“That is enough,” snapped the provost. “I will not have your lies or your excuses. Melody, Nick and her bonded shifters may remain. The rest of you are dismissed to your classes. I will hold a formal assembly later today to introduce myself. In the meanwhile, Melody will be helping me with an administrative task.”
There were grumbles, but the other students turned away back to the classrooms. There was no stopping the gawkers peering down from the shifter dormitories though. Whether she liked it or not, there would be witnesses. Melody decided not to point that out.
The Apex, however, did not move.
“Gentlemen,” the provost growled at them. “You were dismissed. If you cannot obey a simple order, then I’ll also have you bound to witches by the end of the day. I will not stand for insubordination from shifters. It seems that my predecessor was far too lenient with the inmates here. Something which I meant to rectify.”
Melody was shocked, but Justin just laughed aloud at her.
“Good fucking luck with that, lady. The only witch in this entire academy capable of bonding any of us, is standing right in front of you. We all have a vested interest in her, so we’ll be staying right here, thanks.”
Melody winced. Whatever was going on, angering the provost even further did not seem like a wise course of action.
“Janet,” the provost said, whirling to face Mrs Hardinger. “Just what kind of shenanigans did you and that woman allow here? How is it that not one, but two of your Apex shifters think they have the right to speak to me like that, and the remainder of your much lauded little club there, feel that they have the right to defy a direct order from the head of the academy.”
Melody looked at Nick in shock, but he just rolled his eyes and shook his head. It’s okay, he mouthed to her. Then looked pointedly at Justin, who stepped up to her side.
“Nick says she’s a raving lunatic, and he wants to warn you that she’s going to try to force you to bond him. He says not to worry, he won’t challenge you, and he’s got a powerful ally cloaked nearby,” Justin murmured quietly to her, over the growing argument between the provost and Mrs Hardinger.
“Then if you can’t control the shifters here, I will need to find someone who can. You may consider your services terminated. I expect you to be off the grounds within twenty-four hours. You may portal your tattered belongings wherever you wish, the wards do not prevent people from portalling out yet. It is something I will remedy by this time tomorrow, so I suggest that you move quickly.”
Melody gaped, while around her, the shifters growled. Mrs Hardinger was much loved by students and staff alike, and it would not go well if she were to be removed from the academy. The provost was making a huge mistake.
“Melody,” the provost said, spinning back and pinning her with a gaze, her features pulled tight in anger. “There is a clause in the shifter accords that states when a shifter is deemed mentally unbalanced, impaired or damaged, that it is in the best interests of all to ensure that they are bonded by a strong witch who can control them. This prevents them from doing harm to themselves or others.”
Melody nodded, it was an ancient tenet rarely invoked, but she had heard of it.
“Nicholas is showing clear signs of mental deficiency. He claims to be over almost a thousand years old, present for the Archenine wars and a signatory on the accords of 1487.” The woman clucked her tongue and shook her head sadly. “Obviously he has sustained some previously unnoticed head injury or illness and needs to be taken into hand before he hurts himself or someone else.”
Melody couldn’t believe her ears.
“Under the power vested in me as Provost of this academy, and given that you are the only witch capable of doing so, I order you to accept his challenge and bond him, on pain of expulsion.”
“Forgive me, Provost, but Nick’s claims are true. He and Justin are pretty ancient.” She shot Nick an apologetic look. “If he says he was there, then he was there. He’s a dragon. They live for thousands of years.”
“Melody, you’ve had a very sheltered life and very limited education. I understand that you are powerful, but it does not give you the right to assume that you know more than your betters. Nick will challenge you, and you will bond him, or be expelled from the school alongside him.”
That caught her full attention. It was one thing for her to be expelled, something told Melody that her chances of graduating under the new provost were slim to none. But risking Nick’s future? That was cruel.
“Provost, we both know that I graduated a long time ago. I’m more qualified than half the teachers with my extraneous studies. Expelling me poses no threat,” Nick growled at her. “It is also against witching law, nevermind the agreements made in the accords, to coerce a witch into bonding a shifter.”
“I think you will find that the law will fall on my side, young man. You pose a threat to everyone at the academy and must be dealt with. If Melody refuses to accede to the demands made upon her, then she is putting the wellbeing of the college at risk and should thus be expelled. It is not a threat, Nicholas, it is a fact.”
Melody seethed. She knew what was coming next. It still made her blood boil when it happened.
“Nicholas, by the powers vested in me as Provost of this academy, I command you to challenge Melody.”
“Or what?” Nick ground out.
“Or I will expel you both, of course,” the provost replied tartly.
“You will punish a witch for what I fail to do?” Nick asked, quietly.
“I will do whatever
