Chapter 208: Get Information About Aria

Something had changed.

Caelis could feel it deep in his bones. There was a piece on the board he hadn’t accounted for, something that had shifted without his knowledge, and the uncertainty was beginning to drive him insane.

He had spent days preparing for tonight. Every detail had been considered, every possible outcome weighed. He wasn’t about to allow the unexpected to disrupt any of it now. Yet his mind kept returning to what he’d seen in the woods.

The human and the Alpha Prince. When the hell had they become that close?

If anything, he had expected it to be Aria and Rhydian. That would have made far more sense and, quite frankly, would have made his plans much more worthwhile.

Unless this was some sort of game the human was playing. Seduce the dragon and the wolf?

Caelis frowned. But how?

Rhydian was a fool where a beautiful female was concerned, that much was guaranteed. Maverick Nightshade was another matter entirely. Since the Alpha Prince arrived at Bestiaris, Caelis had never seen him willingly entertain a woman’s advances. More importantly, he’d never heard so much as a whisper of Maverick taking one to bed. Not one rumor. Not one drunken encounter. Nothing.

Yet he had walked into those woods and found the same man on his knees between Aria Aspen’s thighs.

That wasn’t a minor discrepancy.

Maverick was averse to women. Simple as that. Caelis didn’t know what had happened to him, nor had he ever cared enough to pry, but he recognized trauma when he saw it. There were certain reactions the body learned that even the most disciplined person couldn’t completely hide. Whatever had happened to Maverick was his business, and Caelis had never intended to make it his own.

Until Aria Aspen somehow became the exception.

Had it all been an act?

Perhaps Maverick’s reputation was nothing more than an elaborate ruse concealing whatever true purpose had brought him to Bestiaris.

No. Caelis dismissed the thought almost immediately.

Maverick wasn’t cunning enough for that kind of deception. The man was intelligent, certainly, but he was painfully straightforward. If Maverick wanted to destroy somebody, he would probably have the courtesy to inform the person beforehand.

Which left the human. Aria Aspen.

The image returned before Caelis could stop it. Her before the Alpha Prince. Her cheeks flushed, blue eyes hazy with pleasure. The sounds she’d been making before she’d finally noticed him standing beneath the trees.

And then she’d looked directly at him.

That was the part Caelis couldn’t seem to shake. Most humans would have panicked, covered themselves, or even looked away in humiliation. Aria had done none of those things.

Instead she had stared straight back at him with those lust-heavy eyes while Maverick continued what he was doing, like she had decided that if he wanted to stand there and watch, then he could damn well watch.

She hadn’t given him embarrassment. She’d given him defiance. And for reasons Caelis didn’t particularly care to examine, it had felt very much like a challenge.

His jaw hardened.

What exactly was Aria Aspen doing to these men? First Rhydian. Now Maverick.

There was something here he didn’t understand, and he hated nothing more than an unanswered question standing anywhere near one of his plans.

He needed Venus. Now.

Caelis scanned the crowd of students, searching for his First Fang.

"There you are..."

A feminine voice purred beside him just as an arm slipped through his. Every hair along Caelis’s arm stood on end.

Karen Donovan.

"Where have you been, Caelis?" she demanded like he owed her an explanation.

His gaze dropped slowly to the arm she had looped through his. He didn’t like that. More specifically, he didn’t like the possessiveness in her tone.

Their arrangement had been very clear. Karen was allowed to hang on his arm tonight because it served both their purposes. That privilege did not grant her any claim over him.

He belonged to no one. And he certainly would never belong to Karen Donovan.

"You’ll find I’m certainly not in the mood for one of your games, Karen Donovan. Don’t make me take off these glasses. My gaze won’t be friendly."

Caelis said it so matter-of-factly that the false smile Karen had been wearing for the benefit of anyone watching disappeared instantly.

She carefully slipped her hand from his arm, but not before speaking loudly enough for those nearby to hear.

"Men are all the same. Fine. Go have fun with your boys."

She turned to leave, only to lean close enough to whisper, "Fuck you."

Then she whirled around and sauntered away.

Caelis didn’t give her a second glance. He had far more pressing matters on his mind.

His forked tongue flicked briefly between his lips, tasting the air. Hundreds of scents surrounded him—smoke from the braziers, alcohol, sweat, perfume, humans and beasts packed together—but it took him only a moment to isolate the familiar scent he was searching for.

Venus.

Caelis followed it through the crowd and found his First Fang standing with several members of Ophidian. There was a drink in his hand, and to anyone passing by, he appeared to be doing nothing more than enjoying a conversation with his Housemates.

But Caelis noticed something else.

From where Venus had positioned himself, he had a clear view of the Therion humans.

Or, more precisely, the human girl he had taken to bed.

A small furrow appeared between Caelis’s brows.

No. Venus was probably keeping an eye on her because of the mission. Nothing more.

Sensing his Prince nearby, Venus turned. Their eyes met across the crowd, and Caelis gave a slight tilt of his head, gesturing for him to follow.

He didn’t wait to see whether Venus obeyed.

Caelis made his way out of the Outer Ring and into the surrounding woods, continuing until the music had dulled behind them and he was certain no one was close enough to overhear. Venus followed without question.

Apparently, his agitation wasn’t as well concealed as Caelis had thought.

"What’s the problem, Your Highness?" Venus asked.

Caelis went straight to the point.

"You saw Maverick with the human girl, didn’t you?"

"Everyone saw Professor Maverick kiss Aria Aspen, Your Highness." Venus paused. "However, it changes nothing about tonight’s plan."

"No, it doesn’t." Caelis turned to face him. "But I would like to know whether I’ll be dealing with the wrath of a dragon, a wolf, or both when this is over."

Venus frowned. "You think Aria and Maverick are together? It could have been a one-time thing."

"With Rhydian, perhaps." Caelis’s expression hardened. "But Maverick is a wolf, and wolves don’t behave like that without reason. They’re territorial bastards. Even I know better than to dismiss one once he’s taken an interest in something."

Venus considered that. "So what would you have me do?"

"Find your secret human lover."

Venus went still.

Caelis noticed.

Of course he did.

"Get whatever information you can from her about Aria Aspen and Maverick Nightshade before the fight begins." Caelis held his gaze. "I don’t care how you manage it. I want to know what I’m walking into tonight."

For a brief moment, Venus said nothing. Then he inclined his head.

"As you wish, Your Highness."