Chapter 44

[ 1,255 words ]

There is no such thing as a small choice during dangerous times.

~ Rebel Beast

They had lost two more students while the healer battled to save another. Then there was the issue of their chaperone being dead too.

Yeah. This just kept getting better and better.

“We cannot keep the girls here anymore,” Dimitri commented, looking around the residence and taking note of just how easy it had been to breach the building.

Maverick’s head snapped toward him.

“What do you mean by that p>

Dimitri lifted a brow. “Don’t tell me you haven’t been thinking about it too, Maverick p>

Maverick let out a growl of annoyance. Just because he had thought about it didn’t mean he was going to act on it. The government had been the ones foolish enough to bring the humans here. It was their responsibility to keep them alive. No one was dumping that burden on him.

At least that was what Maverick stubbornly kept telling himself. Inwardly, however, his conscience warred with him.

The girls wouldn’t survive the week. That much was obvious. Including Aria.

Fuck off.

Maverick smothered that particular thought until it became nothing more than background noise.

“And what exactly do you suggest I do?” His voice came out hard and gritty.

Dimitri gave him a knowing look.

“You know exactly what I’m suggesting p>

“Oh hell no,” Maverick cursed immediately. “That’s not happening p>

But Dimitri pressed on. “Therion House is the safest place for them right now p>

“They are still beasts!” Maverick argued.

“Beasts who listen to your command,” Dimitri shot back. “They may not all be wolves, but they still look to you for leadership. Whether they like it or not, they acknowledge you as their Alpha p>

“This is not my business!” Maverick roared, frustration finally boiling over. “I shouldn’t care p>

“Yes, you shouldn’t care, yet somehow you do because that’s who you are, Maverick Nightshade!” Dimitri fired back with equal intensity.

For a second, the two men simply stared at each other. The tension between them crackled.

Then Dimitri sighed and calmed down a little.

“You’re the firstborn son,” he continued. “You should be learning how to rule your father’s pack and preparing for the responsibilities waiting for you. Instead, you’re here as a teacher in some academy p>

Maverick’s jaw tightened, fighting back the emotions that threatened to show.

Dimitri did not stop.

“You didn’t come because you lacked better opportunities. You came because you wanted to ease the burden on your mother. Because every time someone blames Violet Purple for tearing down the barrier, you take it personally p>

Maverick Nightshade’s eyes flashed at that.

Dimitri was right. There wasn’t a day that went by in Novara without someone blaming his mother Violet Purple for what happened. She brought the beasts into human lands. At least that was what people liked to say.

It had broken his mother’s heart when he volunteered to come to Bestiaris. It wasn’t his responsibility, she had told him. But how could he stand aside when he could actually do something?

Being an Alpha didn’t necessarily mean leading a pack. He was leading one here too. Sure, this place sucked, but it had its moments. Dare he admit it, he had even begun enjoying the job a little.

Well. Until the humans arrived.

Maverick opened his mouth to speak when he felt a subtle shift in the air and his gaze snapped toward the open door.

Dimitri noticed. “What is it p>

“Someone wants to court death,” Maverick growled.

He stepped outside the residence and, just as he had sensed, found Rhydian Drakhar standing in the middle of the front lawn.

The bastard. What was he doing here? After what had happened, how dare he show his face at the residence?

Maverick wasn’t the only one thinking it.

Every member of the patrol team had gotten to their feet. Low growls rumbled through the air as hostile gazes locked onto the dragon prince.

Rhydian knew he was taking a stupid risk by coming here. One that could very well end with him being torn apart by a group of angry Therion beasts. Yet he had come anyway. He just needed to know. But know what precisely?

His gaze swept over the injured patrol members. The crows had gotten them good. Blood stained their uniforms and several bore fresh wounds. Under normal circumstances, Rhydian would have been impressed by the effectiveness of the attack.

Except this mission had never been approved by him. Therion needed to know that She needed to know that too.

“I did not come here to fight,” Rhydian announced, noticing the way the wolves, bears, and badger shifters had begun circling him like predators searching for the perfect place to sink their teeth.

“You should’ve thought of that before drawing first blood,” Mike snarled, exposing razor sharp teeth.

While House Therion remained neutral in the conflict between Aetheris and Ophidian, that neutrality only lasted as long as nobody provoked them.

In fact, both sides treated Therion with extreme caution. One change of allegiance from Therion could shift the entire balance of power overnight.

If Therion sided with Aetheris, Ophidian would find itself severely outmatched. If Therion sided with Ophidian, then Aetheris would have a problem on its hands. Neither side could afford to make an enemy of them.

Right now, however, things were not looking good for Aetheris.

Rhydian Drakhar was powerful, but he was still one dragon standing against six very angry predators. Even if he somehow won, he would be leaving with enough injuries to keep the healer busy for days. That was assuming Maverick Nightshade chose not to get involved.

“I did not know about this attack,” Rhydian said firmly. “I did not approve it. The crows acted on their own p>

He hoped that would be enough. It wasn’t.

Maverick strode toward him.

“Your orders or not, you’re still responsible,” he said coldly. “You’re the leader of House Aetheris. When your house draws blood, the consequences belong to you.” The words settled heavily between them.

Maverick’s gaze swept over the patrol team. The beasts were beginning to close in. Apparently they had mistaken his approach as permission to attack.

“Back off.” He ordered.

Nobody moved. If anything, they looked ready to lunge.

Maverick’s face darkened. “I won’t say it twice.” The Alpha command in his voice rolled across the lawn like thunder.

“Back. Off. Now p>

Just like that, every beast slowly retreated because they had no choice. The hisses and murderous glares directed at Rhydian made it very clear this conversation was far from over.

Rhydian remained where he was. If anything, a strange sense of awareness suddenly washed over him. His gaze lifted toward one of the upper windows of the residence where several figures were pressed against the glass watching the confrontation unfold.

There he saw her. Even with three other faces crowding the window beside her, he picked her out immediately. Strangely, the tight feeling in his chest loosened.

She was alive. Thank the goddess.

Actually, wait a minute. Why did it matter whether she was alive?

Oh right.

So she could die by his hand when the time was right.

Maverick followed the direction of his gaze, and his eyes narrowed the moment he realized exactly who Rhydian was looking at. A strange sound rumbled in his throat before he could stop it. Then he stepped directly in front of the dragon prince, blocking his view.

Rhydian’s brows furrowed. What exactly was his problem?

“What do you want, Rhydian Drakhar?” Maverick demanded.

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