Page 6 of Feral
You?he responded. Ella smiled at the string of question marks at the end.
Let’s just say Marissa and I are no longer on speaking terms.
That’s how things were before? Yikes.
Ella pursed her lips to smother a laugh when the Headmaster’s secretary gave her a judgmental look over her desk.
You know, if you didn’t want to go out with me, there were easier ways to turn me down,he texted.
Ella started typing rapidly.It’s not that! I wanted to go out, I swear. This was just a long time coming.
Relax, I’m just teasing. It’s fine, I’ll take you out another night.
Are you sure?Ella asked, biting her lip.
Absolutely. But on one condition.
What’s that?
I’ve never heard of anyone standing up to Queen Marissa and living to tell the tale. You have to tell me everything.
This time, Ella couldn’t hold back the laugh, but she ignored the secretary’s scolding glare. She was already the school pariah. How much worse could it get?
Chapter 4
Bishop
Bishop looked down at his phone, frowning at the last message on screen.
He’d never been stood up in his life, but it seemed there was a first time for everything.
“Why the long face?”
He cringed inwardly at the familiar voice. When he finally turned to face his brother, he was unsurprised that the older shifter hadn’t taken off the dark red robe they all wore over their suits and ties.
Eldric always had enjoyed the pomp and ceremony of the society. Bishop cared less for it, and saw it more as a necessity. Like attending a dinner party or pretending he could stand half the people in the colony.
“It’s nothing,” he said, slipping his phone back into his pocket. He could tell from the look Eldric was giving him that he didn’t buy it.
“She canceled, didn’t she?” he asked in a triumphant tone.
Bishop scowled at him. Across the room, past the few club members still lingering to chat after the ceremony, he caught sight of another he had to pretend to tolerate on a daily basis.
Sterling and Eldric had come up through school together, and the enmity between the former friends had made its way to Bishop’s relationship with his teacher. For the most part, they managed not to cross paths, but he couldn't help but notice the way the other man was watching him. He knew that sharp look in those cold eyes, and there was no doubt in his mind it had something to do with Ella.
“The date has been postponed,” he said, turning back to his brother. “It’s nothing you need to concern yourself with.”
“We’ll see,” Eldric quipped. “You fail to get that ring, and I might have to step in.”
“I doubt she’s interested in being bred by an old man who can’t keep a queen for more than a few months,” Bishop shot back.
Eldric smirked, but the dangerous glint in his eyes made it clear the barb had hit its mark. “Mother seems awfully fond of this one. Not quite as fond as you, though.”
Bishop swallowed the growl building in his throat. Eldric was just trying to get under his skin, and he was good at it. Bishop had learned a long time ago not to give him what he wanted, or at least to put up the image of being unbothered.
“Is there a reason she shouldn’t be?” he challenged.
“Please. She’s a stray who’ll soon sit on the throne of Empress,” said Eldric. “Even you can’t pretend like it doesn’t bother you.”
