this back to your cabin and explore where it goes, or you take the dragon down to the arena and bond his sorry ass. Either way, you’ve roused him beyond reason and only those two things will soothe his beast.”

  Melody looked back at Nick, startled to see that ruby red scales crept down his arms and up his neck. His face had elongated, longer teeth jutting across his lips. The wildness in his gaze told her that Nick was nowh
ere to be seen, this was all his dragon.

  “They’re losing control, Melody,” Trent told her gently, rubbing her arm. “They’ve waited over half a millenium, and here you are in front of them, but still out of reach. It’s worse than ever, because they know that their salvation is so close.”

  Nick still hadn’t moved, predatory eyes watching her, waiting for her decision.

  “You haven’t noticed, but I have. They’re touching you more and more. Hell, we all are. We need that connection from you. The danger you’re in only heightens that.”

  Melody frowned. No, she didn’t want this, she didn’t want to be pressured. This was supposed to be about her making her own choices.

  “I enjoyed our interlude in the bedroom, but I want more from you, Melody, and we’re already bonded. Think how much harder it is for them. I know you want your choices, well, you’ve got one. Start bonding us, or you’re going to hurt us all. Choice isn’t just about the chocolate cake or the caramel. It’s about the consequences too. Cake makes you gain weight. Waiting hurts them, makes them crazy. Dean wouldn’t have carried a screaming witch into a classroom before he met you. You’re changing him, changing us.”

  Everything he was saying made sense. She knew he was right, but something still made her hesitate.

  “I’ve never held a bond for longer than an hour,” she said, finally. The two of them listened intently.

  Trent nodded when she didn’t continue.

  “I’m still learning how to juggle three of you. I can feel all of you pulling at me all the time. You’re asking me to add four more. That’s a lot of bonds, even if I am a strong witch. What if I can’t manage it? What if you go feral?”

  Nick’s nose nuzzled against her neck, sliding up to the base of her ear and along her jaw. Melody just wanted to melt into his touch.

  “Three of us have magic, Melody. You don’t think we can’t help prevent that?”

  “But what if you three are the ones who go feral,” she countered.

  “Melody, my soul is attached to yours. Kitsune mate for life, the only time I’ll go feral is if you die before me, and if that happens, I’m a dead man walking anyway.”