Chapter 14

14

The air grew thick suddenly, coagulating in my throat until I choked.

Well, at least it wasn’t me who’d found him this time, I thought nastily, and guilt rose instantly. My body count was already too damn high, and if I’d nabbed another one, the detective would never let me live it down.

“Don’t look,” Mike ordered, reaching out to turn me in the opposite direction, his hands firm on my arms to keep me in place.

It didn’t matter now. I didn’t need to look. I’d already seen enough. The entire lower half of Professor Reeds’ body had been torn off, and crimson pooled around his upper torso and arms. Shredded skin. His skin and muscles had been flayed, and his internal organs were either popped open or missing.

Which accounted for the smell, and I heard several of the other students gagging, slapping hands over their mouths. Someone was still screaming.

I knew this kind of kill intimately, because not only had I seen it, I’d engaged in the same. Not humans. Never humans, or anything with a mouth to talk back to me. But deer in the forest during my full-moon shift? Yes. A rite of passage to the elders in the pack. I’d wanted my Uncle Will to be proud of me and I’d stalked through the darkest hours until I brought down a trophy buck.

This kill? This kill was classic wolf. Classic shifter.

My teeth were on edge.

I shook my head and Mike took it as a sign of my distress, molding me to his chest and wrapping me up in his arms. “Hey, it’s okay. It’s going to be fine,” he soothed. “Just don’t look.”

This couldn’t be happening again.

“I could say the same to you,” I murmured against his shirt.

The Fae were notorious shifter haters. I’d done my hardest to keep myself from being discovered because it would mean immediate expulsion if I were ever found out. And expulsion would mean being catapulted right into my fated mate’s arms.

So how did shifters keep showing up at the academy when they weren’t allowed? Were not simply disliked but actively loathed? How? And why? I didn’t understand. There were clues piling up, evidence to be examined, but none of it made sense. Someone was killing people, and this recent body confirmed the killer to be a shifter.

Something wolfish was clearly happening. Faeries didn’t eat people. Someone should call Detective Wilson.

Terror snaked through me, manifesting as a numbing cold. A clammy chill stretching past my skin and into my bones. I drew the collar of my jacket higher and stayed close to Mike, holding onto his waist and looking at the floor instead of the body. My imagination tried to paint a lovely picture of Mike whisking me away and kissing me senseless to help me forget this tragedy.

The continued screams snapped that image immediately. Great.

Why had the murder happened while I’d been poking around the exchange student corridor? I knew it was a fresh kill. I didn’t need to look closer to know that.

There were students crying hysterically. They bawled and screamed and some walked off to throw up. I didn’t blame them. I was used to the kill, yet still this bothered me, not only because I’d just seen Professor Reeds but because the killer had been here. Right here. Might even still be here.

We’d taken care of Roman. Now we faced another killer. Who would it be this time? Another friend we’d have to reassess as an enemy? Or was it someone not on campus, sneaking in and somehow eluding the various spells and wards?

“Come on,” Mike urged. “Let’s get out of here. There’s nothing we can do.” His hand rubbed a circle on my back.

I remembered Wilson’s advice to run if I came across another murder. But how could I? Especially when I knew in my bones this was the work of a shifter.

“I think I’ll stick around. We were close by when it happened. Once the cops arrive, I figure we’re going to get questioned anyway. People saw us here,” I said. “You’re not exactly inconspicuous.” Neither was I with my red hair, but whatever.

Mike nodded, tall enough he could rest his chin on my head if he wanted to. He did not. “You’re right. Still…we don’t have to stand quite so close to the guy.”

It was only a matter of time before Headmaster Leaves arrived, storming down the hallway, and his sound of surprise and dismay was enough to give me a headache. The cops were called and it didn’t take long for them to get here, either.

Luckily, for me anyway, Detective Wilson led the brigade, making sure he didn’t meet my eyes as he and his fellow policemen covered the body and cordoned off the crime scene.

It wouldn’t look good for either of us if he showed me any special treatment. He barked out orders to coworker and student alike, telling us not to go anywhere. Like I didn’t know already.

The two of us now sat side by side in the hallway with the wall pressed to our backs and our arms touching. Wilson walked along the corridor as if he owned it. Others might think his swagger nothing but arrogance. It was, to a certain extent. Most shifters thought rather highly of themselves as a general rule, but a big head only accounted for a fraction of the energy Wilson put off. He was confident in himself and his ability to close this case. Each move he made around the crime scene contained a certain intelligent efficiency. Decisive. Dedicated. If anyone stood in his way, he didn’t have the slightest problem with pushing them right out of it again.

Had he found something this time?

The students sensed it, not knowing his status as werewolf, and rallied behind his fellow officers to do what was necessary. Part of Wilson’s gift, I mused. He could walk into a room of hysterical victims and get them to spill their secrets in seconds. He was dangerous.

And I knew I could trust him.

“He’s the same man who headed the last investigation, isn’t he?” Mike asked, jerking his head toward Wilson and his crew.

“Yes, he is the same one,” I agreed with Mike.

Neither one of us mentioned Roman.

“He’ll do a good job, then.”

“I’m sure he will. He’s used to these kinds of things.”

Mike turned to face me. “These kinds of things?”

I had spilled the beans about finding the last body, the Canadian chaperone, yet hadn’t told Mike about talking to Wilson.

“Well, yeah. Murders.” What had Mike expected me to say? “He’s a detective for a reason.”

Mike’s expression softened. “Oh. Right, of course.”

This was a screwed-up night. Full of unpredictable magic and riddled with mysteries going nowhere. No answers to be found. I felt like my life had gone out of control, like some kind of mutated growth inside a body, and there were no solutions in sight.

Luckily Mike wasn’t prone to hysteria. He wouldn’t let me go too far without reeling me back in. “What do you think happened?” he asked.

“I’m not sure,” I said. “But I think it has something to do with the lady I found weeks ago. And with the exchange students.”

Mike rubbed his jaw. “Why would you think the exchange students are involved?”

“Because it happened so close to their rooms. I mean, it’s just an observation. An opinion.”

“A good place to start,” he agreed.

I flipped the ring around and around my finger. It had brought me not to the Augundae Imperium, but to Mike. Would we have gotten a chance to continue our awkward conversation if someone had not screamed and interrupted us?

No clue. And now wasn’t the time or the place to figure it out.

“Did you see all the blood?” Mike continued, and turned a shade paler.

I let out a small chuckle. “Don’t tell me you’re the type to go weak at the knees at a little cut.”

“Tavi, what we saw went way beyond a little cut. I’m glad we weren’t alone, really.” He bared his teeth at me, grimacing. “It helps having someone to lean on.”

He rubbed my elbow with his own in an attempt to get me to grin. But I glanced to the left at the sound of approaching footsteps. A bunch of exchange students on their way back to their dorms. I recognized the four whom I’d met in homeroom and waved to them.

From the looks on their faces, they already knew what was going on. Or they’d heard. They came over and Zinnia was the one who spoke first.

“How are you, Tavi?” she asked softly.

We stood up to greet them, but I didn’t have anything good to say, pursing my lips instead. “I’ve been better. How about you? Are you hanging in there?”

She glanced toward the line of policemen and groaned. “Yeah. I understand how you feel. This is unprecedented, no?”

Mike and I shared a look. “Well…” I began.

“What, you’re saying this sort of thing normally happens here?” Saffron interjected.

He’d meant it as a joke, clearly. But Mike and I could only look at each other until he finally said, “Actually, it does. You would be surprised.”

“You’re kidding, right? What has happened before?” Saffron asked.

Mike hit him with a cold stare. Probably good practice for future political dealings. “It’s private business.”

I elbowed him in the side. “I’m sure it’s common enough knowledge. We had a shifter stalking the halls and taking out competition. Top students. He was caught.” I didn’t say by whom. Not wanting to change the way Zinnia looked at me like I was someone she trusted.

Zinnia and Saffron stayed behind to talk to us while their two friends made their way into the dorms. “Ah, yes. We did hear about a former student responsible for the murders. Terrible things. Terrible tragedies. Yes?”

Mike tensed and I answered for him. “Yes. I can’t speak for everyone but we can only hope this matter comes to an end quickly.”

“What have you all been doing? To keep busy? We haven’t seen you sitting in on any of our classes,” Mike said.

Good way to redirect the focus away from sensitive subjects.

“We have outlets,” Saffron answered for their group. “And since we have no need to sit in on the classes, we haven’t been. We take plenty of walks around your beautiful property.”

“We’ve also made frequent use of your library and game room.” Zinnia smiled sadly.

I didn’t even know the school had a game room.

“It’s good you’re keeping busy. I’m sure it can get pretty boring staying in your rooms all the time.”

Was there any way for me to slyly steer this conversation toward the Augundae Imperium? Would Saffron or Zinnia have any idea about the artifact, anyway?

“Your professors do not have time to run a nursery and babysit us,” Saffron said as an explanation.

“We’ve had to make our own entertainment. Which is absolutely fine,” Zinnia hurried to say. “We are used to it. There isn’t much to do at our school, either, especially not in the winter. Although these terrible tragedies are doing nothing to help along anyone’s spirits.”

Mike spoke in a patient and measured tone. “It’s good you’re staying safe.”

“We’re certainly trying.”

Ah, now I understood his look. He’d been trying to feel them out as well. I wondered what he’d picked up on, and whether it was the same as the tiny details I stored away for later. The way they clustered together. The way everyone but Zinnia refused to make eye contact. The slight sheen of sweat on Saffron’s cheeks despite the chill in the air.

This whole thing was like moving pieces on a chessboard. One move forward and three back. Careful or you might lose your queen.

I worked hard to unclench my teeth and enjoy the fact the four of us were actually talking.

We continued the conversation for a few moments longer until one of their chaperones arrived, barking out something in French I couldn’t follow. A prim woman, she clapped her hands together for attention. It left no room for misinterpretation no matter what language she spoke.

In front of her, one of the students rolled their eyes, and Zinnia and Saffron hung their heads. Their chaperone waited, her arms over her chest, ready for them to follow whatever order she’d given.

“I’m sorry, Tavi,” Zinnia said at last. “Our teachers don’t want us spending time or speaking with you anymore.”

That reinforced what I’d overheard in the library. “I get it. Sure. No need to get involved or make friends because your group is only here temporarily.”

Zinnia worried her bottom lip. “Yes. But they’re saying to avoid all academy students because that’s simpler than saying to avoid—” She stopped abruptly, conscious of the chaperone’s presence and no doubt afraid she’d said too much already, and only pierced me with a look that left nothing open to interpretation.

I stared at her for a full five seconds, making sure my jaw didn’t hang open, before I finally spoke. “Wait…what?”

“I’m sorry. So sorry. Take care.” She waved, a timid gesture, then took off in a rush toward their dorms.

“What was that all about?” Mike asked at their retreating forms. His eyes sparked a bit.

We watched them go, more confused than we were before. “I don’t understand,” I said.

“Clearly they think we did something wrong.”

“Don’t even go there,” I warned.

Why were those chaperones so dead set on keeping their students from mingling with the rest of us? Wasn’t the whole point of their stay here to get to know us? And even worse, from what I’d just witnessed and Zinnia had spilled, it wasn’t just the mingling with academy students they were being cautioned against, but more specifically against mingling with me.

I sighed, leaning back against the wall and allowing Mike to loop an arm over my shoulder. Under normal circumstances I would have enjoyed the contact and the easy way he touched me. My only saving grace tonight was how Mike appeared as shaken as I was.

Could this whole deal have something to do with the Augundae Imperium? Did they somehow know that I was looking for it, determined to take it for my own reasons?

I didn’t know, but I was ready to find out.

Whatever the consequences.