“Nick?”
“I’m still here, Sir.”
“I’ll be there in five minutes. I’m bringing backup.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
Well, at least using his privilege had paid off, even if it did set bigger things in motion. One thing was for sure, although she would be traumatised by what she was about to be told to do, Melody wouldn’t actually be forced to go through with it.
27. Melody
Someone pounded at the cottage door, making her jump. It was almost time to leave for breakfast and classes. Nick had disappeared earlier and had yet to return. He’d muttered something about handing over the wards to the witches, although Melody thought it would have to wait until a new provost had been chosen.
The whole academy was abuzz with rumour over who it might be.
So, what could possibly be going on now?
Trent stepped in front of her when she moved toward the door, and Asher dashed over to open it instead, neatly catching the witch as he raised his fist to bang on the door again.
“The new provost orders you to come to the arena,” the man said, looking around the cottage with curious eyes.
Trent stepped up beside Asher, effectively blocking the stranger’s view. “Thank you,” he said, calmly. “We’ll be along presently.”
“I’m sorry, she said right now, I’m to stay here and wait, and if necessary,” he paused and swallowed. “Please don’t kill me, she said I was to tell you if the girl resisted—”
The two shifters in front of him growled, and the witch paled.
“What. Did. She. Say?” Asher asked between clenched teeth.
“— She said if it was necessary, I was to grab the ungrateful slut by the scruff of her neck and bring her to the arena where she would learn her rightful place.”
Melody gasped. It was like hearing her aunt speak. It was exactly the kind of thing Aunt Georgia would have said.
Dean walked over to her, wrapping her in his arms, and Oz and Ryan leapt to their feet, snarling.
“Goddess, please?” the witch said.
Melody noted a small puddle forming at his feet.
“For goodness sake, don’t shoot the messenger. It’s not his fault. You’re terrifying him.”
Melody sent out a lick of her magic, drying his clothing. She might not have been able to remove the smell, but she could at least make him presentable from a distance.
“Thank you,” he said hoarsely, still staring wide-eyed at the growling shifters in front of him.
The poor man gave a high pitched squeal when there was a thump behind him, announcing Justin’s arrival.
“What’s going on? Nick said I had to come to you, to protect you,” he asked, shoving the hapless witch out of the way.
“I’ve been summoned to the arena by the new provost,” Melody said. “Apparently I’m to be taught my true place.”
Justin snarled, turning on the man sprawled beside him. “And this thing?”
“Is the messenger, ordered to make sure I comply. Don’t take it out on him. Let’s just go see what she wants.”
Justin’s eyes glazed for a moment, and he nodded. When his gaze cleared, he looked directly at her. “Nick said to come to the arena. He’s put protections in place. He said to tell you, ‘No matter what the bitch commands, don’t be afraid. He won’t let your freedom be taken from you again.’”
Dread pooled in her stomach. Just what did that mean?
The only way to find out what the latest threat was, was to go there and hear the woman out. Melody grabbed her coat and swung it on, weaving her way between the shifters watching her. On the porch, she turned to face them.
“We still need protection on the cottage ...” she started to say, but they all growled.
“If you think any of us are staying behind when you could be in danger, think again. These are material things, which mean nothing in comparison to your safety,” Trent growled. His amber eyes glowed with his kitsune’s presence.
Melody sighed. After what had gone down last time at the arena, he had a point.
She shrugged and led the way, the others, including the hapless witch, falling in behind her.
When they got close, the men crowded around her, Asher and Trent taking the fore, while Dean remained on her left, leaving her right hand free to defend herself if necessary. Ryan, Oz came behind her, and then Justin and the messenger. It was quite the procession as they took the shortest route through the central hub of buildings, many students pausing to observe their progress.
Hushed whispers surrounded them, and with a sense of dread, Melody knew that they were being followed. Even as they walked, small hexes pinged against the hastily built ward she threw around them all. Quickly, Justin added his own to hers, and they ignored the threats and growing murmurs as they headed for the arena.
Nick stood next to a woman and a man she had never seen before. Presumably the new provost and her familiar.
The woman was shorter than Nick, although by no means as short as Mrs Hardinger. The counsellor stood off to the side, frowning. It was nothing to match the scowl on the new provost’s face.
“You took your time getting here,” the provost said. “When I tell you to come immediately, I expect you to do so. Who are all these people?”
“With respect, Provost, my cottage is on the other side of the campus, your messenger will verify that we came immediately. As for the people, I can only speak for the shifters around me. These are my familiars, Dean, Asher and Trent. The others are the members of the Apex.”
“And behind you?” the woman snarled.
Melody looked over her shoulder. Sure enough, at least half the campus had turned out to gawk. She shrugged, turning back around.
“They’re students who followed us. We spent the whole time defending against hexes which might have slowed us down
