Shane’s arms were tight and warm around me and for a second, I actually felt safe. Or at least, I would have if it weren’t for the raging Shifters going at it in the living room. Shane pulled me closer to the door, murmuring something that probably would’ve been reassuring if I could have heard him over the snarling.

I felt a bit sad to lose the feel of his arms around me as he released me and strode to the middle of the room grabbing each of the Shifters by the back of their shirts, pulling them apart.

“Enough!” he growled. I was beyond impressed at his fearlessness and his strength as he held the large guys on either side while they were still growling at each other.

Now that they’d stopped, I could get a good look at them. I was right. I was in trouble. Because they, too, were both unfairly gorgeous. Even panting, disheveled, and a little sweat-slicked, they were astonishingly hot.

“Seriously, guys?” Shane said, releasing them cautiously. “Again?”

Oh great. This happens often?

One of the guys, dark-haired with tan skin and blazing golden eyes was seething at the other man, who was slightly taller and more regal-looking with darker skin, black hair, and piercing green eyes.

Golden eyes growled. “If Zel would stay out of my space and stop using my hairbrush, this wouldn’t be a problem.”

The green-eyed man, Zel, just smirked. “It isn’t my fault Darius leaves his things all over the place and that we own similar products.” There was an edge of a growl in his voice that said the claws I’d glimpsed, though gone now, weren’t far below the surface.

I couldn’t believe this. They were all supposed to be these regal, aloof Shifters, and they were fighting over hair products? It was surreal.

“Get it together so you can greet our new roomie,” Shane said, nodding to me.

I geared myself up for introductions, but they both turned to me with expressions of mild distaste and the words got caught in my throat.

“Ugh.”

“Another roommate?”

Well. At least they were in agreement on something now. I gulped under the intense stares of these very hot guys.

“Oh, where’s all the royal decorum gone?” Shane teased. He was definitely the peacekeeper of the bunch. “This is Makiko Suzuki.”

That seemed to immediately diffuse the situation. Surprise was written across their faces.

“No way,” Darius said, crossing his arms and looking me up and down, like he was sizing me up. “We’re living with a Suzuki?”

I didn’t like feeling like a zoo exhibit, but he didn’t seem upset about it, so that was good.

Zel, on the other hand crossed his arms, the expression on his face too cold to be a sneer. “Looks like we’ll have to seriously watch our backs now,” he said.

I wanted to be annoyed, but I couldn’t because, what the hell was the deal with this family?

“Dude,” Shane said, “zip it if you don’t have anything nice to say.”

I appreciated him coming to my rescue—again—but it was time I spoke up. I guessed. “Hi,” I said with a little wave. “Sorry for interrupting your fight…?”

Zel actually sneered this time, and Shane smiled, but Darius threw back his head and laughed. Great, he found me especially amusing.

“Who apologizes for stopping a fight?” he chuckled.

Well since I was so funny anyway, I shrugged and said, “I promise not to take any of your hairbrushes while I’m here.”

Darius had a smile that was brighter than even Shane’s. “Maybe I’m going to like you after all,”

Oh keep it together, girl.

Zel, however, was still dead-silent and glaring daggers at me. Ice cold, that one. But Zel wasn’t my biggest concern for now. All I wanted in that moment was to have a few moments with my new bed. Even a short cat nap would be welcome.

“I’m sorry, but I had a long w—ride here,” I stammered. Jeez, I almost said walk. “I’m pretty tired. Shane, which one’s my room?”

No one seemed to notice my slip, and Shane pointed me to the short corridor, opposite to the one the guys had come bursting through. I murmured my goodbyes and he handed me my bag, wishing me sweet dreams. Zel turned on his heel to go back into his room, but I could feel Darius’s eyes on me until I shut the door behind me.

I took a second to breathe a sigh of relief at being alone. The bedroom matched the common area, all sumptuous furniture and soft rugs, done in shades of blue and green. It was all lovely, I was sure, but I only had eyes for the huge four-poster bed against the wall, mounted high with pillows. I threw the dead bolt, kicked off my shoes, and flopped onto the mattress. I was already asleep by the time I sank through the pillows.

…

Fire raged around me. I was in the hallway outside my parents’ door and blood was welling up from the carpet, pouring across the floor to lap at my sneakers, barely visible through the choking smoke. I scrambled back, tried to get to the hall window for some air, but I heard sirens, and I knew with the certainty of death that if those sirens reached me, I was a goner.

I ran the other way. If I could just get out the back door—

Two figures stood at the end of the hall, and through the wavering flames and smoke, I could make out the shape of my father’s broad shoulders, my mother’s long hair. I called for them, reaching out, but the roar of the flames and the sirens were too loud. Mom’s hand reached for me, but as hard as I tried, I couldn’t close the distance between us. The hall was getting longer and longer, and the smell of saltwater hit me out of nowhere, pouring down my mouth and nose until I couldn’t breathe.

I woke up gasping, panicked for a second because I actually could taste salt water, but a shuddering sob racked my body, and I realized it was only my tears.

“I’m safe,” I whispered. “I’m in Brighthaven. No one else knows where I am. I’m safe.” I sat up, rubbing my eyes, and looked around the room. All the details I hadn’t bothered to absorb earlier made themselves known now. The room was…ridiculous, in an “I’m not a princess, so why am I here?” kind of way.

There was a wardrobe across from the bed, light wood carved with birds and fish and trees so detailed I half expected them to move. The same theme was kept with the desk in one corner and the vanity in another. The vanity. Off to one side was a plush gray settee and matching armchair with a coffee table with clawed feet. There was even a chaise.

Surrounded by all this finery, the imposter syndrome finally set in. I was pretending to be someone I wasn’t and so far…so good. That should have made me happy. Except this wasn’t me.

Knock, knock, knock.

I froze, hoping I could pretend I was still asleep, but then I remembered all the screaming I was doing before.

“Sorry about that,” I called, wincing at the way my voice croaked. “I’d like to be left alone.”

I heard a chuckle I recognized. Then, “I hear that, but I thought you might also like a stroll around the academy grounds to stretch your legs.” It was Darius’s smooth, purring voice.

Biting my lip, I debated. It was probably a bad idea, but staying in this room suddenly didn’t feel like such a great idea anymore. Rubbing at my puffy eyes—and sure I looked like a train wreck—I padded to the door and pulled it open.

He was leaning against the door frame all suave, arms and ankles crossed, impeccably but casually dressed. While I was in the same rumpled clothes from this morning and most definitely had bed-hair.

He didn’t even blink at my appearance. “Are you taking me up on my offer?” he asked.

I hesitated, but I didn’t have a good enough reason not to. And I was finding it very hard to come up with an excuse to refuse those golden eyes. “Sure.”

Again, he gave me that up-down look, but unlike this morning, it wasn’t so much assessing as it was… A blush crept up my cheeks. Is this incredibly hot dude actually checking me out?

I turned to put on my shoes, and he actually offered me his arm as we headed out the door.

…

I had to admit, if I was going to steal someone’s identity and hide out at a boarding school…there had to be worse places to do it. Brighthaven was beautiful. Darius took me along the gardens nestled against the castle walls with fountains and statues depicting Shifters in all states, from human to animal forms, to stages in between, and they all managed to look beautiful and graceful. Everything about the academy seemed to be beautiful and regal and steeped in more pride and culture than all the museums combined.

I was glad the grounds gave me a lot to admire, because I was a little nervous to be alone with Darius. He seemed friendly enough, but he wasn’t as open as Shane. Or as chatty. Talk had mostly been limited to the school, so I was surprised when he got a little more personal.

“You know, it’s fitting that we should be rooming together,” he said as I bent to examine a smaller statue.

“Really?” I wondered out loud. “Why?”

“The Yazdani’s and the Suzukis? Are you trying to insult me?” When I looked at his face, I could tell he was only halfway joking. “We’re only the two most powerful Shifter families in the world.”

Of freaking course, they were. Fantastic. I’d have to be extra careful from now on.

“I wasn’t trying to insult you,” I said breezily, brushing past him. “It was a joke. You didn’t seem to have a problem with my jokes a few hours ago.”

I looked back over my shoulder to see if it worked. Considering the gorgeous smile he had spreading over his face, I’d say it did. I turned back and started walking before he could see the blush.

Thankfully, he changed the subject. “Have you heard the ridiculous nickname Shane’s come up with for our temporary little group?”

My head snapped up to look at him. “Temporary?”

He shrugged. “Of course. We’re only together until the semester starts and we’re sorted into our proper houses. I’ll be with the Cats, naturally, as a member of the Yazdani Tigers.” He said it proudly, then his mouth twisted. “Unfortunately, that means I’ll still be seeing a lot of that nasty little jaguar, Zel.” I didn’t comment. “But where are you bound for? Mythic, I presume?”

I opened my mouth to stammer something, trying to agree when I didn’t know what the hell he was talking about. He gave me a strange look and I gave up as my heart sank, sure I was caught. But to my surprise, his face softened.

“I won’t push it,” he said. “But later it would be great to swap family stories.”

I didn’t get a chance to respond, thankfully, because there was a sudden rush of wind that nearly knocked me off my feet. Darius steadied me, his eyes on the sky. My gaze followed his, as I saw the most incredible sight.

A massive, jade-green dragon was coming down from the sky.

My jaw had to be somewhere in the grass at my feet, and only Darius’s grip on my arm kept me standing. It was terrifying and incredible, like I’d opened a fairy-tale book and this magnificent creature had flown from the pages. I could not believe my eyes.

It swooped in low and flew right over us, so close I could feel the warmth from its scales. Oh my god, I thought in a panic as the dragon let out a roar, he was coming straight for us!