Academy Of Beasts IV

By Becca Fanning

"I want to eat you alive," he said.
Was that a threat or a promise?
I don't know what to make of my life. Five Shifter men, all sworn to protect me but none of them telling me the truth. Their attention is flattering and their gazes light a fire in my belly. They tell me my scent is driving them wild, as if I can do anything to control that!
Enough! I'm going to get answers from these Council men if it's the last thing I do. I'll use every tool at my disposal, even if I leave a trail of broken hearts behind me!
USA Today Bestselling Author Becca Fanning is proud to bring you this Reverse Harem Academy Romance serial, packed with all the action, intrigue and great chemistry you can handle!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gizmo Media
• Release date: Jan 4, 2021

Book preview

Fanning

Chapter 1

Last Time at Beast Academy

Tell me something, I whispered, surprised to find my own voice dripping with something like desire. A need that I had been suppressing. Tell me something, Enrique.

Are you willing to pay a price? he whispered. His face inched closer to me.

Yes.

It was a foolish thing to say. His hand came up to brush the sensitive skin of my throat. He inhaled my scent as he pressed his lips against my neck. With an agonizingly slow motion, he dragged his lips to my ear.

You’re not a late-shifter.

I pulled back with a gasp, but it was extinguished quickly. He snaked his hand to the back of my neck and pulled me towards him.

Chapter 2

"My hormones were used against me, Enrique insisted. I want that known in this court of law."

This isn’t a trial, Enrique. For the last time, Dracus said through gritted teeth. I wasn’t so sure.

My name is Fiona, and I’ve found myself in quite a predicament. Actually, multiple predicaments in the last few months since being at Beast Academy. My latest mistake was getting high off my hormones during my cycle and seducing information out of the Core Council’s resident playboy, Enrique.

I’m sorry, I said. Dracus lifted a hand. I ignored it. A dangerous move with the dragon-shifter and head of the Council, but I had no choice. I wanted him to know that I was serious. Serious about taking advantage of Enrique and finding out information about my recent discovery. Thanks to Enrique’s loose lips, the touch of which was still sending shivers up and down my spine; I knew that I wasn’t a late-shifter. But, I want answers.

Dracus held my gaze. His stern expression was waving beneath my grim stare. I was using what I’d learn from him: the heavy pause of pressure, and the knowledge of betrayal.

You lied to me.

He couldn’t argue with that. He lifted himself briefly, smoke trailing at the edges of his mouth. Enrique scooted back as a precaution, but Dracus threw himself back into his chair with an exhausted sound.

No, Fiona, he muttered. I’m sorry. He pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his weary head. Enrique blinked three times and leaned forward with narrowed eyes.

"Did you just say that you were sorry?" the blond asked.

I stared at the lion-shifter, who hours earlier, I was in a very precarious situation with. All of that was dust under the rug, it seemed. Maybe he would give me shit for it later, but that’s why I’d chosen Enrique as an attempt for information. He was the least likely to judge a seduction attempt and the most likely for me to succeed.

Yes, I did, Dracus confirmed in a strained voice. I could see the exhaustion on his face. Where was he before this? He glanced down at his desk, glaring at something. I leave for one day, and you’re out of control, Enrique.

"I was seduced, he insisted, turning towards me. You knew what you were doing!"

My cheeks burned. I mean… I turned to Dracus. I got a little carried away. I’m not used to feeling these things. Gods, my cheeks were on fire. I probably looked as red as a tomato.

Enrique, you knew what kind of state that Fiona was in, Dracus said unsympathetically. He glanced at me briefly, not unkindly. It’s no offense to you, but you’re not quite strong enough to handle the waxing and waning of hormonal changes here. I knew that, and instead of helping you, I thought it was best if you worked through it on your own. His eyes darted towards Enrique. "You, on the other hand, you’re much more in control of things than you insist. Was it any wonder that you dragged her off to your lair?"

It’s not a lair, Enrique insisted with his hands in the air. It’s a comfortable meeting space between friends.

Friends who are hopped up on secrets and hormones, Dracus muttered. I flushed.

Dracus! This was worse than getting lectured by a parent. Dracus’ handsome face swiveled round towards me again, calm and collected. Any sympathy that he’d been airing out earlier had quickly vanished. He was in control again. The smoke had dissipated entirely from the room. I’m not a child, I insisted.

You’re not, he confirmed with a solemn nod. But you are in a vulnerable state here. I’m quite aware of that. His dark eyes dangerously flashed as he settled back on the lion-shifter. Enrique stiffened in his chair. I bit my lip. The air became tense.

You only had the purest intentions? Dracus asked. His voice was half-full of mocking, almost teasing.

Enrique pulled at the collar of his shirt. Something like that. I’d never seen someone make people sweat like Dracus.

Why was your tracker off?

My mouth dropped open. Dracus put a hand to signal me not to speak. I whirled towards Enrique, who scooted back another few inches away from Dracus’ desk.

I plead the fifth.

Dracus pinched the bridge of his nose again with a tired groan. This is not a court of law. This is my office. Answer the question.

Enrique’s face split into a wicked grin. "Fine, fine. I didn’t want to get interrupted…in case anything did happen."

A tracker, I said. A tracker. Things were beginning to click into place. How was it that they kept such close movements on each other? An icy sensation rushed over my skin. I could have a tracker on me! They watched the realizations dawn on my face.

Enrique shot me a guilty look and sucked in air through his teeth. In my defense, you looked extra cute today, and you needed a break from wolf breath.

Not your decision to make, Dracus said in a sharp tone. Not your decision to go against orders to keep Fiona safe while maintaining proper boundaries.

Orders? I turned to him. "Exactly who is giving these orders? And why do you have trackers?"

Enrique