Page 37 of Deadly Alliances

“Ow,” she complained, rubbing her head.

“Oh shit, sorry,” he said with a grimace, grabbing the mop and attempting to prop it back up. Once it was in place, he turned back to the group. “I don’t know how much sway my parents have, but I could probably get them to lend some financial support. I think the more obvious suggestion would be your dad, Ashlyn.”

“Wait, what?” The suggestion was such a shock, I wasn’t sure I’d actually heard him correctly.

“Yeah, he’s the most respected of all the phoenixes,” Brett said.

I shook my head. “No way. My dad is loyal to the military, through and through. The council should be made up of people who have no affiliation to the military.”

Brett shrugged. “I guess you have a point.”

“That would count my parents out, too,” Niko interjected. “They’re not military, but my family have been friends with Draculs for generations. Chances are they’d side with thegeneral.”

“That might be, but they’re a better dragon option than the general himself,” Brett countered.

Niko tipped his head in agreement. “Well, you have a point there. I’ll see what I can accomplish with them. I’ll need to find just the right timing, which will be even more difficult considering how little I get to talk to them.”

“In the meantime, we can keep brainstorming alternatives,” I said, then turned to Leya, giving her an expectant look.

She blanched slightly and fidgeted, still rubbing the spot on her head where the mop handle hit her. “Well, my parents are well-known in the harpy community—you might have seen them on Real Shifter Housewives.” She beamed with pride for a moment, then frowned when no one fed into it and continued. “But the best candidate is Maya Heather. She’s the most respected harpy in the world. That’s why she was chosen to teach here.”

My stomach clenched with doubt and anxiety. “I don’t know about a teacher. How do we know she wouldn’t go straight to Dracul?”

Leya shot me a flat glance. “Are you kidding? She hates what the general’s doing more than anyone else. Do you have any idea how many students she’s had to heal from serious injury in the last week?”

No one answered. We all knew she was right. Some of the people in this room had been among those students.

“Trust me,” Leya said. “I’ll talk to her. Even if she declines the offer, she’ll keep our secret. She doesn’t want anyone hurt by the general.”

I nodded, exchanging a worried glance with Niko, who onlynodded in return.

“Well, that leaves a kitsune,” he said. “Anyone know of a kitsune with powerful parents here?”

Brett straightened, flashing his teeth in an excited smile. “Yes! I have just the person. And she owes me a favor.”

Niko cocked his head at Brett. “How many favors are you owed?”

Brett shrugged. “If I told you, I’d have to kill you.”

Niko and I rolled our eyes in unison.

“Okay, guys. Let’s reconvene tomorrow night.” Niko's deep voice echoed through the supply closet. “Remember to watch your back, and don’t mention anything about what we’re doing here.”

There was a general murmur of agreement before the students started leaving one by one—just in case there was a guard patrolling. Niko and I waited until everyone had left.

“Well, I think that went surprisingly well,” he said, leaning against the door once we were alone.

I scooped my arms around his waist, savoring the feel of his hard muscles under my touch. “As long as we can keep them from biting each other’s heads off, we should be good.”

He chuckled softly, then leaned in to brush his lips over mine.

The kiss was pitifully brief, and I chased his mouth as he pulled away.

“We should get back,” he whispered.

“But I never get to see you,” I cooed with my best pout, tugging at the fabric of his uniform at the base of his spine. “And we’re already here. We should make the best of it.”

He reached behind him and gently took hold of my wrists to pull them forward. “As much as I want to pin you against the supplyrack and fuck you senseless, we shouldn’t push our luck.”

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