Page 8 of Ava: Part Two

“And then, last Monday, you were in Isolation for breaking the rules. You attacked Miss Hubert. Why?” the vampires asked.

It felt like they were working on him at the same time. His skin itched from the magic he could feel in the air, like it was probing him, trying to find a weakness.

“Personal issues.”

He reinforced his walls again. And again. And again. Shadow was more alert now; he realised they were in more trouble than they had thought.

“I appreciate you want to keep some matters private, but some wolves are missing, and their lives may very well be in danger. Please cooperate, Mr Michelson,” the witch said. “What personal issues did you have with Miss Hubert?”

“I understand that we need to find them, but I also know that my personal life is not the reason you are here,” he said as he lifted his gaze to the witch without bothering with fake respect. She raised an eyebrow. “Why don’t you just tell me what you want so we can get this over with, ma’am.”

Chapter 6

CouncillorIuliasmiledwhenhe said that. It was a condescending smile that he and Shadow didn’t appreciate, but they both remained calm and watched her. The last thing he wanted to do was to piss off people who could end him in seconds.

Iulia closed a file in front of her and pushed it away.

“I am curious about you,” she drawled.

“How so, ma’am?”

“Your academic career has been spotless up until now. You rose the ranks in your very first semester and have proven time and time again that you are in control of your other self,” she said as she sat back in her chair and crossed her legs.

Her eyes didn’t leave his face like she was searching for any reaction.

This was where he and Shadow excelled. He had been fooling people his whole life because letting anyone else know the depths of Shadow’s depravity was a death sentence. So he kept his mask on. Kept his calm.

“The only student trainer we have had in decades, and you also maintain the highest grades,” she continued.

“Yes. I take my responsibilities seriously.”

“And then, out of the blue, you broke a serious rule by attacking a student and ended up in Isolation,” she mused. “You’ve had a few... personal issues before, haven’t you?”

“Unrelated. And also dealt with,” he answered.

“I see. But wolves still died at your hands with no provocation at all.”

“I was a child, but I assure you I am in full control of myself now, ma’am.”

And that was the truth. The vampire inclined his head as he studied him and then looked at the others.

“It appears he’s telling the truth,” Andrei said. “At least about this.”

“So why would a wolf in full control of himself just suddenly snap?” Alpha Diego asked.

“Personal reasons. Claire was my girlfriend for three years.”

“This just gets more intriguing,” Iulia said. “A mere lover’s spat? Somehow, I don’t believe that.”

“And yet it is the truth.”

The magic was more insistent now, but like in Isolation, he couldn’t let them into his head.

“Let’s say it is,” Andrei said. “You end up in Isolation for four days, but here you are, a few days later, as if nothing happened.”

Everything happened.

“I’ve had the weekend to recover.”

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