Page 86 of The Hunger
“That sounds like he was proud of her.”
Fenris exhaled heavily. “He was. There’s a lot about the pack that you don’t know. We keep how we work to ourselves.”
“Your dad mentioned something about the Council staying out of how the pack did things. He made it sound like it was a condition of backing the Council.”
“It is. Let’s talk about this inside.”
Hand in hand, we entered the Academy. The halls were crowded, and more than a few people noticed that we were holding hands. Fenris’s thumb stroked over my skin, calming some of my PDA fears.
When we reached our assigned room, there was a sheet of paper on the door with both our schedules listed and a handwritten note from Adira.
Back to class as usual. Public feedings are now part of the curriculum.
Fenris ripped the note from the door and tried to open it. It was locked.
I grabbed my phone.
Me: Is Adira with you?
Megan: Yep. We’re waiting for mermaids to show up.
Me: She’s on my list. Tell her to portal her butt back here.
Megan: On it.
Barely a minute later, a portal appeared in the hallway nearby, and Adira stepped through.
“Is there a problem?” she asked.
“You know there is. I’m not going to be forced into public feedings. If you want me in school, give me back the room.”
“Unfortunately, I can’t do that. In order to keep what little peace remains in Uttira while Megan and I search for answers, I made a bargain with Raiden. Part of that bargain is that I will no longer allow Fenris to spend time with you in that room.”
“What’s the other part?” Fenris asked.
“That I portal you home at the end of each day.”
“Why? What’s the point? He’s already tracking me.”
“And he knows Eliana has the means to remove a tracking spell.”
Fenris was so livid he was shaking with it. That thing inside of me responded in kind. My vision darkened with my rage, and I stepped closer to Adira.
“Listen well, frost giant. You will not lay a hand on Fenris. His father does not own him. I do. Don’t ever forget that.” Fenris’s hand settled on my shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze to calm me enough that I stepped back. “You’re the one who pushed us together, Adira. Now deal with the outcome. I’m done playing your puppet and would rather starve than give into the public feedings you want so badly.”
I turned to Fenris. “Let’s go to class.”
When I glanced over my shoulder, Adira was gone.
“At least, she kept our schedules the same,” Fenris said. “Maybe we can find somewhere quiet during lunch.”
I knew he was worried about me feeding and gave him a small smile.
However, when we walked into first period, I saw Adira’s little information bomb hadn’t contained everything. Fenris’s seat was open, as was one at the very front of the room. The seat I normally took was now occupied by Aubrey, who playfully waved at Fenris.
I didn’t take my seat. I’d meant what I’d said to Adira. I was done playing games.
“Are you in all of Fenris’s classes?” I asked.
