Academy Of Beasts XXXI: Reverse Harem Shifter Romance

By Becca Fanning

I went to the Witches for help: I don't care if people think I'm betraying my friends. Sometimes, in order to protect someone, you have to risk them hating you.
But their help comes with a price, and before I know it, the Witches are calling in their favor.
Am I so foolish that I would put the people I'm trying to protect into harm's way?
Have I leapt over a hive of wasps just to land in a den of snakes?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gizmo Media
• Release date: Jan 7, 2023

Book preview

Chapter 1

Confusion and chaos. My vision before I ventured off of campus to see the witches made sense. Initially, I assumed it was just a crazy dream caused by my tumultuous emotions lately. It meant nothing. Boy, was I wrong. Still gawking at the witches encircling me, I processed the recent development.

Dante had escaped custody. A psycho-killer was on the loose, ready to wreak havoc on the entire shifter world. Again. That spells confusion and chaos. My dream was on point. I should have known better by now. My dreams usually meant something.

Fiona, we’re awaiting your response. The head witch’s sharp eyes moved over my face. I think I detected a hint of concern. Of course, she’d be concerned. I was probably as pale as death. I was in such a state of shock I forgot how to form words.

My brain finally got the message to my lips to move. I’m... still processing.

Worried faces turned to each other. The witches were probably talking among themselves again. They wanted the Core Council to help them recapture their prisoner. Sure, as they said, it was us students’ who helped to take down Dante, but in this case, shouldn’t they go to the authorities for help? Taking a deep breath, I verbalized my question.

Wouldn’t it be better if you brought in the proper authorities? Maybe even The Officials whom the Core Council worked under. I mean, we’re students…

They all looked at each other again. I really wished they’d stop doing that. I felt left out, wondering what they were saying and thinking. Are you guys communicating telepathically to something? It’s creeping me out a little. My mouth clamped shut. Gods. Sometimes I wished I had a little more control over my tongue. No offense, I murmured. Pissing off a group of powerful witches who had me surrounded wasn’t the smartest thing to do.

Surprisingly, there was a hum of laughter. Yes, we do that. I suppose it isn’t polite to do so in your company. We apologize.

My shoulders relaxed with a relieved exhale.

As for your earlier question: no, we don’t want to bring in the authorities. We’ve been trying to keep this entire situation under wraps, Fiona.

I understand not wanting to cause panic, but… I shrugged. If we take this on, the Officials will have to be let in. They’re the reason the Core Council exists. They put the group of students together. Plus, I just got back into their good graces. I wasn’t trying to get into more trouble and possibly get kicked out of the council and out of the manor that had become my home.

Perhaps you can convince them to keep quiet.

Me? My lips twisted wryly. We don’t have the best relationship right now. I doubt they’ll listen to me. But they might listen to Dracus. Maybe I could plead the case to him and he’d plead it to the Officials. He could be very persuasive. However, I’ll see what I can do.

Because you need our help?

Why beat around the bush? I looked the head witch in the eyes. Precisely.

She smiled. Then, we’ll talk later.

Later? But―

I let out a shriek as the ground seemed to shift beneath my feet. Suddenly, I was spiraling into space. Oh, come on, we weren’t finished! My annoyed words whipped around me as I fell to... wherever.

I landed on something soft with an oomph and bounced a couple of times.

Help us and we’ll see what we can do for you, Fiona. It was a chorus of voices and it sounded far away.

Shocked, confused and a little miffed to have been dismissed so suddenly, I scowled. Looking around, I realized that I was in my bedroom. I’d landed on my bed.

Well, thanks for the soft landing, I grumbled as I scrambled to my feet. Looking around, I wondered how they had transported me right back to my room. Of course, they can do that. They’re witches.

I felt a little lost. How did I contact them when I had word of whether the core council would help? Would I have to sneak off campus again? How exactly would they help me with the Demetrius situation? Would they? There was a possibility that I was being played here. Nothing was as it seemed in this world. For all I knew, I’d somehow help the witches, and they’d screw me over by not helping me with my problem.

I paced my room, my mind racing much too fast. Once I went to the rest of the council about Dante, they’d know I had snuck off to see the witches. So much for keeping that under wraps. I could do nothing and let the witches deal with their own problem.

No, I can’t do that. My conscience would never allow it. Dante was on the loose. Something had to be done. I wanted to help protect innocent shifters. Dropping to my bed, I groaned. Now would be a good time to hear from my ghostly mentor. It was creepy as hell communicating with a dead calm, but right now, hearing from Leia sure would be comforting.

Leia, are you there? I felt ridiculous calling to her. My voice sounded small and... scared. I was afraid. Afraid of what would happen if Dante wasn’t caught soon. Afraid of having to tell Dracus about Demetrius. Of what the guys would say about me sneaking off. My troubles were piling up, and it sucked.

Still in the clothes I’d gone to see the witches in, I trudged to the elevator. I hadn’t slept, showered, nothing. Because I’d sat on the edge of my bed since the witches sent me back, freaking out over everything until the sun came up. The elevator stopped, and the doors slid open. The guys were all present and ready for training that I wasn’t up for.

Training and building my powers was the least of my concern. Who needed to learn how to control