Page 13 of Beasts of Shadows #1

That’s Cody’s last name, after all.

“Wallace Clan.” She gives a light smile, but doesn’t look at me. “Although I don’t think anyone’s used that surname in over two decades.”

“What does that even mean, ‘clan’?”

“Not much these days,” Dr. Kite confesses.

“It’s a basic breakdown of witch hierarchy.

The Wallace Clan was the most powerful in Europe, said to be descended from Calea, herself.

Until the whole clan system fell apart and Shadow Realm creatures took a more hands-on approach to dealing with mortals.

Believe it or not, there was a time when gods and all us other monsters had a more subtle influence over human matters. ”

Her face twists wistfully.

“Some of us would like to go back to that.”

“I’m in way over my head. And the only reason I made it through assessment is because Cody found me and hid me in a safe house.”

“Ah.”

Dr. Kite stops at a vending machine, ordering a large cup of black coffee. Although, this late at night, I wonder what she might need it for.

“That’s it? Aren’t you going to report that to someone?”

Dr. Kite waits a painfully long time for the cup to fill.

Once the lid is secure, she draws a deep sip, letting the scalding mess gargle down her throat.

She gives a visible sigh, her whole body easing until she has the energy to flip through a manila folder.

Despite the antlers, she’s actually a beautiful woman.

Although, I’ve noticed most people on campus pass for otherworldly attractive.

She has traditional Native American features, with a hoop ring through her nose.

Her attention finally flickers back to me.

“In Ancient Greece, they praised cleverness and trickery. Leadership doesn’t care how you survived—just that you did it.

” She purses her lips. “Plus, you have one thing under your belt that most mortals don’t when they come here.

” Before I can object—because I have no clue what she’s talking about—she holds up a finger.

“You’re more like our campus monsters than your human brethren, right? ”

I flounder, completely clueless.

She takes another drag on her cup, looking me up and down.

“You made a decision. A difficult one. One that would spare hundreds of lives, even though it meant the loss of someone important to you. Ring a bell?”

She cocks a brow pointedly.

My throat goes dry. She can’t know about…is she talking about Ravi? I never told anyone about what happened.

True, Reema said most professors know our life stories, but I didn’t expect anyone to call me out on it so brazenly. So soon.

I try to swallow, but my throat just constricts.

“Lying to me is pointless. I can read guilt. It’s painted across your soul.

It’s why they pay me the big bucks. ” Her brows give an exaggerated, borderline sarcastic wiggle.

She leans an amused shoulder against the coffee machine.

“I suppose your cousins didn’t bother to tell you about me?

Cody and I go way back. I’ve been his shrink since middle school.

Let’s just say you two have more in common than sharing a grandpa.

But that’s his burden to share, not mine. ”

She rakes those glowing eyes over me once more.

“You’re fast at making enemies,” she notes. “Nikolai. Zephyr Sumner, apparently. How about you focus on making allies before worrying about everyone who wants to see you fail?”

“What does that mean?”

She sighs. “Find a patron. The Celtic Pantheon remains the strongest, but they’re hardly impressed by mortals. You may find someone from a different lot that suits you.”

She gestures for my arm, which I reluctantly offer. Uncapping a pen, she scribbles something across my flesh.

“Picca Roberts is a second year. She’s a Carnal.” At my off look, she sighs. “Kind of like a succubis with middling psychic abilities. She has high standing with the Hindu Pantheon, and she can help you fine-tune those visions that you’re so worried about. Maybe make things a little clearer.”

“She’d do that?” I ask, knowing there has to be a catch coming. No one does anything around here for free.

Dr. Kite grins. “Oh, she’s got a nasty temper, but a huge thing for your cousin’s roommate. Use your connections to your advantage.”

#

“Fuck, no,” Cody replies, digging into his ramen at lunch the following day. It’s just the two of us. Cat is still in class and Reema’s with Genier, studying in the library.

While I expected a mediocre Best Western-style buffet for the cafeteria that first day, I almost keeled over at the sight of a legitimate mead hall. Straight out of Camelot, or something.

A fire rages in the hearth against the back wall.

The ceiling is vaulted, with skylights adding radiance to the otherwise dim hall.

Thick wooden posts maintain the building’s structure.

They’re etched with carvings that depict scenes from mythology.

Inlaid gold accents some images. There’s a serving station at the far end.

My stomach gives a carnivorous gurgle, but I’m here for a reason. Unfortunately, it’s not food.

“Why not?” I ground out. “I asked around, and I hear she’s smoking hot.”

“That’s not the point,” Cody groans. “She’s one of the hottest girls in school.”

“So, what’s the problem?” I probe, stealing a piece of chashu pork from his bowl.

“How would you feel if I asked you to whore yourself out for my benefit?”

“I mean, it’s been a while. Like, a long time,” I muse, delighting in the way he chokes on a noodle. Since Ravi’s death, to be exact. But he doesn’t need to know about that. “And my vibrator’s broken—.”

“Kill me.” Cody looks paler than usual, and I can’t help my barking laughter. He knocks his fist against his chest, spitting into a napkin. “Look.” I guess he can speak again. “You asking me to convince Geneir to go on a date with Picca Roberts is like me wanting you to have sex with Nikolai.”

I make a face, teasing mood gone.

My fellow first year sits across the mead hall, lounging like lions at a watering hole with his cronies. Ta?sse catches my eyes, scarlet liquid from whatever raw meat she’s devouring stains her lips.

“Fair,” I relent, dropping my back against the table.

“Plus,” Cody continues, as if I didn’t speak. “Carnals like Picca thrive on sexual energy. She could, like, steal years off a lifr with one orgasm. And she already went after Geneir pretty aggressively last year. He and Zerelli broke up for a month over it.”

“That almost sounds like you care that Reema got hurt.”

Cody scoffs, looking away.

“ Geneir was devastated. Cried about it forever till she took him back. As much as I hated being his roommate when they were together, it was worse when they were apart.”

There seems to be more to the story than that, but I still don’t know this man well enough to dig.

Funny how I can confidently ask him to pawn off his not-so-single best friend to help with my powers, but I won’t dare press on the barely-healed thing between him and Reema.

Pathetic .

“I’ll think of something else.”