Azure Dragons (Supernatural Shifter Academy #2) - G. Bailey Page 0,34

happening to you.” And with that, he saunters away, holding up a hand in a jovial wave, as if we were old friends parting ways. The fucking nerve.

Still trembling with anger and fear, I drop my shoulders and fall onto the bench with a hard thud. I can feel Landon’s eyes on me as I run my hands through my hair, my face flushed and my heart pounding. I can hardly bring myself to look at him as he comes to sit beside me, putting a gentle hand on my arm. “Boots,” he says quietly, “are you okay?”

I take a shaky breath and turn to him, swallowing hard. “No, Landon,” I reply flatly. “I don’t think I am.”

“He went through your records?” Hazel’s eyes flash as we walk back in the direction of the convention center. “How is that even allowed? He could get expelled for something like that, couldn’t he?” An air of tension has fallen over the group in the aftermath of what happened, and I can see the guys looking at each other. The question on all their faces is clear: they’re wondering whether saying something will make it better or worse. I don’t blame them; hell, I don’t even know the answer to that question.

Hunter sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. “Privacy rules don’t apply to shifters, Hazel. You know that. He works for the school - he can pretty much dig up whatever dirt he wants.”

“How is that fair?” She shakes her head, her blonde curls bouncing around her face.

“It’s not,” Ruby replies, and sighs. “Lyle’s always been an asshole. One of those guys who’s on a major power trip because he’s in the Academy’s pocket.” She blows a stray strand of dark hair out of her face, her expression frigid. “He tried to get me to go out with him my first month here - got all pissy when I told him to fuck off. If Xander weren’t here, he probably would’ve pulled something similar.” She turns to me. “I’m sorry you have to deal with this, Millie. You’re not seeing the best our school has to offer.”

“It’s fine.” I sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. “I guess I should just ignore it, right? Don’t give him the satisfaction.”

“You shouldn’t have to,” Silas puts in. “We came here to see the conference, not listen to a bunch of bullshit about your parents.”

“What if it wasn’t bullshit?” I ask, turning to him. “He said it himself. He has access to my records.”

“Look, Boots…” The dragon shifter runs a hand through his hair, looking like he’s struggling to find the right words. “Don’t listen to him, okay? I’m sure there was a good reason your parents did it. And if not…”

“If not,” Hunter finishes, his eyes meeting mine, “it doesn’t matter.”

“That’s right,” Landon agrees. “We’re your family, Boots. And nothing’s going to change that.”

I turn to look at them: Landon, his arms crossed, Silas and Hunter, watching me with concern on their faces, Shade, who’s been quiet this whole time, and Hazel. The twins are new to our group but slowly creeping into my heart. The family I chose.

“Maybe you’re right,” I say, smiling a little, but there’s still a rotten feeling in the pit of my stomach, and I can’t fight the sense that it might be here to stay.

“Remind me again why we’re going up here,” I say, breathing hard as I round what feels like the hundredth corner in the narrow stairwell. We might as well have been climbing for hours, given how badly out of shape I feel, and I have to pause and lean forward, putting my hands on my knees.

Shade turns around to look at me, ahead of me on the stairs. It’s embarrassing how much easier of a time he’s having. “Better view,” he replies, not sounding out of breath in the slightest. “Besides, practicing is always more fun when there’s the danger of falling to your death, don’t you think?” He frowns as I continue to suck in air. “Unless… You’re not going to like, pass out or something, are you?”

I wave him off. “No. I mean, probably not.”

“Good,” he says, “because we’re almost there.”

I follow him the rest of the way up, and we finally arrive at the top of the stairs, where a metal doorway waits for us. Shade pushes it open unceremoniously and steps out onto the roof, and I follow a moment later, still struggling to catch my breath.

The view from on