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Why would a shifter be in their beast on Academy grounds tonight?
“Excuse me, dear,” I said, gaining the attention of the smiling fool. “I need a few minutes to attend to a matter.” I removed his arm from my waist and walked away, uncaring of his reply.
I searched the dancefloor, finding Heidi dancing not at all in the style of the night, grinding against a vampire of Obscurum. Where was Percy? She was not on the dancefloor, and I did not find her amongst those who sat at tables or mingled around the edges of the room. I did find Edward.
“Where is Percy?” I demanded from him. He looked startled, and quickly turned his wide-eyed gaze to around the room.
“Last I saw her, my Royal Highness, she had gone outside,” he said, looking to the door that the smokers and those needing to cool off had opened. It was unbecoming to stand in the field, with the potential to muddy shoes and heels but free from the paparazzi swarming out front.
“How long ago?” I continued. Edward was to watch her and report back to me. He should have informed me the moment she left the ballroom.
“Maybe half an hour ago, Ma’am,” he answered weakly. I growled, unable to hide my anger. He cowered back.
I wanted to punish him, and I would, but Percy was my current concern. I left him as I walked to the door, ignoring those that tried to gain my attention.
Outside Percy was not to be found.
Had she gone home? Walked back alone? There was a shifter in their beast somewhere out there.
A few nobles looked curiously in the direction of the Academy’s main academic building, and I heard their whispered questions asking if the others heard the same.
“Selene,” I was turned by Oskar’s hand on my elbow before I could continue my search. I hissed, infuriated at his interruption.
“Remove your hand from me, Oskar or I will break every bone in it,” I told him.
“Where are you going?” he demanded, not releasing his hold.
“To find Percy.”
“You’re going to leave me here alone, having to make excuses as to why my fiancée has disappeared?” he whispered angrily, pulling me closer.
I had, had enough.
I took him from my elbow and squeezed the offending hand. A part of my growing distress eased as I listened to his bones crushing under the pressure of my grip.
He began to howl in pain briefly before schooling his features.
“Tell them whatever you like,” I told him in a low hiss, aware that those nearby could potentially hear our conversation. “But know this, Oskar, dear, if you ever attempt to manhandle me again, I will remove your manhood.” I released his misshapen hand from my grasp. He would heal quickly but would not soon forget the pain and humiliation.
I made my way rapidly to the Academy’s main school. There was the smell of beast shifter, pungent and revolting - I could never stand it. There was also the hint of Percy. She had passed by recently.
When I reached the grove, my stomach twisted. Her delicious scent was stronger, her blood had been spilled, and the rotting smell of beast was so overpowering I could not determine where Percy’s scent was coming from. I knew there was a shifter in the grove - low, barely audible whines emanated from deeper within.
I moved cautiously, searching for Percy as I drew closer to the source of whining.
There lay on the ground, only half shifted, was the Viridis mutt.
His face was mangled, nose out of shape and teeth puncturing through his lower lip. Blood pooled around his head. One of his legs was not humanoid, somewhere between man and wolf. His chest cavity was hollow and large, and the fingers of his hands swollen, claws half protruding from where his nails should have been.
What had happened here?
Where was Percy?
I lifted his head from the ground by his hair. He looked at me with recognition and whined lowly again. He was conscious. Good.
“Where is Percy?” I demanded. He tried to speak, his throat gurgling and spit and blood drooling from the corner of his mouth. I shook him roughly.
“Where is Percy?” I demanded again. Someone had done this to him. Percy had been here. Her blood had already dissipated from the air, no longer detectable to my senses, but she had been there. This mutt would tell me what happened.
