Saved: A Why Choose Academy Shifter Romance (Thornbriar Academy Book 3) Read online

  “What? Why?” voices squeaked around me.

  “Before his death, Professor Ward invited the Oracle to visit Thornbriar.” Larkin folded her hands in front of herself, but her lips twitched. “As we are to host both the Council and the Oracle, security measures will be increased for the foreseeable future.”

  I drew in a ragged breath, leaning against Terrin’s shoulder. So, they didn’t know why he’d called the Oracle. I wondered if the Oracle herself knew.

  On my other side, Adrian took my hand in his and squeezed it. Leaning on them, I felt stronger and more stable. I hadn’t had an episode in over a week since we’d bonded closer. But something was still missing. I didn’t have time to go searching out an air shifter to complete our bond, not with Sciro’s life hanging in the balance, but I felt the absence. The guys said my tattoo was missing a section and they believed it was because I hadn’t found my fourth.

  I felt eyes on me, and I glanced around. Monica Gray glared back at me. Smirking, I rubbed my thumb across Adrian’s hand. We tried to keep our relationships under wraps as far as the rest of the student body was concerned, but Monica still thought I was a slut. Like I cared.

  The Headmaster introduced the members of the Council, as if all of shifter society didn’t know them—well, other than me—and then she dismissed us back to class.

  As we left the auditorium, I glimpsed Brenton’s mom, Aileen, sitting in the front pew, her shoulders slumped and her brown hair hiding her face. What was she doing here? Spying for Kaiden? I couldn’t see her volunteering, but I was sure her husband could make her. I tried to turn back toward her, but the press of the crowd was too much, and I was carried along toward the exit.

  4

  Adrian

  I knocked at the plain wood door. The administration had put the Council on the top floor of the main building. The halls were empty and isolated—easy to defend I assumed—but the rooms weren’t large or well-appointed.

  “Hello.” My mother’s voice came from within.

  “It’s me,” I said, shifting my feet on the carpet. There was something about facing my mom that made me feel like a kid instead of a grown man. I’d even transformed, for fuck’s sake. I straightened my shoulders and stared straight ahead.

  The door opened, and I gazed at the blonde woman that I’d gotten my looks from. Her curls were ruthlessly pulled back and tied in a tight bun, but they wouldn’t be restrained, slipping out to cradle the hard lines of her face. Her eyes were the same green as mine, but always calm and placid. Nothing ever seemed to ruffle her.

  “Adrian.”

  “Mom.”

  “Come in.” She sighed, turning back to the tiny room. Strolling to the small desk, she looked out the window behind it.

  Stepping through the doorway, I gazed around at the small space. She must have felt cramped. Her bathroom at home was larger than this. A carved screen separated the bedroom from the office. The bookshelves were lined with leather-bound volumes. Must have been an absent professor’s quarters then.

  “Shut the door,” she commanded, rustling through some papers on the desk. As soon as the sound of the latch clicked, she turned toward me. “So?”

  “He didn’t do it.”

  A smile cracked her hard demeanor. “Of course, he didn’t, but protocol must be followed.”

  “You’ll do everything you can to help him?”

  “I will,” she said. “As long as it doesn’t compromise my work.”

  I stiffened and stepped back. “What do you mean?”

  “Just what I’ve always meant, honey,” she said, straightening her suit. “The safety of all shifters is my responsibility. If your friend is responsible for this death or deemed a danger to society, then it is my duty to see him punished.”

  “But you said that you didn’t think he was guilty.”

  “I don’t believe that he is. My son is a good judge of character, and he would hardly associate with such a lowlife.” She studied me. “However, I have been wrong before.”

  Dad. She fucking meant my father. His continued relapses into drug use made her distrust her own judgment. I paced across the room. “Sciro’s not like that.”

  She arched a patrician eyebrow. “How do you know?”

  “He’s been my friend since I arrived at Thornbriar.”

  Her mouth quirked. “Now, I’ve taught you better than that, Adrian. How do you know?”

  I met her eyes, my gaze steady. “He’s never lied to me. He’s had a hard life, but he’s never used it to improve his status. He’s never shown excessive anger . . .” I swallowed. Except at Hailey. His hatred of her was hard to understand. My eyes fell to the carpeted floor as I thought it through, and Mom squeezed my arm.

  “See? We don’t always know our friends as well as we thought.”

  I grimaced. “But Professor Ward was his hero. He wouldn’t hurt him.”

  “People do strange things under stress.” She shook her head. “But the trial will determine his guilt or innocence.”

  My shoulders slumped. Shifter trials weren’t exactly known for their fairness.

  “If you’re confident of his innocence, then the trial is only an opportunity for him to be vindicated.”

  “I know he didn’t do this.”

  With a small smile, she nodded. “Then it will all work out. You’ll see.”

  I wished I had her confidence. Especially with my friend’s life at stake.

  5

  Hailey

  Thornbriar kept running as close to normal as possible. Despite the terrible events and Sciro’s incarceration, classes continued as scheduled. I sat in Shifter History watching the swish of Professor Roth’s skirt as she paced across the room. She was digging into the history of the Oracle—her only nod to the current events—but she didn’t answer any of the questions that ran through my mind.

  “An Oracle is chosen every two hundred years,” Professor Roth said.

  My forehead wrinkled and I glanced at Adrian next to me.

  “Longer lives,” he whispered.

  Oh, that’s right. Shifters had longer lifespans than humans. Was the Oracle was a shifter? Or was she some other kind of magical creature? I couldn’t believe I’d never asked about the bigger world. I’d been so wrapped up in my own problems, and getting used to Thornbriar, I hadn’t thought about what else was out there.

  “Are there other kinds of magic?” I asked aloud.

  Greta and Monica tittered behind me, and I ignored them.

  “I forget how new you are to our world, Hailey.” Professor Roth frowned. “There are other magical beings in our world.”

  “Like witches? Or banshees or something?”

  “Yes. Although it’s rare to encounter them in the modern world.”

  I leaned forward. “Is the Oracle magic?”

  The professor smiled. “The oracle channels the energy of the elements in order to do her rituals. So, she is magic, in the same way that we are magic, but she is also able to perform rituals. Spells, if you like.”

  “Can any shifter do spells? Channel the energies?”

  “I’m afraid the ability for the common shifter to do rituals is lost to time.”

  “So, the Oracle’s a shifter?”

  “Yes.” Professor Roth nodded. “Now, let’s get back to the lecture. Where were we?”

  I guess I hadn’t thought of her as one of us. Hell, I hadn’t thought of me as one of us. How was the Oracle able to do magic—or channel the elements or whatever—and the rest of us weren’t?

  “Oracles are chosen as young girls and trained inside the Rainford Palace.”

  “What’s that?”

  “The home of all past and future Oracles.” Professor Roth’s voice was calm and reasonable, but her face contorted in annoyance. “I see you’ll need a new Tutoring Assistance instructor, Hailey.”

  Someone snorted behind me, and my back tightened.

  “Yes, Professor,” I said with a sigh. I missed Professor Ward. He’d always
answered my questions with patience and kindness. Even if he had wanted to kill me as soon as he’d known what I was.

  Wait a minute. ‘The home of all past and future oracles?’ Were young girls trapped there for their whole lives? I shivered, thinking of Hasting’s House.

  At the end of class, I gathered up my things and started for the door.

  “Really are an idiot, aren’t you?” Monica’s voice said snidely behind me, and I swung around, scowling at her.

  “I’m an idiot?” I growled. I didn’t have time for her petty childishness. So, I got the guy. Back off already. She drove me crazy. “I didn’t have the privilege of growing up around shifters.”

  “Because your parents didn’t want you.”

  “I was kidnapped!” I exclaimed, curling my hands into fists. My parents had wanted me. At least, the Coopers had. I still wasn’t sure what game Kaiden was playing, but he hardly counted as a parent. I tried to think it all through rationally, using my thoughts to distract me from punching her.

  Monica said, “Whatever, slut.”

  Before I could stop myself, my fist slammed into her face, knocking her back against the wall. A small squeal escaped her lips like a stuck pig. I leaped toward her, squeezing my fingers around her neck. “Shut up,” I snarled.

  Arms wrapped around me from behind, and Adrian pulled me back. I clawed at Monica and she flinched away.

  “Let her go, Hailey,” he whispered, stroking my head. “Look, you’ve already marked her.”

  I scowled, but he was right. A dark bruise had formed near her eye, and red finger marks decorated her neck. It gave me a certain satisfaction to see those injuries on her, like I’d done battle. I smirked.

  “What is going on here?” The firm voice of Professor Frank interrupted my gloating.

  Monica’s arm swung up, her index finger pointing directly at me. “She did this.”

  “Again, Hailey? I thought we had this under control.” Frowning, Professor Frank reached out to touch my arm, and Adrian knocked her hand away.

  “Ah, sorry, Professor,” he said, charm laid on thick. “Let me get Hailey out of here while you get Monica to the infirmary.”

  Professor Frank’s mouth quirked, but she nodded.

  Adrian pulled me through the crowd and the maze of halls, then out to the courtyard. He dragged me over to a fountain. Grabbing my hand, he shoved it into the cool water. It steamed.

  I blinked. “What the hell?”

  “You’re fucking scalding,” he muttered, rubbing his arm.

  “But how?” I stared at the rising vapor. Then I shook myself. I knew how. “I’m in fire phase.”

  “No duh,” Adrian said irritably, and then he looked repentant. “Sorry, Hailey, it’s just . . . how are we going to keep the whole school thinking you’re a vampire when you’re this hot?”

  “They shouldn’t get close enough to feel it . . .”

  He grimaced. “If you keep flying off the handle, they will. You very nearly left scorch marks on Monica.”

  “She deserved it.” I crossed my arms in front of my chest.

  Running a hand through his curls, he sighed. “I’m not saying she didn’t, but it isn’t very subtle of you.”

  I sighed. “You’re right. I know.”

  “You have to control yourself.”

  “Isn’t it supposed to be easier?” I asked. “I have three mates. Aren’t you guys balancing me?”

  His shoulders slumped. “I don’t know. We don’t really know how it all works.”

  “No one does,” I said with a frown. “Except maybe my father.”

  “And he’s long gone,” Adrian said.

  “I wonder . . .” I began.

  “What?” Adrian sounded worried, but then he always sounded worried these days.

  It was as if the guys didn’t know what to expect from me at any moment. I never thought I was that unstable. Once I was in a phase, that was pretty much it. It should have been clear to them. I growled, low in my throat, and he flinched.

  “Hailey, not everything’s a fight.” He circled his fingers in the cool water. “Don’t make it like that.”

  “I’m not.”

  “Yes, you are,” he said, firmly, as if he was talking to a child and that only pissed me off more.

  “Forget it.” I jumped up and marched away. Anger tripped along my tongue, and I couldn’t seem to resist spitting out whatever came to mind. It wasn’t just fire shifter stage, which had always been ugly, it was the nagging thought that Adrian was right. I had three mates, including fire, and I should be controlling this better.

  I barged into the infirmary, my eyes looking around for the one person I thought might have answers: Nurse Brar. I found him in the boy’s ward again, folding sheets. “This place is boring as shit,” I muttered.

  “What are you doing here, Hailey?” Doug hissed.

  “Looking for answers.”

  “It’s not safe to talk—”

  I pushed him down on the bed, and his knees bent reflexively. He was a vampire; he could have fought back, but he only stared. “Its never safe,” I growled. “But I need to know.”

  He blinked. “Know what?”

  “Why aren’t I stabilizing? I thought mates meant balance?” I paced back and forth in front of him. “Why am I so fucking pissed off all the time?”

  “You’re missing your fourth mate.”

  “No benefits for three? It’s all or nothing?”

  He nodded.

  “But fire phase has never been like this.” I paused, staring at the bedside lamp. “It’s all-consuming.”

  “You’re letting it get the best of you.”

  I glared at him. “No, I’m not. I’m trying to control it.”

  Lines etched their way across his forehead. “I don’t know.”

  “Yes, you do.” I shoved my finger against his chest.

  “Find your fourth mate, Hailey. That’s all you can do.”

  Fury swept through me, and my vision turned red. My hands reached out toward his throat, just as they had with Monica’s earlier, and he grabbed them, holding them still.

  “Stop, Hailey. You’re off balance. You need to calm down.”

  Tears wet my cheeks and I blinked. What was wrong with me? I’d never flown off the handle like this. And why was I crying? Nothing was making sense. Pulling away from Doug, I turned and stomped out of the infirmary.

  6

  Terrin

  I ran through the woods, letting the cool spring breeze blow across my fur. The blooming flowers made my nose itch, and I stopped to paw the ground. I leaned against a tree, letting my jaguar form go and reforming as human.

  “Thought I’d find you out here,” Adrian’s voice came behind me.

  “Yeah,” I said, pulling on my sweats. Didn’t seem like there was much point to wearing a full outfit when I was only going to chuck it as soon as I hit the woods.

  “She was worse today.”

  I growled. “Yes. I heard about Monica.”

  He huffed. “She’s claiming Hailey attacked her unprovoked.”

  Turning to my brother, I frowned. “She wouldn’t do that.”

  “No, but this phase has her unbalanced.”

  I sighed. “I thought we were supposed to help. Three mates. She should be better.”

  He ran a hand through his blond curls. “I know, man. I don’t know what to do.”

  My eyes met his. “Love her. That’s all we can do.”

  His lips twitched. “Why do you always have to be right?”

  “It’s my nature.” I laughed.

  Adrian snorted. “Any new ideas about how to help Sciro?”

  I winced, my laughter cutting off. “He’s not a murderer. They’re idiots for thinking so.”

  “Too bad your jaguar can’t go to the stand for him. Your years of hunting killers should count for something.”

  With a shrug, I asked, “Your mom not interested in helping then?”

  “No. She’s sure the system will
vindicate him if he’s innocent.”

  “Yeah, because we can trust those idiots.”

  Adrian dropped down onto a nearby stump, splaying his long legs out in front of him. “He could have, though.”

  “What? Killed Professor Ward? Never.”

  “No,” he said with a heavy sigh. “But he might have killed Kaiden or Hailey.”

  My jaguar hissed within me. Our mate had been threatened. I shoved down my instinctive reaction and tried to be reasonable. “Kaiden would have deserved it.”

  “True,” Adrian said, “But when my mom asked me point blank if I thought Sciro could kill, I had to say yes.”

  “Fuck,” I muttered.

  “Yeah. We’ve got to come up with a solution.”

  “That’s the problem. There isn’t one. There aren’t any other witnesses, except for Hailey.”

  “And if she turns herself in, she’ll be executed.”

  My hands curled into fists. I could feel the claws at the edge of my skin. “We won’t let that happen.”

  Adrian nodded.

  It was such an impossible choice. My mate or my brother. Neither of whom were guilty of anything. My jaguar would have known if either one was really a murderer. He’d been trained so well by my grandmother.

  My instincts called out for me to protect them. To grab Hailey and Sciro and run away to somewhere safe. “We need to leave.”

  Adrian’s eyes widened. “Leave Thornbriar?”

  I nodded. “It’s the only thing that makes sense. Take Hailey and Sciro and run.”

  “But what about her fourth shifter?”

  I felt like a balloon that had been punctured by a needle. “It has to be Sciro, doesn’t it? He’s an air shifter.”

  “But what if it’s not? And we take her away from the only place she can find him?” He sighed. “Once we are on the run, there won’t be time to stop and chat up prospective matches. She’ll go mad.”

  “No.” I couldn’t let that happen. I wouldn’t let that happen.

  “She’s already losing it. Even with the three of us to keep her stable.”