Page 38 of Underworld
“What does it feel like for you?” I asked.
Logan threaded his fingers through mine as we walked. “It’s been a place to connect with our wolves. The Panther Shifters enjoy it too, even though their magic comes from their Queen rather than a deity. From what Aaron has learned, their magic is passed down genetically or through the Queen’s blessing. Although, all shifter magic has a similar thread, so since we can’t bring their Queen to us, they run with the wolves.”
I laughed. “I bet that’s been a challenge.” The wolves and panthers were natural enemies. Getting them to work together? I didn’t envy Logan that task.
He hummed in agreement. “We’re making progress, albeit slowly.”
I opened my mouth to respond, but he stiffened and held me in place. He tipped his head as if listening and I raised an eyebrow.
“It seems the class has found us,” he informed me as he tugged me closer to his side. “They’ll smell you, so I suggest you don’t move and do exactly as I say.”
That wasn’t very comforting. I remembered the shifters and I had kicked their ass, once upon a time.
That had been a year ago—and before they’d been suped-up by Moon Goddess juju.
Four humanoid forms appeared through the trees, naked, their eyes glittering with emerald and sapphire tones.
Proof in and of itself, wolves and panthers standing together.
Others in their animal forms slunk from the trees and began prowling around us in a small circle.
“Logan?” a feminine asked with a purring tone, one I recognized that belonged to Petunia, a Panther Shifter. “Is this our prey for tonight?” She eyed me, her slitted emerald eyes glittering with mischief. She twirled the purple streak of hair around a finger, her iconic symbol that marked her in the sports arena where she stole the spotlight.
Until I had come along, anyway.
Something that she clearly hadn’t forgiven me for.
“Not unless you have a death wish,” Logan growled, the authority in his voice startling me. He seemed unaffected by her naked form, her perk breasts and her lithe body. These were his shifters and right now, he was in charge.
He really had changed over this past year.
“Hey, Petunia,” I said, deciding I’d go for the friendly route. Trying to find something to compliment her on, I made a split-second decision. “Nice, uh. Boobs.” It wasn’t like she had an outfit I could say was cute.
That only seemed to piss her off.
Logan cleared his throat but not before I saw the smile he couldn’t quite hide. Not acknowledging Petunia, he brought his whistle to his lips and blew.
I heard nothing, but the shifters around us buckled over and clutched at their ears. Those in shifted form snarled or whined.
In seconds, the small area had filled up with wolves and panthers—some stayed in their animal forms, while others came in on two feet and more still shifted from animal to human when they caught sight of me.
And save for Logan and me, they were all naked.
Wow.
I hadn’t seen this much skin since… well, ever. Any concerns about my short skirt and revealing halter catapulted out of my brain.
Amazed, I surveyed the sheer number of shifters that filtered through the trees. The Academy’s numbers had grown quite extensively over the past year. I recognized a few veterans, including Aaron. One of the female waved at me.
Maybe they weren’t all assholes.
A scuffle broke out when a panther overstepped a wolf’s path and Logan released a snarl, startling me.
“Stay,” he ordered me before he marched over to the offenders.
My eyebrows shot up. Did adogjust tellmeto stay?
Petunia giggled and sauntered closer to me. “Yeah, he’s the wolf in charge these days. I bet that takes some getting used to for you. I know it took a bit for me.” She cocked her head. “So, last I heard, you were dead.” Her eyes slid to my wings. “You must have a story to tell.”
