Held In Contempt (Of Magic and Contempt Book 2) Page 23

  “Or to oblivion, I’d never heard of it happening. I mean, I knew it must have at some point, but I assumed it was very rare. I certainly hadn’t heard of a specific case.”

  “Yes, although it seems my stance is moot. The provost has vetoed my decision. That is against the academy charter, but she seems to have some high connections, because my own coven warned me not to cross her before we even knew she was coming.”

  That was worrying news.

  “I also did it to try and provide you with a safe space. All the staff have been ordered not to show you any preference. That you have been coddled and spoiled and that we are to be firmer with you than we would any other student. It’s all carefully worded, but basically it means we’re to turn a blind eye to any attacks against you, or face disciplinary action ourselves. It’s supposed to toughen you up and speed up the development of your bonds with your familiars.”

  “She wants Melody to bond the rest of the Apex,” Trent said.

  “It wasn’t mentioned, but that is the feeling I got. It makes no sense though.”

  “She tried to force me to bond Nick this morning,” Melody told him. “She threatened us both with expulsion. Ironically, Nick and I ended up bonding later in the day anyway.”

  Nick stiffened, and she smiled up at him, resting a hand on his leg. “I don’t regret it, Nick. I chose it, remember?”

  He huffed. “My dragon was pretty loud, other than hearing you agree to bond us, I didn’t hear much else,” he confessed.

  The professor nodded. “Then there are things going on that we don’t understand. Witch politics are complex and subtle. We live a long time and so we play a long game. You’re being manoeuvred, Melody, but towards what I don’t know. I wanted you to know that some of us are on your side.”

  “But not all of the staff,” Melody said, nodding. “I understand. I’ll be more careful.”

  “There are some who don’t like it, but not everyone here has tenure. Some want to support you, but need their jobs. If you tell me what you need, I can let those who are silently in your corner know.”

  “We need a bigger cottage,” Nick told him. “Especially if she ends up bonding the rest of us.”

  Professor Simmonds nodded. “Yes, yes, of course. I’ll see what I can do. The larger cottages are behind the witch and shifter dorms, but most of them are empty. You would probably need a couple of them side by side once you have bonded them all.”

  “Not happening,” Nick growled. “We’ll sleep in bunk beds if necessary, but we’re all sleeping under the same roof, our beasts need to protect her. So do we.”

  The professor blinked at them. “Good to know, in that case, I’ll leave you in peace and get right on that. Mrs Hardinger will be of some assistance.”

  “Thank you Professor,” Melody said, rising when he did. She took his hand when he offered it, clasping it between her own. “We really do appreciate you taking the risk to warn us.”

  “I have another purpose here, one that will mask our discussion. Mrs Hardinger said that you would need new wards. The provost needs to recover before she puts the next layer of wards around the academy, so I will not be needed to help with that for a few days. Thus I have the energy to spare to cast some more around your cottage. Specifically ones repelling hexes.”

  “I thought they had already been done?” Melody asked.

  “No, the other wards were more focussed on curses and direct attacks. I didn’t have the energy at the time to focus on hexes, although I know your dragons have put up some simpler ones.”

  Nick huffed at the insult.

  The professor laughed. “Boy, you may be older than my great-grandfather, but you haven’t spent your entire life studying this field. You’ve studied everything. I have a specific knowledge of my craft and there are few who could outspell me in creating wards. It’s why I was recruited for this position. I didn’t apply to Adolphus. Augusta came to me and asked.”

  That was surprising to learn.

  “I will bid you all good night, and the goddess’ blessing be upon you.”

  He gave another short bow and left, Dean closing the door behind him.

  Melody felt the surge of his magic as cast the wards, tracking it as the professor moved around the cottage. She wasn’t sure if it was all in her mind, but she did feel safer even as he was casting them. Could that kind of thing be felt?

  “Who’s tutoring tonight?” Melody asked.

  “Justin and I, supposedly,” Nick answered, a frown on his face.

  Justin hadn’t been back to the cottage since she had forced his shift, hanging around with Shawna again, although he didn’t let any of them drape themselves across him. The bitchy women weren’t quite sure what to do with him. He didn’t participate or socialise, he just sat grumpily in their midst, studiously ignoring Melody and the others. She knew it affected them. Now that she’d bonded to Nick, she could feel how much it hurt him.

  He was such an ass. First he’d betrayed her with Jaynie, and no matter what his excuse, that was what he’d done. Now he was throwing a tantrum because she’d refused to be a doormat. He could sit and sulk all he wanted. If he wanted her to bond him, he had some serious grovelling to do, and the longer he waited, the more he hurt Nick and the others, the more she would make him beg.

  “I can help,” Trent offered.

  “As long as it’s you and not the asshole,” Melody warned him. “I don’t have the energy to deal with any more of his rubbish tonight.”

  Trent bobbed his head eagerly.

  Suck up, a cool voice said in her head.

  Nick had opened the group link again.

  No, I just listen to what she needs, rather than assuming you know better, Trent replied.

  Oh? So you’ve finally grown a spine? Think you’re ready to challenge me, pup? The kitsune replied with a snarl.

  I’ve always had a spine, but I bend like a reed and move where I need to. I’m not an inflexible asshole like you. I don’t barrel through the world like a boulder running downhill, I flow through it like a river.

  Eroding our will to live with boredom while you’re at it.

  Shaping things carefully and gradually. Be warned, kitsune, even a river can flood.

  Is that supposed to be a threat? The cool voice had turned to ice.

  Enough, snapped Melody. I agree with Trent. You’re walking over everyone, and it stops tonight, or I’ll find a way to cast you back out of Trent’s body. He’ll still have his fox.

  The silence was deafening.

  Melody looked at the other shifters, all of them wincing. “What’s going on? You think it can’t be done?” she asked aloud.

  “I cut you out, Melody. I could feel the tirade coming. He’s pissed as fuck, which means not only is it possible, but that it’s a real threat to him. Good call. I didn’t want to leave Trent alone to deal with that, so I’ve left the link open, but you don’t need to be distracted.”

  “What about you? You’re supposed to be tutoring me, how are you going to concentrate?”

  “I can lower the volume, he won’t bother me, and if the others want out, they just have to ask.”

  “I’m loving it,” Dean said with a malicious grin. “He’s quite imaginative at swearing. I don’t think some of the things he’s suggesting are physically possible, but they sound like fun. Is it wrong that I want to eat popcorn while I listen?”

  Asher snickered. “You’re right. That’s exactly what this needs. Come on, let’s go see what the dining room has, we might be able to sweet talk the dinner ladies.”

  Nick nodded. “Oz and Ryan are on their way over, you can all swap notes.”

  “And Justin?” Melody asked hopefully.

  He shook his head. “No, he’s busy.”

  Busy.

  Right.

  She was calling that a lie. The question was, was it Nick’s or Justin’s?

  31. Nick

  The attack shouldn’t have surprised them as much as it did.

  T
he others had allowed him his time with Melody, and he had lain beside her in the dark, watching as she slept, his dragon’s vision allowing him to see her in the infrared range. From the cool blue spot at the tip of her nose, to the heated red spots near her tear glands. Turning it off, he’d allowed his normal shifter senses to improve the little light there was, revelling in her nearness.

  She would probably have been disturbed, knowing that he was watching her like this, but he couldn’t help it. Nearly a thousand years he had waited, and finally here he was, with a bond. It was equal parts pain and triumph. Dragons had long been able to control their shifts if they wanted to, something that the World Council had resolutely ignored. Until the dragons refused to send their young to the beast magic academies any more. Nick and Justin were the last ones.

  It galled him that he needed a bond to leave, and yet he didn’t regret bonding to Melody one iota. He was pretty sure she was Justin’s mate, although his own dragon had been silent on the matter, the beast was smug to have a bond with her. A deep restlessness that had disturbed them both was finally settled.

  There was no shame in bonding a witch. Most of his people did. But to be held captive in an academy until they found their witch was embarrassing. Nick was glad they were the last.

  Well, Justin was, because he couldn’t get his shit together. The man was an idiot. Justin’s temper meant that he never had as much control over his dragon as he’d like. It was something that Nick hoped a bond with Melody might ameliorate. But the fool wasn’t going to get it unless he pulled his head out of his ass, and the more he pissed off Melody, the worse his chances got, and the more pissed his dragon became.

  Justin’s dragon, once riled, took a long time to settle. The beast was as likely to ruin their chances as Justin himself.

  Outside, something brushed up against his wards.

  Quickly, Nick sent his magic out, searching around the cottage, finding nothing. Not even a hint of magic.

  The oily sensation happened again, this time it felt like it was on the other side of the cottage. Quickly he searched there, but again, there was no sign of beast, being or magic.

  Where was it coming from?

  Then with a shattering that made his breath hitch in pain, the secret ward he’d put up inside the academy’s wards, broke. When he sent his magic outward, Nick was shocked to discover that there were no wards around the academy at all. Worse, dark figures were pouring over the boundary, and heading straight for their cottage.

  Nick opened up the pack link.

  GET UP! He yelled in their heads, Melody shot up in the bed beside him with a squeal.

  Fuck, he’d forgotten he’d added her to it.

  He included Mrs Hardinger in his next broadcast. Nick didn’t dare contact the provost. Besides, if the wards were down, there was a chance she was already dead.

  THE WARDS ARE DOWN, THE ACADEMY IS UNDER ATTACK. RING THE BELL, ROUSE THE ACADEMY. THE WARDS ARE DOWN AND WE ARE UNDER ATTACK.

  Where? Came Justin’s instant response.

  Right beside us, they’re heading straight for our cottage, Nick told them all.

  He was hopping on one foot, pulling on his pants and ignoring Melody with all his might as she pulled her nightgown off and dressed.

  Thumps came from throughout the cottage, the others hurriedly dressing as well.

  By the time he was dressed, the bell in the academy was tolling loudly. Nick could hear panicked shouts from outside. He left off his shirt, drawing his beast to the surface and covering his skin in scales. He only wished he’d had the opportunity to teach that to Melody. As his bonded witch, she would have access to some of his magic. Enough to draw on his own scales as armour, although if he completely shifted, they would be called back to him.

  He was proud of her as she threw her curls up in a tight bun and gave him a nod. She was ready. They both knew who was coming for them, and they were ready to deal with her once and for all.

  The others joined them as they headed out the front door. Witches stood on the porches of the other cottages, looking around in confusion. Carla appeared out of the throng, Quinn dragging her along, half dressed, fur showing on his torso. He’d also adopted the half shift.

  “I figured here was the safest place for her,” Quinn said, when Nick looked at him in surprise.

  “They’d probably leave me to die,” Carla muttered.

  Nick looked at Quinn in alarm. Was Shawna’s spell still affecting her?

  “She’s ashamed. She didn’t want to come here. She remembers everything she did, she doesn’t think Melody will forgive her. Or any of you.”

  “Quinn!” snapped Carla.

  “Not tonight, witch. Tonight I call the shots. We’ll discuss this later, but I’m not letting you hide because you’re afraid to face up to what happened. I’ve forgiven you, and hopefully with time they will too.”

  Nick watched in approval, Carla’s beaten stance and downcast eyes said it all. Quinn needed to take her firmly in hand right then, she didn’t have the wherewithal to stand up for herself. Of course they would forgive her, Nick already had, it wasn’t her doing, it was that bitch Shawna’s. But they didn’t have time for this now.

  Two wolves bounded across the space from the classrooms to their cottage, dodging between all the panicking bodies. Oz and Ryan were there.

  Where was Justin?

  “Listen up, everyone,” Nick roared, and anyone within hearing distance moved closer. “The academy is under attack, we have minutes before they’re here, they’re coming from over there.”

  He raised an arm and pointed towards their cottage. The figures he’d felt with his magic were over the far side in the forest, but they were almost upon them.

  “Shifters, shift. Move to the fore. Witches, get up on the cabin roofs if you can, stay above the fighting and rain down hell on them. It’s the shifters coming first, their witches are coming far behind. We’ll deal with the beasts, and then you can get down out of sight when the bastards come.”

  To his surprise, they all obeyed him without question. There was a drumming on the ground behind them, and several turned, readying to attack in the opposite direction. Fuck!

  “Stop, they’re our shifters. The unbonded ones. Don’t attack. The enemy is coming from the opposite direction, they’re the cavalry come to help defend us.”

  Witches were now starting to pour out of the spaces between the classroom blocks, Mrs Hardinger at the lead.

  One wolf changed direction, sprinting towards them, knocking a male witch down and standing on his chest, panting, drool hanging down on his face. The male laughed.

  “I accept your challenge,” he said loudly. “Shift!”

  Nick felt the surge of his magic, it was nothing compared to Melody’s, a drop in a bucket, but the wolf instantly changed, a raven haired beauty sitting on top of him. She leaned forward, kissed him hotly, then crawled off him, immediately shifting back to her wolf form and sitting at his side. Her tongue lolled out in a very dog-like manner, almost like she was laughing.

  The man stroked her silken fur, and she moaned, leaning into his touch.

  “About fucking time that pair got their heads on straight,” Mrs Hardinger muttered. “They’ve been dithering over it for fucking months. They’ll both be stronger tonight.”

  Nick chuckled. It was a moment of much needed levity.

  Justin? he sent over the pack link. Where the fuck are you?

  Behind them, Justin replied. About to fuck up their night.

  There was an almighty roar, and flames lit up the sky, the shrieks of witches on the far side of the forest easily heard as they burned.

  Nick could see the shifters now pounding over the lawn towards them, several of them dropping and twisting on the ground, shifting back to their human forms and screaming as their witches died.

  His heart broke for them. If they survived the battle, they wouldn’t likely survive the night. Even from here he could see how thin they were. The shock of the bond break
ing would likely strip them of the strength they had remaining.

  “INCOMING!” Nick roared.

  He took a deep breath and shot flames into the air, lighting up the battlefield. Justin’s dragon roared again, more flames appearing in the distance, and more shifters dropping to the ground. Nick recognised a few, they were some of the shifters missing from the academy. The fools. He wondered if they had voluntarily bonded, or been taken against their will.

  Coven Bestia stooped to a lot of things, he had no doubt they had worked out a way to bond a shifter against their will.

  There were still enough shifters left to pose a threat, and thus enough witches too. He could see Justin clearly now, warding and dodging against spells being cast up at him, even as he tried to find a moment to flame them again.

  He felt his dragon rise inside.

  Apparently so did Melody. “Don’t kill them,” she begged. “Most of them have no choice. They’re broken, completely subjugated by their witches. They have no control. Attack the witches, not the shifters.”

  Her cool hand on his skin helped to sooth his beast. He could do that. If she asked him, he would steal the sun and set fire to the moon.

  “Try and knock them out, they’re compelled, but don’t hesitate for the kill shot if you’re under threat,” he ordered. It was the best he could do. When shifters fought, their beasts came to the fore, knowing better how to move in that body. It also meant their baser instincts took hold. They might not remember the order.

  They all stayed behind the cottages and waited, it would provide them some cover, forcing the shifters to split up to move around them, while they could create a united front.

  Melody refused to climb up on the roof, so the six of them pushed her behind them. She huffed but obeyed, knowing they’d be distracted if they thought she was under threat. Nick felt her draw her magic forth, goddess she was powerful. Even tired as she was from defending against the petty spells of the other witches all day, and the magical demands of her classes, she still was more powerful magically than he was.