Page 69

Felix

“Henrietta, this shit is unacceptable!”

The diminutive avian shifter shrinks behind her desk in terror, but I don’t care. Her handling of the mess on campus this year has been subpar at best and downright criminal at worst. She’s molting feathers everywhere as she tries to control her flickering shift. I growl again, knowing we won’t be able to get her to see reason if her animal is this panicked.

“What Felix is trying to convey,” Aubrey begins, pausing when a hawk appears. The headmistress zooms around until she hits the glass of her window and shifts back while sliding down the wall. Our fiery friend sucks in a calming breath and tries again. “We have several problems that affect students and staff negatively. You must take action before Apex becomes a laughingstock.”

I see where he’s going—get her to worry about the academy as she’ll fight for that so she isn’t ousted.

Renard pushes off the wall, walking over to help the hawk up and into her chair. “I suggest we start with the most expedient matter, Henny. This plagiarism claim stinks like day old fish on the Captain’s dock.”

“It’s fucking bullshit. You didn’t ask anyone to check it out before you sent that letter,” Fitz snarls as he prowls to the desk and puts his hands on it to get in her face. “The florist and the briquette over there checked four separate plagiarism checkers—even human ones. I dug out a tree’s worth of posts, referencing the scheme on the Apex boards. You let those bitchy twats and Professor Limp Dick snow you.”

Our supposed boss looks at each of us for confirmation and sees how serious we are. She absolutely fucked up and even though we gave her time to figure it out, she ignored the signs. Now she’s going to have to reverse the decision, apologize, and have Fitz wipe the boards. The students will be furious and you can bet your ass he’s going to plant shit to keep better track of the bullies. Henny will regret cowing before the pack of slavering morons before this is over; my twin will accept nothing less than justice.

“I-I can fix this,” she squawks as she looks over the proof Aubrey compiled. “Of course Miss Drew won’t be expelled, but I don’t know if we can do everything the plan you submitted suggests. The students have rights and…”

I’m about to open my mouth when Chess speaks, his eyes amber with the glow of his cheetah. “Henrietta, I had the pleasure of meeting the woman who gave birth to Miss Drew on New Year’s Eve. While I’m a Khan and her viciousness doesn’t concern me, do you wish to be on Lucille Drew’s bad side? If you don’t allow us to erase this incident from the records, it will reflect badly on their family name, and I’m sure Dolly will have to inform her mother.”

Ho-leeey shit. Fucking the princess has made our meek sibling a secret bad ass.

Fitz beams like a proud parent and walks over to kiss the hell out of his consort. He doesn’t give a single fuck. We’re in a business meeting with our boss, but my twin showed his love with zero fear of judgment. I’m not sure how he turned out the way he did with our upbringing, but I’m a little jealous right now. He’s certifiable, but somehow more emotionally healthy than any of us.

The cheetah beams like he’s basking in the sun before he turns back to Henny. “What do you say?”

“No, no, Professor Khan. Informing Madame Lucille is unnecessary. I will need to have a conversation with Professor Abel about being more discerning when taking the word of one student against another. His intentions were good, I’m sure, but he failed to confirm the accusation before bringing it to me. That’s not acceptable, and I will address it firmly.”

The dragon snorts, blowing smoke rings across the room. “Somehow, I doubt that. However, if you agree to our terms, this incident can be kept between us.”

Cutting my gaze to her, I stalk closer, letting the alpha pred out for a moment. “Agreed, but you will also get these nasty little bitches under control. I don’t care how you do it, Henrietta Shirdal, but the dirty tricks like piss-filled dorm rooms, newspaper articles, and faked plagiarism stop now . If it doesn’t, I promise you will also face the wrath of the Khan ambush.”

“Truth,” Fitz sing-songs. “Dear old Dad doesn’t love Felix, but he’ll be livid that someone blatantly disobeyed a directive to appease measly Council assholes.”

Chess looks thoughtful before he adds, “Insubordination is a death sentence on Bloodstone.”

That has the poor hawk shifter molting like crazy despite not being fully shifted. I have no idea what the hell her heritage is—not fully Shirdal for certain, which explains a lot—but she’s damn near having a panic attack. I look at Renard, hoping he has enough control to discuss the rest of our requests with Henny before she passes out .

The gargoyle winks and walks over to pour her a glass of water from the pitcher on the sideboard. “Calm down, Henny. The tigers are only stating what could happen, not what is happening. Dramatics seem to be necessary in order for you to take us seriously this year.”

His words make her hawk settle slightly, and the headmistress plops down into her chair to catch her breath. “Yes, of course. I deal with many demanding individuals and this isn’t unusual. My… issues seem to be worse today than normal. The pressure from all the unrest is making me very high-strung.”

How the hell can she tell the difference?

“We have other concerns,” Renard says calmly. “You are aware we found another dead student in my private living space last week. Most of the students have left campus for break, outside of a few, so we are working to find the security breach.”

“Finding another student harmed is terrible for the school. At least with disappearances, they occur off campus. We can’t be blamed,” Henrietta says as she fiddles with folders on her desk nervously.

That’s what she’s worried about? Bast’s furry tail, that damn kid is dead!

“I doubt the parents see it that way, but the breach did not occur with my security. At least, not from an entry and exit standpoint.” Ren looks at her, then at us, and sighs. “There are clearly outside forces getting on to campus. They have either found a weak point in the school perimeter or they are using magic. The body appeared at the top of my Tower with no record of any untoward activity on my system, Henrietta.”

“Magic? That’s a fairytale, Monsieur Laveaux. Shifter societies don’t have magic anymore,” Henny scoffs. “They must have gained access another way. Technology is fallible.”

Aubrey arches a brow. “It is, especially with lax users, as we have on campus. However, between his tech and the band of prey at his command, I believe that did not happen this time.”

Her face gets red and I push the water glass toward the flighty bird. “Breathe, Shirdal. We want permission to speak to the school security department, access to key logs, and every map they have of campus. The rest Fitz will get for us from older city archives.”

“That.. doesn’t sound like too much to ask.” She finally settles, turning to her computer and opening her email to comply. “What else do you need?”

“An email to the National Library so I can research the poison from last spring more thoroughly,” Aubrey adds. “A list of the students and families who left for spring break to verify arrivals at their homes via social media. And we need to know immediately if anyone does not return on time.”

Nodding, our boss continues working as we talk. She almost looks relieved and I wonder if taking this on will put us in the line of fire instead of her. “Henrietta, you cannot tell the Council we are investigating. They are too powerful and if a member is involved, they will scramble to cover it up. More people could die.”

Her face goes white this time. “But what will I tell them about progress?”

“Tell them they should send the Sibbies in,” Fitz says with a snort. “It’s what should have happened from the first corpse. Don’t be dense.”

“Madame Lucille was very adamant we avoid that at all costs.”

“I’ll bet she was,” Chess mutters. “She’s probably butt cheek implant deep in this fucking nightmare.”

His meetings with our princess’ mother definitely went poorly and I’m a little chuffed. He hasn’t discussed it with us yet, just mentioned they were accosted at the restaurant and he handled it. I give him a sharp look, letting him know I want information after we finish with Henny .

“This is only the beginning of trouble here,” Renard says as looks out the window. “I can feel it in my bones. We have not found a motive for any of the terrible things going on except for the childish heirs’ pranks. The deaths and missing students are actions of a far more patient, calculating enemy—or enemies.”

That statement hangs in the air for a moment, and we all stay silent as we consider it. It doesn’t bode well for the princess, nor for any other student.

“Let’s take this one step at a time, Rennie,” Aubrey says as he rises from his chair. “Make sure we have everything we need before nightfall, Henrietta. We may be the only ones who care enough to save your chickenshit hide from what’s coming.”

On that churlish note, we leave the spare Shirdal heir quaking in her chair as we head home.