Fang And Claw (Nocturne Academy 2)

“I believe in being prepared,” Megan said crisply. “Did Emma get off, all right?”

“She’s fine. I took her to work at the I Scream and drove straight back here, as per the Headmistress’s orders,” Avery said. Headmistress Nightworthy had relaxed her order that our entire Coven had to stay in that weekend when Emma explained to her about needing to work.

I knew that when she missed a shift, her little family—which consisted of only Emma and her mom—suffered for it. They were barely scraping by as it was. If some unknown benefactor hadn’t been paying for Emma’s tuition, she never would have been able to afford the outrageous cost to come to Nocturne Academy.

“Well, why are you hovering up there, Avery? Come down and join us,” Megan said, motioning for him.

“So I can join in your discussion of impending domestic bliss when I’m not likely to ever have any of my own?” Avery made a face. “I don’t think so. Besides, I have someone here who needs to speak to Kaitlyn.”

“Who?” My head jerked up and my heart started pounding.

“Who do you think?” Avery grinned at me and then called up, “It’s all right—come down.”

My heart seemed to catch in my throat as the trap door at the top of the spiral staircase opened and Ari came into sight. He nodded at Avery.

“Thank you for granting me entry.”

“Of course—mi casa es su casa.” Avery made a sweeping gesture of welcome with one hand. “Come on in.”

“Avery, you know he’s not supposed to be here!” Megan’s eyes were wide. “We’re in direct violation of the Headmistress’s orders—we could all be expelled!”

“Or we could keep our mouths shut and let Ari talk to Kaitlyn,” Avery said waspishly. “Since when are you so set on following the rules, Miss Edict-breaker?”

“Oh, all right.” Megan sighed. “I just don’t want us to get into any more trouble than we’re already in.”

I was aware my Coven-mates were speaking, but their conversation was just background noise to me. I only had eyes for Ari as he came down the spiral staircase and came to stand in front of me.

“Please…” He looked at Megan and Griffin and Avery. “Could I have a moment alone to speak to Kaitlyn? What I have to say is for her ears alone.”

I saw the disappointment in Avery’s eyes—he loves juicy details—but they all nodded.

“Of course,” Griffin said diplomatically. “We can retire to another room and I will beat Avery at cards. Again.”

“You never did!” Avery exclaimed. “You cheated—I’m sure of it!”

“Boys…boys…” Megan remonstrated with them as she shot me a wink and followed the still-arguing Griffin and Avery into one of the spare dorm rooms which we had set up as a game room, since we didn’t have anywhere near the number of students down in the Dungeon that the Norm Dorm was built for.

When they were gone, I expected Ari to sit by me on the couch. Instead, he sank to his knee in front of me and took my hands in his.

“Kaitlyn,” he murmured, looking into my eyes.

“Ari,” I whispered. “Did…did you come to say goodbye?”

“No.” He shook his head and a fierce light came into his eyes. “I came to beg you to come with me—come with me to the Sky Lands.”

“What?” I pulled my hands out of his. “But…but Ari, the Headmistress will expel us both! And your parents will hate me!”

“Let them,” he said evenly. “I and my Drake will love and protect and nourish you, Kaitlyn. You don’t need to fear—I swear it.”

I bit my lip.

“But I do fear, Ari,” I admitted softly. “I fear a lot.”

“What?” he asked. “You fear the threat of expulsion? The Headmistress? Meeting my Sire and Mother?”

I feared all of that, but I had a much more immediate danger on my mind.

Over and over, Ari had talked about his Drake choosing me—but choosing me for what? I still didn’t know what he wanted—didn’t understand his intentions in the least.

After all, what could a ten-ton fire-breathing beast want with a girl my size?

I had a sudden, awful thought—a thought about all the old stories about dragons and how it was always the innocent maiden who got sacrificed to appease the beast’s hunger…

“What are you thinking?” Ari demanded, frowning at me. “I cannot see as much of your lovely face as I would like but I can tell when you are unhappy or afraid. Tell me your thoughts, Kaitlyn.”

“I…I was wondering…” I cleared my throat uncomfortably. “In lots of old myths and legends when they have a…a dragon rampaging around and burning up the countryside the people always get together and…”

“And what? Go on.” He made an impatient gesture with one hand.

“And sacrifice a maiden,” I whispered at last. “So I thought maybe your Drake…”

Ari’s eyes grew wide with horror.

“You think that my Drake wants to eat you?” he asked, as though he couldn’t even believe I would think such a thing.