Page 85 of The Hunger
She showed me her teeth and left. I sent Megan a quick text.
Me: The mermaids are definitely angry.
Megan: I want names of anyone who picks on you.
Me: Nope. Stay focused. Find the Kraken, and try not to make enemies of the saltwater mermaids.
Megan: I make no promises.
The heavy thump of music drew my attention. Grinning, I got out of my car and watched the red convertible pull into the parking lot. My humor faded as I saw who drove. Based on the expressions on the other occupants’ faces, I wasn’t the only one unhappy about the familiar blonde’s return.
Fenris saw me and leapt from the back of the car. A second later, I was wrapped in his arms and holding him as he shook and breathed in my scent.
“I shouldn’t have gone home,” he muttered.
“Why?”
“I had to submit to a tracking spell. There will be no running and hiding anymore,” he said, pulling back to look at me.
“Don’t be so dramatic,” Aubrey said from behind him. “It’s not like you’re the only one with a tracking spell.”
His gaze met mine, and I felt his barely contained anger.
“We’ll figure it out,” I said.
He closed his eyes and nodded. When he released me, I saw Aubrey studying us closely.
“You have your hooks in deep, don’t you, succubus. I’m not worried though. The mating call trumps everything. He’ll be mine by sunrise on Sunday. Right girls?” she asked, looking back at the other three.
It was then that I noticed the scratch on Willow’s cheek and the bruising around Jenna’s neck. Only the warning look in Jenna’s eyes kept me from asking what had happened.
“Right, Aubrey,” Laurel said with a smile. “He won’t even remember who Eliana is.”
Satisfied with the answer, Aubrey smirked at me and looked at Fenris.
“Walk me in?”
“Walk yourself in, Aubrey. I’m assigned to stay with Eliana while I’m in school. Adira’s orders.”
A hard glint crept into Aubrey’s gaze.
“Perfect.”
She pivoted on her shiny stilettos and marched inside, Laurel right on her heel. Jenna lingered.
“Don’t be mad at Laurel. She knew she wouldn’t have a chance against Aubrey and submitted without a fight.”
“But you and Willow fought?” I asked.
“Not that it did any good.”
“Go,” Fenris said. “She’ll get worse if you make her wait.”
Jenna jogged to catch up to Willow, who had also lagged behind.
“Care to fill me in?” I said to Fenris.
“There’s a pecking order in the pack. It shifts when challenges are won or lost. Since Aubrey was gone for so long, she challenged the others for her place again. It happened when I was gone. But according to my dad, Aubrey won by a landslide.”
