Page 102 of Eat. Prey. Love.

“Ah, yes, dear brother Titus,” Felix says with a snarl. “He encouraged dear old dad to kick me out over my refusal. He believed it would earn him the throne, but the Raj was never going to give it up. Now look where he stands—not on the throne and quietly awaiting death on our vengeance list.”

“I’ll help,” I chime in with a wicked grin. “I have a few words for that sneaky motherfucker, too.”

“Too bad we can’t tie any of this to Asani,” Felix muses, his disdain evident. “That tiger’s got a knack for keeping clean, even when he’s knee-deep in the muck, but I guarantee he was part of this plan.”

“His time will come for helping your brother,” I assure my tiger, though my thoughts are already racing ahead to the next move. “For now, we have to focus on clearing my name and taking down those who dared to challenge us.”

“As soon as the badgers arrive, we’re marching over to Midori’s office to show her how stupid she’s been.”

I can definitely get behind that shit.

We marchinto Midori Aung’s office as a united front of indignation and confidence. The gigantic badgers arrived a few minutes before, and together, we all headed straight for this building. It’s time to lay our cards on the table, and hope that it gets this woman to back the hell off. My fingers grip the laptop tighter, the weight of my defense secured in its digital confines.

“Headmistress Aung,” Skelly announces, his voice carrying the authority of Farley himself. “A member of your own tech department and your librarian have assembled information pertaining to this spurious accusation against our client. We are here to present this documentation in the hopes that you will rescind the charges.”

Midori’s gaze is as cold as the scales that sheath her body. “Miss Drew remains a stain upon this institution. I am uncertain that your ‘proof’ will change that,” she hisses, her disdain for me venomous and clear.

What in the hell did I do to this chick? I’d never even met her until yesterday!

“I am hardly a stain on this school. You have much bigger concerns than me if you’re worried about its sterling reputation,” I retort, my lips curling into a smirk.

Goliath steps forward, countering her attack by holding up his tablet. “Records show you’ve been here for only five days since the semester started, Headmistress. You’re hardly qualified to judge her character or contributions.”

Monstro looms beside me, his shadow engulfing the office like a dark promise. The glare he’s giving Midori could peel paint from walls, but he says nothing, his silent intimidation speaking volumes. I have to suppress a grin; even the headmistress seems to shrink back a fraction.

“Even if that were not the case,” Felix says as he gestures to my laptop. “We have a massive amount of evidence that her lawyer can independently verify so it will hold up in court when he files a suit against you, the school, and everyone involved in this defamation. Your house is not clean, Headmistress, and that will certainly come out if this hits a legal proceeding.”

“To be crystal clear, this will be in addition to what he’s already filed,” I add, feeling the smugness rise within me like a triumphant wave. “Carina Rockland has been stalking me since she was assigned to me at Capital Prep and we will absolutely be adding all of this bullshit to that case as well. The plagiarism accusation, defamation, libel, slander, tortious interference, and outright theft she’s already perpetrated will not make her a good witness for you.”

Renard smirks. “You should probably letma petiteout of those useless sessions before the badgers think of something else to add to your docket.”

The slimy anaconda shifter doesn’t flinch; no, she simply shrugs. “I cannot overturn the previous school’s recommendation for counseling. Her mother even signed off on the requirement. It’s non-negotiable,” she states flatly.

Every. Fucking. Time.

My blood boils, the urge to lash out nearly unbearable, but before I can speak, Aubrey steps in smoothly. “Lucille Drew publicly disowned Dolly,” he reminds her, his voice calm but firm. “She has no claim to her as an adult who has been stripped of her spot as heir. Dolly isn’t hers to manage anymore.”

“Be that as it may, it doesn’t negate her ability to demand this of an unmarried child,” Midori replies with a dismissive flick of her tongue, “I will inform Lucille of the progress on the plagiarism case once I have reviewed your evidence. For now, Miss Drew will remain atl’Academie, pending further investigation.”

“Keep in mind,” Renard interjects, his tone silky and dangerous, “any form of retaliation following this meeting will reflect directly upon you, Headmistress. Rockland’s personal vendetta is becoming quite conspicuous, and if she takes this out on our mate, we will return with less pleasant methods of negotiation.”

Her eyes narrow, but she gives nothing away. I’m left standing there, seething silently, my friends’ support a small comfort against the ties that bind me. The fight isn’t over, but today’s battle has been waged with precision.

Fitz takes my arm, jerking his head at the others. I can tell he’s ready to tear the bitch to pieces, so I follow him without another word. Once we leave, I slam the door to her office behind me with a force that ripples through the hallway.

“I want to murder them all,” I seethe as I look at the crazy tiger next to me.

“I’m in,” he replies, shrugging. “What the fuck do I care if it upsets the balance? Baby Girl always gets what she wants, that’s my policy.”

“No,” Felix says with a grimace. “We can’t be rash. You both know that.”

Aubrey blows a couple smoke rings that drift towards us and I turn to give him a grateful look. “It’s hard to let them talk us out of violence, huh, big guy?”

He scoffs as we leave the building, his voice full of derision. “It is hard to accept that such an ignorant pred is in charge of educating our young. Keeping from frying her is almost impossible.”

The library looms ahead as we walk, but it feels like another cage today. My gang flanks me, a pack of solidarity in a world where logic and reason have taken a backseat to power plays. I despise these kinds of games and I hate the people forcing me to play them to survive.

“This had better be the end of this shit,” I mutter under my breath as we round the building to go to our back entrance. “I have too much work to do before the end of the semester.”

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