Page 37 of Underworld
“Hmm,” I agreed, although I wasn’t sure if I was ready to dismiss that so easily. My powers had been buried so deep that even I had no idea what I was. The Dean’s orientation spell hadn’t been able to figure it out, either, and it wasn’t until I unlocked those parts of myself that they came to the surface.
Unfortunately, past experience supported Kaito’s theory, which meant I had a long ways to go in defeating Calamity.
I needed to be at the top of my game and with time running out, I worried I’d figure it all out after it was already too late.
“I’m such a freak,” I said, sighing.
“You’re not a freak.” Logan’s voice, all warm, deep, and intimate found a way to soothe me and bring me right back into the present.
“However,” he added, his tone turning serious, “if you stay in Shifter Tactics, you’ll get annihilated. Hell, this is a mixed bag I’m teaching here. Some first years, yeah, but there are advanced students here, too. And some…” He hesitated.
“Some…?” I trailed off.
He blew out a breath. “Some aren’t your biggest fans. If I put you out there, you’ll end up face-to-face with at least a few who want to hurt you.”
“They can get in line.” I had no doubt he’d intended to warn me away with that comment. But it had the opposite effect. Grinning, I said, “The last time I played with little wolfies and kitties, I kicked ass.”
“This isn’t a game, sweetheart.” Lids drooping low, he watched me with a hunger he didn’t bother to hide. “Outside that door, the shifters are allowed to let their beasts come out to play. Not only allowed, butencouraged. And I’ve got to get wolvesandpanthers to work together. If I throw a non-shifter into the mix, things could get ugly.”
His gaze held mine steadily as I considered his words—both the spoken ones and unspoken ones.
He didn’t think I could handle this.
“I can handle myself,” I said, coming to a decision. At least, I was pretty sure I could. And if I didn’t? Well, Logan hadn’t fallen for me because I’d retired to a fainting couch when things looked rough. It vey wellcouldget ugly out there, playing with wolves and panthers, but I had to spread my wings sooner or later. Both figuratively and literally.
We stared off for a long time before he must have come to the conclusion that I wasn’t backing down. “Suit yourself.” His lips curved in a faint smile. “Come on.”
He rose and grabbed a whistle from his desk drawer. He looped the rope around his neck and walked out. I followed suit after one last look at the chains affixed to the wall. I’d ask about those later.
Back outside, the barely visible door now closed behind us, Logan crossed his arms over his chest. “This is the gymnasium.”
“Uh-huh.”
He laughed at my deadpan comment. “A shifter gymnasium,” he clarified.
“Well that clears things up.” I sniffed the air, my nostrils flaring with the heady scent of forest and moonlight. “There’s a lot of magic in here.”
“The Dark Mages,” he supplied, his voice neutral. Perhaps he’d gotten used to how involved Hendrik’s clan was with the Academy’s workings. “This is sort of a pocket reality, existing both in Hell and not. With Hell being what it is, there’s plenty of torment and pain the Dark Mages can pull energy from.”
He lapsed into silence for a moment, his gaze dropping. I could read between the lines. He suffered, too, and with this being his territory, Hendrik had plenty of sacrificial magic to work with.
Taking his hand, I laced our fingers together.
I wanted to do more, but this wasn’t the time or place. He was an instructor now and I knew that he cared about his wolves, no matter how much of a lone wolf he might be at heart.
He was also an Alpha.
He gently squeezed my hand, then pulled away. He guided down a worn path as silver moonlight glittered down through the branches.
“The Dark Mages managed to link this pocket realm to my original realm,” he said, grinning. “The world of the wolves is governed by the Moon Goddess. I’ve heard that their world is a parallel version of Earth, with cities, only run by wolves.”
“Are there any humans?” I ventured.
He nodded. “I believe so, yes. The wolves were originally human, so it would make sense. It’s the goddess magic that changed them—changed us.” He sighed. “My wolf enjoys this place. It’s brought me a measure of peace.”
That made sense and I was grateful for Logan to have a sanctuary when I couldn’t be there for him. It made me want to forgive Hendrik, at least in part, for giving Logan this place.
We ventured through the forests and I didn’t feel like I was in Hell anymore. While I knew walls surrounded us, the magic made it impossible to see. Instead, all I saw were trees and the filter of silver moon rays through the branches. Darkness ebbed on the horizon and if I tried, I could forget the outside world entirely.
