Page 84 of Her Tortured Beasts (Her Vicious Beasts #4)

Chapter 83

Ghoul

“ W ell, it certainly knows what it’s doing.”

Mace Naga, Flores, and the dragoness Francesca Hellfire watch the Drakos Estate tower rebuild itself. I remain behind them, my arms crossed firmly about my chest, observing the powerful dragon magic with great interest. If I built a house like this, would it have magic too? The thought intrigues me.

Flores took his time to call us after Xander’s apparent rescue of the snakelet. I mean, Mace had been very happy the day the money was wired into his account, and we’d been concentrating on other things after the sale, so Aurelia’s whereabouts had not concerned him too much.

But then The Collector, shaking with rage, turned up here, demanding to speak with the lord of the house. Only then did Flores call a meeting with the rest of us.

Flores Drakos turns to me, his face contorted with wild rage. “The rumours that Xander is back at Animus Academy cannot be true.”

“They are true,” Mace says simply. “Our spies there have never been wrong. He has been seen there, and talking to Celeste Agnis no less.”

“It would have been easier if he’d just wanted her for himself,” Lady Hyena says dryly. “But it seems he’s changed his colours once again, foolish boy.”

“Foolish is one word,” The Collector hisses. “Dead, is another. It will take me months to repair my property!”

“You will be compensated handsomely,” Flores says, “if the plan works well.”

“They’ll never see it coming.” The Collector smiles with her teeth and it gives me goosebumps. “None of them will be able to stop it, will they, Lady Hyena?”

“Precisely.” Unlike the crocodile, the elderly woman’s face is deadly serious, and that, above all, makes my fangs drip.