It galled him that he needed a bond to leave, and yet he didn’t regret bonding to Melody one iota. He was pretty sure she was Justin’s mate, although his own dragon had been silent on the matter, the beast was smug to have a bond with her. A deep restlessness that had disturbed them both was finally settled.
There was no shame in bonding a witch. Most of his people did. But to be held captive in an academy until they found their witch was embarrassing. Nick was glad they were the last.
Well, Justin was, because he couldn’t get his shit together. The man was an idiot. Justin’s temper meant that he never had as much control over his dragon as he’d like. It was something that Nick hoped a bond with Melody might ameliorate. But the fool wasn’t going to get it unless he pulled his head out of his ass, and the more he pissed off Melody, the worse his chances got, and the more pissed his dragon became.
Justin’s dragon, once riled, took a long time to settle. The beast was as likely to ruin their chances as Justin himself.
Outside, something brushed up against his wards.
Quickly, Nick sent his magic out, searching around the cottage, finding nothing. Not even a hint of magic.
The oily sensation happened again, this time it felt like it was on the other side of the cottage. Quickly he searched there, but again, there was no sign of beast, being or magic.
Where was it coming from?
Then with a shattering that made his breath hitch in pain, the secret ward he’d put up inside the academy’s wards, broke. When he sent his magic outward, Nick was shocked to discover that there were no wards around the academy at all. Worse, dark figures were pouring over the boundary, and heading straight for their cottage.
Nick opened up the pack link.
GET UP! He yelled in their heads, Melody shot up in the bed beside him with a squeal.
Fuck, he’d forgotten he’d added her to it.
He included Mrs Hardinger in his next broadcast. Nick didn’t dare contact the provost. Besides, if the wards were down, there was a chance she was already dead.
THE WARDS ARE DOWN, THE ACADEMY IS UNDER ATTACK. RING THE BELL, ROUSE THE ACADEMY. THE WARDS ARE DOWN AND WE ARE UNDER ATTACK.
Where? Came Justin’s instant response.
Right beside us, they’re heading straight for our cottage, Nick told them all.
He was hopping on one foot, pulling on his pants and ignoring Melody with all his might as she pulled her nightgown off and dressed.
Thumps came from throughout the cottage, the others hurriedly dressing as well.
By the time he was dressed, the bell in the academy was tolling loudly. Nick could hear panicked shouts from outside. He left off his shirt, drawing his beast to the surface and covering his skin in scales. He only wished he’d had the opportunity to teach that to Melody. As his bonded witch, she would have access to some of his magic. Enough to draw on his own scales as armour, although if he completely shifted, they would be called back to him.
He was proud of her as she threw her curls up in a tight bun and gave him a nod. She was ready. They both knew who was coming for them, and they were ready to deal with her once and for all.
The others joined them as they headed out the front door. Witches stood on the porches of the other cottages, looking around in confusion. Carla appeared out of the throng, Quinn dragging her along, half dressed, fur showing on his torso. He’d also adopted the half shift.
“I figured here was the safest place for her,” Quinn said, when Nick looked at him in surprise.
“They’d probably leave me to die,” Carla muttered.
Nick looked at Quinn in alarm. Was Shawna’s spell still affecting her?
“She’s ashamed. She didn’t want to come here. She remembers everything she did, she doesn’t think Melody will forgive her. Or any of you.”
“Quinn!” snapped Carla.
“Not tonight, witch. Tonight I call the shots. We’ll discuss this later, but I’m not letting you hide because you’re afraid to face up to what happened. I’ve forgiven you, and hopefully with time they will too.”
Nick watched in approval, Carla’s beaten stance and downcast eyes said it all. Quinn needed to take her firmly in hand right then, she didn’t have the wherewithal to stand up for herself. Of course they would forgive her, Nick already had, it wasn’t her doing, it was that bitch Shawna’s. But they didn’t have time for this now.
Two wolves bounded across the space from the classrooms to their cottage, dodging between all the panicking bodies. Oz and Ryan were there.
Where was Justin?
“Listen up, everyone,” Nick roared, and anyone within hearing distance moved closer. “The academy is under attack, we have minutes before they’re here, they’re coming from over there.”
He raised an arm and pointed towards their cottage. The figures he’d felt with his magic were over the far side in the forest, but they were almost upon them.
“Shifters, shift. Move to the fore. Witches, get up on the cabin roofs if you can, stay above the fighting and rain down hell on them. It’s the shifters coming first, their witches are coming far behind. We’ll deal with the beasts, and then you can get down out of sight when the bastards come.”
To his surprise, they all obeyed him without question. There was a drumming on the ground behind them, and several turned, readying to attack in the opposite direction. Fuck!
“Stop, they’re our shifters. The unbonded ones. Don’t attack. The enemy is coming from the opposite direction, they’re the cavalry come to help defend us.”
Witches were now starting to pour out of the spaces between the classroom blocks, Mrs Hardinger at the lead.
One wolf changed direction, sprinting
