“You’re pregnant?”
1
Alaric
Dad’s voice grew louder as he used magic to amplify it. The witches and mages sitting in the front row all leaned forward, lapping up his promises to increase our influence in a human-majority world.
Some of the stronger shifter contingent grumbled when he failed to mention Maximus Lightfoot’s role in bringing the humans to the negotiation table last summer, but Dad’s charm spell soon counteracted any discontentment.
I wondered if anyone in the marquee knew he used charms to ensure nobody questioned him. Judging from the happy, relaxed smiles, I guessed not.
The only magical who seemed anything but relaxed was Wilder, the bear shifter. I turned to see him glaring at me. When I raised one eyebrow, his eyes flashed gold and his shoulders bulged.
The bear didn’t like me.
Oh well.
I gave no shits.
It wasn’t as if we were harem mates and needed to get along for the sake of our mate. Thunder rumbled over the marquee at the memory of how I’d hurt her earlier. Despite what I told her, she’d shone so brightly in her designer dress. I wasn’t an idiot. I knew damn well the incubus had gifted it to her.
YSL dresses cost a fortune. Kinara had a closet full of designer dresses from human fashion labels, and she’d paid substantial sums for all of them. The witch loved to show off. Her Magigram was full of photos of her wearing priceless family jewels and designer garments. It was no wonder thieves targeted her family’s home a few weeks back.
They stole her entire collection of diamonds, including the watch her grandmother had gifted her for her magic manifestation ceremony.
I smirked to myself. Brianna had been livid to hear about the burglary. She reasoned that if Regina’s magic couldn’t protect their home from thieves, perhaps she wasn’t the witch for me.
Father had disagreed, of course. Much to my annoyance.
Kinara sat to the left of the dais, her appearance flawless once again after a rogue lightning bolt blasted mud and debris all over her. I caught her glaring at me and turned away.
I scanned the room searching for my witch. A few more stragglers had arrived in the last ten minutes, but there was still no sign of her. Or the incubus.
Where were they?
Raven was not a witch who drew attention to herself. The only time she showed up late for class was when she’d had a run-in with another student. For her to have missed the start of my father’s speech, something important must have happened.
The bear shifter’s gaze burned a hole in the side of my head. When I focused on him, he was busy staring at the exit whilegripping the edge of his seat. Like me, he sensed something was wrong.
A muffled shriek filtered through the thick canvas walls, followed by a roar. Several students sitting to the left sat up straighter, their eyes wide with alarm.
My father glanced at Montgomery, who nodded and muttered something under his breath. Two of the security mages ducked out at the rear of the marquee while Dad continued with his boring-as-fuck speech.
“It is time we magicals took our rightful place in this realm. We’ve been subjugated for too long now. Humans are weaker than us!” Most of the students and several of the faculty cheered and pumped the air. “Humans don’t deserve to have all the power!” More cheers. “We are stronger than they are! Are you ready to join me?”
The mages in the front row all yelled their approval before something hit the side of the marquee with tremendous force.
The magic protection spell kept everyone seated on that side safe, but it was pretty fucking obvious something major was happening outside.
My father grimaced in irritation. “Please remain calm, everyone. Let the security mages deal with this minor issue. You are all perfectly safe in here.”
Several of the parents muttered to each other while the younger students fidgeted in their seats. Dad attempted to restart his speech, but his charm spell had stopped working. People weren’t listening.
More roars and screams came from outside.
I grimaced as a sharp pain stabbed me in the chest. From the bear shifter’s roar, he felt it too.
He leaped from his chair, shoving past Montgomery, who cursed loudly. My father shouted for calm while the mutteringgrew louder. Something was happening. Something my father hadn’t anticipated.
