Chapter 198: Don’t Wander Off

Dimitri lifted the back of Alek’s hand to his lips and kissed it.

For a moment, silence fell.

There was something unexpectedly reverent about the way he held Alek’s hand, like being her mate wasn’t merely something nature had decided for him, but something he would have chosen for himself anyway.

Then, just like that, the seriousness disappeared from his face.

"Anyway, if you have any more questions, you can always ask Professor Maverick. I’m sure he’d be more than happy to give you a very thorough lesson on mate bonds." The sly curl at the corner of Dimitri’s mouth made it perfectly clear he wasn’t talking about an ordinary lecture anymore.

Aria lifted a brow, seeing straight through him. "We’d see about that, Dimitri."

Then Brittney clapped her hands together. "All right, enough mate-bond lectures. Let’s get to this party!"

"Yes!" Variant and Valerie shouted excitedly at the same time. "Time to party!"

Just like that, they were finally on their way. Dimitri led them out of the dorm with Alek’s hand firmly intertwined with his, and the moment they stepped outside, the girls stopped.

A long black limousine was parked directly in front of the building.

"Ohhh," Trisha breathed, impressed. "Surprise. Surprise."

Aria stared at the limousine before turning slowly toward Dimitri. "Seriously?"

"What?" Dimitri asked innocently. "There are six of you. Did you expect me to pile everyone into the back of a regular car?"

"I could get used to this kind of treatment," Brittney announced, already making her way toward the vehicle.

The chauffeur stepped forward to open the rear door for them. He was another beast from House Therion, a large man dressed who greeted Dimitri with a respectful nod before waiting patiently while everyone climbed inside.

The interior earned another round of appreciative noises. Cream leather seats stretched along both sides, leaving more than enough room for all of them. Soft lights glowed overhead, and built into one side was a small refrigerated compartment stocked with wine, bottled water, soft drinks and neatly arranged containers of sliced fruit.

Brittney immediately reached for a bottle of wine before catching the look Aria gave her.

"What? I’m only looking."

"Look with your eyes."

Just like that, Brittney reluctantly put it back.

Dimitri climbed in last, settling beside Alek while the chauffeur closed the door. Moments later, the limousine pulled away from the dorm. Alek had barely gotten comfortable before Dimitri slipped an arm around her waist and drew her against his side because that was where she belonged.

"All right, ladies, listen up." The playfulness left his voice enough to get everyone’s attention. "Once we get there, I want the humans sticking close to me, Valerie or Variant. Don’t wander off alone, and don’t leave the arena with anyone you don’t know."

Brittney frowned. "Didn’t Caelis and Rhydian give their word that none of the humans would be harmed tonight?"

"They did," Dimitri replied.

"Then why are you acting like we’re entering a war zone?"

"Because Maverick and I aren’t willing to stake your safety on someone else’s promise." His tone remained calm, but there was no mistaking the seriousness behind it. "This is only a precaution. Stay where one of us can reach you and there shouldn’t be a problem."

Brittney bit down lightly on her lower lip and looked away. That could be a problem. She had every intention of finding a certain serpent tonight, and she doubted Dimitri would approve of her sneaking away to do it.

The conversation eventually drifted to easier things as the limousine continued deeper into the academy grounds. The crescent moon hung high above the trees, occasionally appearing between the branches before disappearing again.

For most of the drive, there was nothing outside the tinted windows except thick woods stretching along both sides of the road. Then the distant thump of music began to reach them. It grew louder with every turn until they started passing groups of beast students making their way through the woods, laughing and shouting among themselves. Soon, the trees thinned, firelight appeared through the branches, and the arena finally came into view.

"Oh my God," Alek whispered.

"Holy shit," Brittney breathed, immediately leaning toward the window.

Even Trisha moved closer for a better look while Valerie and Variant grinned at their reactions. Aria could hardly blame them. This wasn’t anything like the party venue she’d imagined. It looked like they had somehow driven into another world.

They were still staring when the limousine slowed and joined the line of vehicles pulling up outside the arena. Dimitri waited until they had come to a complete stop before speaking again.

"One more thing." His voice was serious enough that everyone turned toward him. "Members of House Therion have been told to keep an eye out for you tonight. If we somehow get separated and you can’t find me, Valerie or Variant, find a Therion beast. Look for the Therion emblem if you don’t recognize anyone. Tell them you’re with me, and they’ll help you."

His eyes moved across the human girls one by one. "And if something feels wrong, don’t wait around to find out whether you’re imagining it. You leave. Understood?"

A chorus of agreement followed before the door opened.

They stepped out one after another, their boots meeting the ground as music and laughter immediately surrounded them. Dimitri emerged beside Alek, followed by Valerie and Variant, while Aria pulled her fur coat more securely around herself and took in the sheer number of beasts filling the Outer Ring.

At first, it seemed as if nobody particularly cared about their arrival. Then Aria noticed one of the males nearby stop talking. His companion followed his stare. A female turned next, then another group farther ahead, until the attention spread through the crowd like a ripple. Conversations faltered as more heads turned toward the newcomers, taking in the group of human girls who had just climbed out of the limousine with the Beta of House Therion.

But above all those curious stares, one pair of slitted gray eyes found Aria with frightening precision.

Her heart nearly skipped out of her chest.

Maverick stood some distance away among the firelit ruins, and judging by the way his eyes slowly traveled from the pale-grey fur wrapped around her shoulders to the black skirt exposing most of her thighs before returning to her face, Dimitri had been right.

She had definitely asked for trouble.