Azure Dragons (Supernatural Shifter Academy #2) - G. Bailey Page 0,19

make it to yours okay?”

I shrug dismissively. “I’ll figure it out.”

“Godspeed,” she replies, giving me a mock salute before tipping me a wave and disappearing down the hall.

I’m left to try to make sense of the map on my own, and I end up surprising even myself by making it to vampire shifting class a minute before the bell rings. It’s a sea of white and golden uniforms, and I can see Amelia and Hunter on the far left side of the classroom, talking in low voices. In the back corner, I see Lyle, whose eyes drift unnervingly over to me as I enter the room. The teacher, an older woman with graying hair, holds out a hand to me as I come to a stop. “Nice to meet you,” she says. “I’m Professor Cochran. It’s free seating here, so feel free to take any of the open desks, Ms…”

“Brix,” I reply, shaking her hand. “Millie Brix.”

She raises her eyebrows. “Wow,” she says. “I think we lucked out today, everyone.”

I balk when the other students’ attention settles on me, feeling put on the spot. “Sorry,” I say, brow furrowing. “‘Lucked out’?”

Professor Cochran nods eagerly. “I’ve been teaching here for nearly forty years, and I’ve never once had the privilege of having a hybrid as a student!”

Just like that, all the air seems to go out of the room. There’s an awkward rustling amongst the other students, followed by hushed whispers as their eyes practically burn a hole in my forehead.

I grimace.

So much for flying under the radar.

Chapter 8

I clear my throat, continuing to balk under the gazes of seemingly everyone in the classroom—specifically Lyle, who is giving me a look I can’t put my finger on. “Well,” Professor Cochran says, when the silence finally becomes unbearable, “I think this is a bit new for everyone here. Hybrids are exceedingly rare, so I think we should all take this as an opportunity to expand our knowledge. Sorry to put you on the spot like that,” she adds, leaning in closer to me.

“Don’t worry about it,” I tell her, relaxing a little. “I guess I’ll go find a seat, then.”

She nods. “We’ll get started in another couple minutes.”

Clutching my bookbag to my chest, I work my way to the back of the room and dropping into a desk. Hunter glances at me over his shoulder, and our eyes meet for a moment; he gives me a questioning look, and I shrug my shoulders. Could be better, could be worse. At least no one is giving me shit for my origins, the way Amelia does—although I don’t miss the stink eye she shoots me when Hunter finally turns his attention away.

I’m only just starting to get situated when Lyle comes over, taking a seat in the desk right next to me. He continues to give me that penetrating stare, made all the more unnerving by his corpse-like appearance. Finally, I can’t stand it anymore, and I turn to look at him. “Sorry, was I in your seat?” It’s a stupid question, but anything to get him to stop giving me that look.

He gives me a thin smile. “So you’re the hybrid,” he says, and my shoulders slump. If this is any indication, the rest of my time here is going to be equally coloured by my unique abilities. I can only hope it’s in a positive way, although I know better than to get too optimistic. I return his smile, nodding. “You were in my tour group yesterday,” he observes, leaning back in his chair. “I remember you. There was something about you, although I couldn’t figure out what… I sort of just had it chalked up to you being - well, gorgeous.”

I blink, startled. This just took an interesting turn. “I… thank you,” I say, feeling my face heat up a little. “I appreciate it.”

“No need to thank me,” he says. “It’s true. I mean, I have to admit, the whole hybrid thing’s a bit odd, but not a deal breaker. Call it a case study in interspecies interaction, right?” His smile turns a bit predatory, and I stiffen in my seat. I don’t like the way he’s looking at me, like I’m some kind of novelty - a snack he’s eagerly getting ready to devour.

“Well,” I reply, a little dryly, “I’m so glad I have your approval.”

“Hey, hey, I mean no disrespect,” he protests, putting his hands up. “I’m just curious, is all. I’ve heard rumours about hybrids, but I never