Courts and Cabals G. D'Moore (classic reads .TXT) 📖

will claim harassment. That will get you permanently tossed. I preempted that by putting you on the bench, but I have every intention of putting you back in the game.”

That soothed his ego, but the wolf in him still wanted the thrill of the chase. They might not know what was in Dupree’s DNA, but Vernon knew the kid was hiding something.

“Third, you were just in a high-stress operation. Six KIA and twice as many WIA from the report you sent me. It’s protocol to go on medical leave to wind down after something like that. I couldn’t send you to St. Vincent’s anyway without throwing up red flags all over the place.”

Vernon didn’t give a shit about the regs. The only thing he hated more than those stupid rules was the counseling session he’d have to go through in the next twenty-four hours. It was all a waste of his very valuable time.

“Last but not least, I’m the director of this fucking department for a reason, Agent Dud,” the venom in her voice sent him flinching backwards. “I don’t need you to tell me something is going on. I know there is something going on. I also know how to deal with it. I’ve read Sheriff Wood in on the case, and instructed her to keep it on the down low from her counterpart. He’s too close with the school, and we don’t want any leaks. I’ve also ordered surveillance of Mr. Dupree. It has to be done from outside school grounds, and will be minimal at best, but we can try to get a bug on him if he goes off campus. If he’s up to something we’ll get an inkling of it,” her words lost their bite near the end, as she leaned back in her chair. “Does that meet your expectations, Agent?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he felt like he’d just gotten a spanking from momma. He felt like an idiot. The Director was the boss for a reason. “I apologize.”

“You’ve got a go get’em attitude, Vernon, and that’s fantastic; but you’ve got to learn to trust other people. Even us humans know what we’re doing.”

After the ass chewing, he was only fifty percent certain the Director was as mundane as she claimed. “Yes, ma’am,” he repeated, and left the office.

He made sure to apologize to the secretary before returning to his office. When he logged onto his email, the Director had already sent him details of the surveillance op as well as the communications codes. He might not be able to be there, but he could talk with the boots on the ground.

“And Becky,” he reminded himself. He was sad he wouldn’t get to see the other shifter anytime soon.

***

Xamira was right. The next week was crazy busy. It turned out I’d only been out for six hours after my trip out the second story window. I was out of the infirmary by Saturday. Whatever Lilith had done, she was powerful enough to cure me from a world-class ass-kicking way before Dani was cleared by the school’s medical staff. If the nurse thought that was weird, she didn’t say anything.

Xamira never left my side. Apparently, she and Dani would guard me while Xander took care of Lilith’s needs. I didn’t want to think what those needs might be, but adding the female imp’s half-succubus powers to my daily routine was killing my balls.

I left the infirmary confident that I was safe. Lilith informed me that the impending trial put the blood feud on hold, and if any changelings got uppity, Xamira would put them down. I led the way back to my room only to find a moving company packing everything up and moving it across campus. While I’d been healing, Aden had been hard at work.

The incubus put his conflict resolution skills to good use, and forced the academy to bend several of their rules. First, I was moved into the room next to Lilith’s. That made me the only guy in an all-girl dorm, and Dani was slated to be my roommate. Xamira was bunking with Lilith, and Xander was getting an apartment in town. Second, the academy was paying me to sign a non-disclosure agreement that prevented me from suing them. It didn’t look good for them to have a supernatural fight on campus, and they wanted it to go away. All I looked at was the fifty-thousand-dollar price tag before signing on the dotted line. With my ten thousand dollar signing bonus, I was rolling in cash. Not bad for a poor townie.

I spent the week getting followed everywhere by Xamira, and for the time being, she was sleeping in Dani’s bed. Dani was laid up until Thursday, which was the day of the trial. A trial I spent all week trying not to think about.

I tried to read up on Fae law in history class, but Miller was all over me. I’d ended up with a B plus on the midterm, and despite nearly dying, the old fart wasn’t cutting me any slack. The rest of the teachers were. My guess was the administration was pressuring them not to push me.

Even with my extra free time and lack of homework, human knowledge of Fae law was weak. The knowledge of the covenants between the Fae and other supernaturals was even weaker, and the specifics on the covenants were non-existent.

By the time Thursday rolled around, I was a ball of stress with no outlet. I didn’t feel like making my usual trip to the gym because I was afraid I’d puke if I pushed myself too hard. I’d probably lost five pounds in the last week because I had no appetite. None of the TV shows I liked held my attention, and even history seemed irrelevant. Due to my schedule, I had the last period free on Thursday.

I entered my room and tossed my bag