When I looked up to see who’d spoken, my jaw nearly unhinged. Were all of the students required to be absolutely beautiful for admission? This boy was far different from Theo and Jasper, though. His strong chin held a haughty air, and he knew he was attractive. He glanced down at me, tan skin and white teeth, smiling with a politician’s ease. There was an edge of danger in his face. Definitely popular among the female students.
“Hello, darling. Pleasure to meet such a pretty addition to our humble home.” With an smooth movement, he took my hand in his grasp. On one of his left fingers, he wore a gleaming golden ring that depicted the face of a lion with two emeralds for eyes. He lifted my hand up to his mouth and placed a kiss on my fingers.
“Enrique,” Theo huffed. “Don’t scare her!”
Enrique, who looked much more suited for advertising high-end European watches than attending a shifter college, winked at me as he lowered my hand. “Am I scaring you, love?”
“Scaring?” I echoed back. Although he was handsome, his type was one I immediately knew. There would be a running contact list of female students named ‘Busty Blonde from History’ on his phone, I was sure of it. I offered a half-smile to make peace. “I don’t scare easily.”
Mom would’ve laughed at that. I was too timid to watch horror movies back home when she and Dad lined up a home movie night. But I needed to be brave here.
His eyebrows shot upwards, and Theo yanked me away from the blond-haired boy immediately. “Don’t encourage him,” my bear friend warned me. “You’ll only provoke the kitten.”
Enrique scowled, meeting Theo’s gaze. “You fancy a brawl to show the new girl how we settle things?” His grin was teasing as he shook his head. “No, I’m too lazy to fight you today.” He stretched his long arms above his body, and his untucked shirt lifted up to reveal an appealing slice of firm muscles. I glanced away and looked at the clock.
“Did you even go to class today?” Theo asked.
“I don’t recall,” Enrique purred back. Their voices faded behind me as I stepped towards the clock, enchanted by the woodwork. No, woodwork wasn’t right. It wasn’t quite wood that it was made from. The material was a dark gray that looked as smooth as water with the texture of wood. I wish I’d actually been listening when Theo had been waxing on about it. My fingers brushed the surface, hard and gray. It was cool to the touch.
“That’s dragon metal,” a firm voice rang out. “And I’ll thank you not to put any grease on it.”
I ripped my hand away and stared as the newcomer came down the magnificent staircase. Behind me, I could feel Enrique and Theo stiffen. The air changed as the man arrived. His head held high, an air of something that Enrique had but royal. An aristocrat. Words failed me as his looming frame hovered in front of me. He stuck his hand out in one swift gesture. His beauty was untouchable.
“Fiona, we have been told of your arrival. I understand that Theo has given you a tour of the castle.” I’d never met someone that exuded such a presence before. His every movement was one of confidence, sculpted no doubt from whatever wealthy family he’d been born into. His dark hair was slicked back. His brown eyes held none of the warmth that the other two Council members present had. It was all business. His chin lifted half an inch, and I hurried to meet his hand with my own tentative shake. He was pride incarnate.
Theo seemed to deflate in relief as he went to stand by me. “No worries, Dracus. I’m just starting the house tour.”
Dracus’ stern eyes looked from Theo to Enrique and then back to me. He nodded. “Very well. I’ll see you all at dinner.” With that, he marched down the hall to our left and disappeared from sight.
Enrique snorted. “The old man is off to his quarters until supper, I suppose.” He followed in the direction that Dracus had left. “I’m off to bother the prince for a bit.”
“The prince?” I asked, but Enrique didn’t turn back. Theo chuckled.
“Dracus is a prince from the land of dragon shifters.” He saw my open mouth and laughed again. “Really, he is. You’ll find he’s got a permanent stick up his ass most days, but he’s nice as long as you’re not a complete idiot.”
“Enrique is brave enough to bother him,” I noted as Theo led me up the stairs.
“Because Enrique’s also filthy rich and doesn’t have an ounce of self-awareness in his body.” And in a darker voice, “Well, he’s wealthy in a different way.” He didn’t expand upon that remark. Instead, he led me to the west wing of the second floor, which he explained was where my room was. “Ren also lives on this side, but you each have your own private bathroom. Don’t expect to see much of him.”
“Right.” I hovered behind him as he went to my room’s door. “Is he the last of you?”
He glanced over his shoulder, and his smile nearly melted me. “Well, there’s you now, Miss Mystery.” He opened the door with a key from his pocket, and I gasped as it swung open. My bedroom at home was a modest small room with a twin bed and a desk for my laptop. This? This was the workings of an interior design team fit for a movie set of a historical film. I saw a four-poster bed with a fluffy white comforter, an ornate desk with a matching swivel chair, and large windows with fabric curtains that are pulled open to show off the trees outside. There was a bookcase in the corner with two plush leather armchairs on either side.
“A bit stuffy, I know,” Theo said, misunderstanding my reaction. “Dracus insisted on a manor-style room for everything. The rest of us have greatly redecorated. You’re welcome to.”
“No,” I said under my breath. “It’s cool. It’s like something out of a movie.” I moved into the center of the room and spun around, admiring the fancy polished furniture and the massive bed. When I glanced back to him, he was staring at me with a funny expression. My cheeks warmed. “What?”
“Nothing. It’s just cute, is all.” He glanced down at the key. It was on a plain black leather cord. “That’ll be the only key for your room.” A sudden shadow fell over his face again, making me bite my lip. “There may be other ways into your room, though, I’ll warn you.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Is theft a problem on campus?”
He let out an awkward laugh. “Something like that.” The sunny disposition returned to him once again. “Just be careful, okay?” He handed me the key and pointed to the door on my left next to the large window. “That’s the bathroom if you want a shower before dinner.”
I glanced out the window. The sun was beginning to dip. I’d slept longer in the hospital bed than I thought today. “Thanks, Theo.”
“No problem, Fiona.”
He left and I basked in finally being alone. It was peaceful. My stomach clenched. And yet, not being alone had helped. I didn’t have to think about my parents or the mysterious mistake that had brought me to Beast Academy. Besides, Theo was the warmest to me out of all the others. Well, Enrique had been a bit too friendly. I walked over to the window and admired the lush trees that skirted my window, their branches swaying slightly in the breeze.
My breath hitched as I caught sight of something in the tree. A young man sleeping on a sturdy branch, only a few feet from my room. Gorgeous, just like the rest of them. Not that I was surprised by that anymore. He had messy dark hair that was pushed to the side as if it was an afterthought. There was no trace of a uniform on him, only black athletic shorts that were slightly fitted and a loose green tank top. He was fit and lean with sinewy muscles. I ducked to the side into the curtains when his eyes suddenly flew open.
Cold, blue eyes.
I sucked in a breath and counted to ten. I looked back; he was gone.
That must’ve been the last of the Core Council.
Ren.
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