Julia Talbot: Mystic U: Midterms

There was no answer, but Danny scrambled through the piles of torn clothing and shredded mattresses to check anyway. No bodies in the closets. Thank God. Popping his cell phone open, Danny stared at his room, which was just trashed. He dialed Simon, hoping to hell that his roomie was okay.

“Hello?”

“Simon? Hey, man, are you okay?”

“Huh? Yeah. I mean, I’m at the cafeteria, so death might be imminent, but I’m fine.”

“Uh-huh. Did you happen to do some redecorating before you left?”

“No? What’s the matter, man? You sound all tinny.”

“Our room has been tossed.” He’d seen this a thousand times on the news in the city, but he certainly never expected to see it at Mystic U.

“Okay, say that again?”

“Our room. It’s been tossed. Your laptop is missing.”

“I have it with me. Shit, man. I’ll be there in five. Call campus security.”

“Good idea.” It wasn’t security he called when he hung up with Simon. It was Lee. “Lee?”

“Hey, baby! Change your mind about coming to the house?”

Danny laughed, the sound edged with hysteria. “Looks like I might have to. Someone trashed my room. Simon is okay.”

“Trashed your room?”

“Yeah. And pissed all over it too.”

“Fuck! Get out of there and go somewhere public. I’ll meet you at that little courtyard next to your dorm. Now!”

“He’s not here anymore, babe. I have to wait for Simon.”

“Goddamn it, you stubborn puppy. Wait for him outside.”

“Don’t you yell at me.” His feet moved though, carrying him out and down the stairs, then out to the courtyard. Shivering, he stood there among all the kids playing Frisbee and studying and looking so normal. “I’m outside.”

“I’m three minutes away. Hang in there, baby.”

“I am.” No, he wasn’t gonna fall apart or anything. It was just freaky, thinking of his riding leathers up there, lying in a puddle of piss.

“Good on you, baby. Running with the wolves has been good for you, huh?”

“Yeah.” Yeah, it had. Lee was right. Six months ago, he would be pitching a royal screaming fit right about now. At this point, he was just working up a healthy dose of pissed off.

“Dan?” Simon came trotting up, his ever-present messenger bag slung low across his body. “You okay, man?”

“I think so. Simon is here, Lee. I’ll see you in a few.”

“I’ll be right there.”

Danny hung up, staring at Simon. “I didn’t call security.”

“Okay.” Simon put a hand on his arm. “You sure you’re okay?”

“I am. I was mainly worried about you.” Once he’d known Simon was okay, it was all about the “whoa, stinky.”

“Well, I’m good. Let me call the cops, huh?” Simon called campus security and was finishing up just about the time Lee showed.

“Hey.” Lee touched his arm before nodding at Simon. “I’m gonna go up and look before security comes. Fewer people to muddy up the smells that way.”

“I’ll come -”

“No, you won’t.” Lee jerked his head at Simon. “You keep Danny down here, okay. He’ll distract me.”

“Got it.” Simon grabbed Danny’s arm, holding him when he would have followed. “Dan, Lee knows everyone. Like literally. If there’s a scent marker, he’ll recognize it.”

“Oh. Okay.” That made as much sense as anything, and was a way better explanation than, “Lee is alpha,” which was how it usually came out in the conversation.

They waited, and it seemed endless. Security showed up and Lee came down before they went up, his lips set in a grim line, a sealed bag in his hand.

Two hours later, Danny and Simon were allowed to go and see if there was anything they could salvage. Heather was there by then, and she took one look, cursed viciously, and took Danny and Simon both by the arm.

“Wal-Mart, boys. Now. Come on. They’ll seal the door until we can get some help with the cleaning.”

That was the best offer he’d had since Heather and Lee had asked him to come home with them earlier. In a way, he wished he had. Then again, that would have left Simon to deal with the mess, and Danny was kind of glad he hadn’t.

An hour later, he had jeans, underwear and shirts to last a few days, and Simon was outfitted, as well.

“You can come back to the house with us, Simon,” Heather said, patting Simon’s arm.

“Nah. I called Kylie. She’ll let me stay over.”

Kylie was Simon’s newest girl and she seemed really nice. Danny had only met her once, being a little busy with his love life to be social at the dorm, but he figured Simon would be safe there.

They took Simon to Kylie’s, checked on Danny’s bike, which was safe, thank God, and then went back to Lee and Heather’s, where Danny collapsed on the couch.

“Okay, so tell me what you took from my place, Lee.”

“Huh? Oh, just a piece of clothing that was… soiled.” Lee grimaced. “I couldn’t identify the scent signature, but I don’t think it’s a college kid. I thought I’d take it to Logan.”

“That’s a good idea.” Heather wasn’t great at the tea and sympathy routine; she was too much action girl for that, but she’d been a trouper all evening.

“Yeah. Thanks for everything, guys. I just… Who would want to do this?”

“I can think of a bunch of folks, offhand.” When he stared, Lee shrugged. “We’re not exactly following the rules. Some people here are pretty old-fashioned.”

“You think this is because of our relationship?” It had never even occurred to him. God. In the city, no one knew anyone’s business. You tried to ignore your neighbors’ sexual gymnastics.

“Well, I can’t think of any other reason. Have you or Simon pissed anyone off?”

“Simon is the least pissy-offy person I know.” Danny chewed his thumbnail. “Shit. I – God.”

“Well, then, I’ll take the bag to Logan, you stay here with Heather and get calmed down a little.”

“I think it’s a bad idea for any of us to go anywhere alone until after the full moon.” Hugging her arms over her chest, Heather looked back and forth between him and Lee. “Aggressions rise during this time of the month.”

“She has a point.” Not that he was worried about staying at the house with Heather. She was a stud, he’d learned a lot about taking care of himself since last semester, and the house was defensible. No, he was worried about Lee.

“I need to know you two are safe.” Lee frowned, his dark blond brows drawing together.

“Too bad.” Heather’s chin stuck out at a stubborn angle. “We’re going.”

They all had a bit of a stare down, and Lee finally blew out a sharp breath. “Let me call Logan, see if he’s even at a place where we can intrude.”

Lee turned away, pulling out his cell, and Heather came to give Danny a hug. “Are you okay, hon?”

Danny pondered that a moment. “I’m coping. That’s good, right?”

“That is.” Reaching up, she stroked his cheek, her fingers a little rough with calluses like the farm girl she was, but the touch gentle. “I’m sorry.”

“Hey, this might not even be about me.” Simon might have pissed off some mage, right?

“Lee told me about your riding leathers. I think this is about us.”

With a sigh, Danny nodded, knowing she was probably right. “So what do we do?”

“Well, this is where we’re lucky, honey. Lee is good at this pack shit, and with the way your room was treated, it has to be a wolf. We leave it up to him and Logan. This is why I keep him around.”

That was a laugh and a half. Danny pulled her close, nose against hers. “Bullshit. You keep him around because you love him.”

She chuckled, rubbing noses with him. “That, too. Don’t worry, Dan. He’ll handle it.”