Dirty Little Secret

dirty little secret

“ H elp me get him to my office, if you will, Dean.” Zuzanne walks over and puts one arm under the pale hockey player. “Beatrice, if you will call Ignatius and light a fire under him in case this is magical, it would help immensely.”

I walk over and give Lucas my arm, biting my tongue when a jolt of energy crawls up my arm when our skin touches. His eyes fly to mine, but he says nothing. I don’t know why he’s here, but suddenly, I’m very glad whatever is happening to him has picked the perfect location to manifest. He leans heavily on the two of us as we work to get the big bear shifter to the office. I’m glad Zuzanne is at least as strong as I am, because I’m not sure we would have made it otherwise. Once we get there, we dump him on the small couch under her windows and he sprawls out on his back.

“His breathing is heavy,” I whisper. My hand comes to my chest and I rub it unconsciously as fear slices through me. Lucas seems to be getting rapidly worse and I have absolutely no idea what to do. Not only is he a student damn near collapse, he’s also the grandchild of a Society member and a guy I let get too close the other night. All of those worries are flying around in my head as I stare at the prone form in front of me.

How much worse can I screw up this job before they toss me in jail instead?

Of course, that’s not the reason I’m panicking, even if I want to pretend that it is. In reality, I’d come to this building to have a serious conversation with Professor Shadwell about my encounter with Lucas last night, even if I didn’t tell her my questions applied directly to me. What she told me was concerning enough, but now I have the subject of my research laying on a couch looking like death warmed over. As if he can hear my thoughts, Lucas opens his eyes and gives me a sheepish expression. His posture is so haggard that I can’t stop myself from grabbing a chair and dragging it over next to him.

“Morgana, if you could ask him a few questions about his day while I grab some supplies from the closet?” Zuzanne’s request pulls me away from blue eyes, and I nod. She bustles out the door, leaving us alone for the first time since our tryst.

Lifting my hand, I push sweaty strands of hair off of his face gently. “So… tell me where you’ve been today. It’s important, I guess.”

His eyes close as he murmurs, “I shouldn’t have left.”

Not the time, my guy.

“Lucas, we can get into that later. Zuzanne wants to know your whereabouts and activities. You appear unwell. Let’s address one issue at a time. I promise we will talk once you’re well.”

That seems to help him focus, and he coughs, then nods. “Okay. I got up and had breakfast at my house. Then I went to practice. Coach talked to me for a bit afterward and then I came here. I haven’t done much, honestly.”

“Why did Coach Driftwood need to talk to you?” I ask curiously.

“The team is not gelling due to the incident in the locker room. Typical ‘be a leader’ shit,” he mumbles before a shiver runs over him. “Damn. I never get cold.”

I can’t help it; I snort. Of course he doesn’t; he’s a fucking polar bear! “Well, you seem very ill, and it might be related to that. If you ate at home and didn’t go anywhere but the rink, I don’t think it’s something slipped in your food.”

“Where was your water bottle, boy? Left unattended on the sidelines?” Zuzanne returns with a disapproving expression. “If so, it could have been dosed anytime. Now, why is it a bit more complex, hmm?”

My mouth drops open and I look up at her as she brings over a bunch of medical equipment. “You think someone poisoned him?”

“Perhaps. It could be some sort of hex or enchantment as well, but I’m not taking any chances with Fraü Wolfenberg’s favorite grandson.” Her expression is fierce and I wonder if she knows Lucas’s grandmother or is just aware of who he is. “So we’re going to assume it could be and act accordingly. That’s why I had Beatrice call Iggy.”

Iggy? Like Slade’s Iggy? Fuck me.

“Lucas, why would someone target you in this way?” My brow furrows as I consider it, and I can feel him squeezing my hand. I don’t want to admit how good it feels, so I keep my reaction to myself.

He shrugs the other shoulder. “Take your pick, Dean. LaMount’s murder, my spot on the team, something to do with Nana, some bullshit my parents pulled, or maybe even… something to do with my personal life.”

Horror washes over me as I realize he means someone might know about our night together and took it out on him. Many on campus hate me; they could punish me for moving on from Magnus. It wouldn’t matter that he’s dead—by my hand—if it was one of his secret lovers that is lurking around this place like land mines.

“Oh, shit,” I whisper to myself. “It’s my fault.”

“Don’t be ridiculous!” Zuzanne booms as she takes a band and ties off the top of his arm so she can find a vein. “You can’t be everywhere, Morgana. Luckily, the boy was nearby and I can help avert the crisis. His numerous enemies could be to blame. After patching him up, we’ll find the fool responsible.”

“We?”

She laughs as he winces when she slides the needle in and starts drawing blood. “Well, not you , boy. The Dean, campus security, myself, and likely Iggy. Whether it’s magic or science, we’ll have to keep this in-house or your grandmother will yank you out of here so fast your head will spin. I assume you don’t want that, right?”

“Uh, no, ma’am,” he mumbles and his hand grips mine tighter. “That’s not what I want.”

“But we’ll have to tell that Detective,” I start and she shakes her head.

“Absolutely not! I highly doubt they have anyone skilled enough to do what Iggy and I can once we have the right ingredients. Plus, he’ll definitely rat this boy out to his lawyer and his Nana.” Her grin is smug, but I can feel the determination wafting off of her.

Professor Zuzanne Shadwell is a force of nature. I’m glad she’s on my side right now.

By the time Zuzanne finished taking samples from Lucas, he looked exhausted. It was hard to watch him shrink from the larger than life, brash alpha to a pale, weak shifter sweating it up on this tiny couch. It definitely wasn’t made for a guy with his size and bulk, but he hasn’t complained once. In fact, all he’s doing is answering questions in a gravelly voice and holding onto my hand like it’s a lifeline. That scares me, but I keep my fears to myself until we have more information.

Could it be that someone knows about us? Or is Occam’s Razor more likely—the simplest explanation is usually the right one.

“You said the guys were standoffish at practice?”

He nods a little. “Everyone was on edge, but no one was rougher than normal. It’s not like I felt like any of them were gunning for me. I doubt its jealousy.”

His admission doesn’t help me because it solidifies his illness was less likely a nasty prank and more likely a targeted attempt to harm him. I don’t know if that’s because of me, his family, or the fucking dead player, but that’s because Professor Ignatius hasn’t trucked his ass here yet. At least if we can eliminate magic, it might shed some light on what’s going on. But apparently, an urgent call from Beatrice didn’t clarify that he was needed post haste.

I’ll discuss his lack of professionalism with him later and he won’t enjoy the conversation.

The man in question enters hurriedly with an old doctor’s bag. He gives me a charming smile, then nods at Zuzanne. “Well, well. What do we have here?”

My gaze swivels to the mischievous look on his face, and anger fills me. “We have an incapacitated student and a professor who clearly didn’t feel an urgent request was worth complying with.”

Putting his hand to his chest, Iggy sighs. “You wound me, Morgana. I actually rushed, but I had to stop by my place to pick up a few things in order to test for various causes. Unlike you, my dear, I cannot take to the skies to get places faster.”

“Hate… magic… assholes…” Lucas grunts, and I snort.

We agree on that.

“Despite your feelings, man, you’ll have to allow me to check you out. I’m sure Zuzanne would like to take her samples to the lab while I do so?”

Zuzanne also snorts, looking at Iggy as if she’d like to nut punch him. She gathers her stuff and walks over to the door, addressing him directly. “You can portal jump, Ignatius. I hope you packed better excuses than that in your bag for when the Dean tears you a new one.”

“Portal?” I feel Des move underneath the cover of my normal hair, and I know my temper just rocketed into the stratosphere. I’m going to lose control of the girls if Iggy doesn’t quit acting like a douchebag. “You could have arrived here in seconds.”

Lucas tugs on my hand and gives me a small wink. I tilt my head and he darts his tongue out to lick his lips quickly. I’m not sure if that means he’s figured out I have a hissing problem or if he’s thirsty. One eyebrow quirks, and I turn away so I can smile. Now I know—he either heard or sensed my snakes and is trying to calm me down.

That’s also never happened before. Magnus never, ever saw my snakes or my fangs coming.

“Relax, Morgana. He’ll be okay.” Ignatius clicks his tongue as he pulls things out of his bag and I watch him suspiciously.

Arrogance normally makes me want to smash things, but here I am trapped in between two men who have the market cornered on self-confidence and I’m indulging both of them. Oh, how the gargoyle has turned… I quiet my obnoxious inner voice, knowing I’m only allowing Iggy to behave this way because I’m so damned concerned about Lucas. Of course, I’m letting Lucas behave like this because… well, we’re not going to think about what Zuzanne told me before the polar bear almost passed out in the waiting area. That’s just more bullshit than I can process right now.

“I’m not sure why you expect me to believe that when neither you nor Zuzanne have any proof it’s true yet.”

“Because sometimes you have to have faith, that’s why,” he mutters as he lays a bunch of magical crap on the table. “You should know about that—isn’t your mother a witch?”

“Yes, my adoptive mother is a witch. No, I didn’t inherit any of it, and she never taught me much of anything. I’m hopeless with it and since my dad and I share a species, I focused on that.” I pause and study him for a moment. “Not that I owe you an explanation or the courtesy of using my given name.”

Iggy laughs, and the sound rumbles over me like a caress. “I’d heard you were sassy, and I can’t say I’m disappointed. Is that what you see in her, young shifter?”

Lucas’s eyes pop open and he glares at the professor as if he might just rip his arm off and beat him with it. “Who said I have any opinion on the Dean? I’m just lucky she was here.”

“Oh, yes. I forgot the lovely Morgana flits about campus, holding the hand of every student in need like a teenager. Please forgive my assumption.” He fiddles with his instruments, obviously trying not to laugh at us as he puts together something in a bottle that smells oddly tasty.

My cheeks flush and I grit my teeth, tilting my neck until it cracks loudly. I don’t enjoy being condescended to even if I deserve it and this little shit is going to find that out. Always the troublemaker, Des shoots out from under my raven locks and hisses loud enough to startle the wizard. Lucas covers a laugh with his other hand, turning his head away so he’s not looking at us. The errant snake darts her tongue out and bobs back and forth for a moment before hissing again and I sigh.

“Your sarcasm isn’t helpful, Ignatius. I don’t know what research you’ve done on me, but it must have included my notorious and now felonious temper. Don’t push me—everyone knows I have very little to lose at this point.”

Instead of looking angry, he looks absolutely delighted, and I have no idea why. “It’s been years since I’ve encountered a gorgon. This will be so much fun. And so very helpful if Zuzanne finds different things than I do.”

What? Lucas is already cursed or poisoned—he certainly doesn’t need me to make it worse.

“Start talking, dickhead,” Lucas murmurs, and I nod.

“What he said.”