Chapter 226: I Will Adopt You

The moment the starting gun went off, one would have expected the Chibuns to dash toward the finish like animals in any normal race.

The exact opposite happened.

The gunshot startled humans and Chibuns alike, and for the first few seconds, the course descended into complete chaos. Some of the Chibuns bolted forward while others scattered sideways. One flattened itself against the floor, refusing to move at all, while another spun around and raced straight back toward the person who had released it.

Unfortunately, that one belonged to Karen.

"Are you kidding me?!" Karen shouted as the Chibun bounded happily toward her. "Get the fuck back in the race!"

She pointed frantically toward the finish line, but the more she gestured for it to go away, the closer it came until it was practically sitting at her feet.

Laughter broke out among the Aetheris students.

"Excellent choice, Caelis!" one of the dragons called across the court. "Ophidian really sent us their finest!"

Another voice followed immediately. "Don’t blame the human. Even the Chibun wants to escape your House!"

That earned an even louder roar of laughter from Aetheris, followed by angry shouts and curses from the Ophidian side.

Caelis didn’t react.

While everyone else laughed at Karen’s misfortune, he stood with his arms folded, one hand resting against his chin. Behind the dark lenses of his sunglasses, his attention remained fixed on the race.

Or rather, on one particular competitor.

And that didn’t go unnoticed.

Maverick Nightshade came to stand beside the Basilisk Prince, following his line of sight until it landed exactly where he’d expected.

Aria.

Her Chibun still hadn’t moved from the starting line. Karios simply sat there staring up at her while Aria crouched behind the boundary, pointing toward the opposite end of the course and apparently trying to explain to the animal what he was supposed to do.

It didn’t help that one of the other Chibuns was already bounding determinedly toward the finish, drawn by the treats waiting in the shallow dishes.

Unfortunately for everyone else, it belonged to Charlotte.

"Yes, Tom! Keep going! Make Momma proud!" Charlotte screamed, bouncing where she stood and clapping wildly as the grey Chibun raced ahead.

"You can fool everyone else, but not me."

Maverick’s voice broke Caelis’s concentration.

"What are you talking about, Professor?" Caelis asked casually, without bothering to look at him.

Around them, the court had descended into noisy chaos. Humans shouted instructions their Chibuns had no obligation to obey while students screamed encouragement from the sidelines. Bets were being called from every direction, coins and notes changing hands as quickly as odds were shouted.

A particularly loud group of Aetheris dragons had apparently placed a considerable amount on Charlotte’s Chibun and were now roaring Tom’s name as if the creature were charging into battle.

Caelis heard every bit of it.

The turnout alone had already exceeded his expectations, and judging by the amount of money currently exchanging hands, the night’s profits would be massive.

That pleased him immensely.

"Stay away from Aria." Maverick went straight to the point, his voice low enough that the warning remained between them. "There won’t be a second warning."

"Even I know better than to lay a hand on a werewolf’s mate."

Caelis finally turned toward him.

Maverick didn’t so much as blink at the revelation. After his behavior tonight, even an observant fool could have connected the dots, much less someone as calculating as Caelis.

"I have no desire to be disintegrated by your mother’s death touch," Caelis continued.

"It’s not my mother you should be worried about."

One of Caelis’s brows rose.

Maverick met his gaze, and for a brief moment, his irises burned gold, offering the Basilisk Prince a glimpse of the beast staring back at him.

"It’s me."

Caelis regarded him for another second before inclining his head.

"Fair point, Alpha Maverick. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d rather concentrate on the race."

Having delivered his warning, Maverick walked away to join the Therion students cheering for his girlfriend.

Caelis watched him leave before giving a quiet scoff.

Maverick had misunderstood him. He had no intention of harming Aria Aspen—as long as she was not a threat to beastkind. There were far more effective ways of drawing the truth out of someone.

Then his attention returned to the game.

"Come on, Karios." Aria pinched the space between her brows. "You’ve got to make your father and me proud. Or would you rather let someone else win and have Daddy get chewed out by the other Houses?"

Karios’s ears twitched. But that was it.

"All you have to do is run really quickly to the finish line. There are yummy treats waiting for you there." Aria pointed toward the dishes, certain that food would finally convince him.

Nothing happened.

"Fine." She sighed. "Whether you win or not, I’ll adopt you."

And that did it. Karios moved.

Aria’s eyes lit up as the Chibun hopped forward, slowly at first before picking up speed.

"Yes! Come on, boy! You can do this! Beat all their asses!"

Charlotte’s Tom was still ahead, although he had long since abandoned his assigned lane and was bounding diagonally across the course—not that it mattered. Karios, on the other hand, stayed remarkably straight, his little legs carrying him faster with every leap.

It didn’t take long for people to notice.

"Oh my God, he’s moving! Therion is catching up!"

The Therion crowd, which had all but given up moments ago, came alive at once.

Beasts who had been groaning over their wagers seconds ago surged to their feet, shouting Karios’s name as he bounded across the course. Even those who hadn’t bet on him joined in, House pride suddenly far more important than whatever coins they stood to lose.

Seeing that happen, Charlotte’s earlier confidence evaporated, replaced by a flicker of anxiety. Aria’s Chibun was rapidly catching up with hers, and at the speed Karios was going, he might actually overtake Tom. There were only a few meters left. She couldn’t let that happen.

"Hurry up, Tom!"

Her encouragement did little to make him move any faster, and Charlotte’s frustration mounted.

"Just hurry the fuck up!" she yelled at the top of her lungs.

The force of it must have taken more out of her than she’d realized because her heart suddenly began pounding harder than it should. A wave of dizziness followed, making her sway slightly before she caught herself.