I begged off the evening activities, even though both Deborah and Mary exhorted me to join in with their girlie mani-pedi session. Glancing down at my own ragged nails, I didn’t think that it would really be my thing. Besides, if I was going to sneak out to contact Corrigan, I’d have to get in some sleep first. I pleaded old age, noting that the two girls looked slightly relieved that I’d declined their offer, then padded upstairs, still brewing over what on earth I was going to say to him.

Waking up several hours later, I got to my feet and stretched before peering outside. The moon, barely a sliver now, remained uncovered this night, and the stars twinkled and shone with a ferocity that seemed to mirror my own feelings. I wished that I’d had the chance to talk to Alex again, so that I could run through what I might say to Corrigan, but I figured it was probably too late. In fact, it was more than possible that the Lord Alpha himself was all tucked up and snoozing away in his own bed by this point, and I wouldn’t be able to speak to him at all. I wasn’t sure if that would be a good thing or not. I’d just have to try again the following night, and delaying the inevitable probably would just make it harder rather than easier. Before I could stop myself, I started wondering what he wore to bed. The shifter girls, who I used to share a dorm with back in Cornwall, did tend to have pyjamas or night-dresses, unless it was around the time of the full moon. Somehow the idea of Corrigan wearing checked flannel pyjamas didn’t quite fit however. I couldn’t imagine why.

Pushing the lurid visions out of my head, I thought more carefully about what I could wear myself for this night’s little adventure. If I put on the suffocating mage robes again, I knew that I’d just end up taking them off as I got outside, safe in the knowledge that all the little mages were tucked up nice and snug in their beds. But parading around in my underwear this time, given that I’d have to leave the academy grounds entirely, might not be the smartest idea I’d ever had. I frowned, considering. My own clothes hadn’t been returned back to me, but they must be hanging around the laundry area somewhere. Deciding to venture out to see if I could repatriate them before I went outside, I wrapped the robes around my body like a sarong, rather than bothering to go through the rigmarole of trying to get them completely back on. Of course if Thomas had deigned to give me some proper nightwear, I thought irritably, then this wouldn’t be an issue.

It only took me a few minutes to tiptoe downstairs and past the kitchens to the area that my nose defined as the laundry room thanks to its clean scent of detergent. Once inside, I was amazed at the size of the place. I mean, I knew that there were Initiates and mages abounding across the academy but this wasn’t a laundry room, it was more like a factory. Rows upon rows of neatly pressed and differently coloured robes sat on shelves, just waiting to be returned to their owners. Despite the size of the room, the uniformity of the majority of its contents meant that I managed to locate my original t-shirt that I’d arrived in fairly easily. Squeezing it over my head, I gave it a happy little hello, then began searching for my jeans.

Unfortunately they were less easy to find. Annoyed at the idea that they might have been thrown out, I had no choice but to look for some kind of alternative. There were a couple of pairs of men’s jeans, and some dark trousers, but it seemed incredibly unlikely that any of them would fit. I knew that I’d have to get a move on if I had any chance of contacting Corrigan before he really did fall asleep so I just ended up grabbing the very first thing that my hand landed on and pulling it over my hips. It turned out to be a very small micro-mini skirt in bright yellow. For a moment I gaped down at myself in horror, then gave in, zipped it up, and quickly left the way I’d entered.

I jogged back along the corridor until I reached the cafeteria where I already knew I’d be able to gain access to the outside world. Repeating the actions of my previous ‘escape’, I pushed myself through the same window, finding it easier this time with practice. It also helped that the wounds on my hand were now completely scabbed over and no longer required a bandage to prevent any seepage. And then I was back outside, again taking in the fresh scent of the night.

Instead of heading off round the back of the main building, this time I jogged down the driveway. Having arrived here by portal, I, of course, had no idea how far it actually stretched, but it seemed logical that it would be the fastest way to leave the compound itself. Thanks to my visit to the Ministry headquarters in London to confront the Arch-Mage, I was well aware that the mages placed a nullification spell against any shifters being able to make use of the Voice, the mental telepathy link that only pack alphas could initiate in order to contact their so-called subjects. It seemed pointless to me that they bothered using it here at the academy, where the likelihood of a real shifter presenting themselves seemed to be about zero, but I supposed that I should just be grateful that I’d also discovered in the course of my temporary life up in Scotland that I also had the power to initiate a Voice link with Corrigan. Not with anyone else – I’d tried that and abjectly failed – but for some reason, with the Lord Alpha and the Lord Alpha only, I could do it. As it was beyond logic that I could even hear the Voice as I wasn’t a shifter, I didn’t bother to examine too deeply the reasons why I could contact Corrigan. I’d just have to hope that once I got off the academy grounds I’d be able to use it without any trouble.

For once it appeared that my luck was in. I only had to jog about a mile down the driveway itself before I came to a set of imposing gates. I’d managed to sneak into the Ministry in London by short circuiting the very human security system. Hopefully, that would be a similar case here. However, once I reached the gates themselves, I realised that they were actually already ajar, and that I’d be able to squeeze myself through without needing to try anything extra. Surprised, and praying it wasn’t some kind of crafty trap that the Dean had set just in case I decided to try this very thing, I slipped through.

Somehow, without really knowing how, I was aware of the moment that the nullification spell was no longer affecting me. It wasn’t an obvious difference by any means, but it felt as if some part of my brain had been oddly muffled and now the dampener had been removed. Exhaling relief that at least the physical complications of using the Voice to beg Corrigan pathetically for a date had been removed, I moved away from the gates themselves and sat myself down cross-legged by the side of them.

The night air felt considerably cooler against my naked skull than it had done previously. It was certainly bloody cold against my uncovered legs with the daft yellow mini skirt on. Thinking that I might as well have not bothered with it all, as it was short enough to ensure that even sitting cross-legged wasn’t an issue, I rubbed my skin vigorously to try to keep warm. I knew that for all the chill in the air, it wasn’t the temperature that was making me shiver.

“Come on, Mack,” I whispered to myself. “You can do this.”

I closed my eyes and scrunched up my face and tried the Voice.

Umm…

Oh, great start, I told myself sarcastically. ‘Ummm.’ That will really grab the Brethren Lord’s full attention.

I almost fell over from my sitting position when it did.

Mack, what’s wrong?

The concern in his Voice was almost touching. Almost. Hi Corrigan. How are things?

You’re contacting me in in the middle of the night to ask how I’m doing?

I could almost see him rolling his flashing green eyes at me. Uh, no. I felt bad, no, I FEEL bad about what happened yesterday. You know at the shrink’s place.

There was silence for a moment before he answered. Is this an apology? An actual apology from the big bad scary Mackenzie Smith?

Yeah. I mentally shrugged. I guess it is.

There was another moment of silence that deepened until I wasn’t even sure if he was still paying attention.

Corrigan? Are you still there?

I’m waiting.

Waiting for what?

Your apology.

My…It was a struggle to not let my irritation show through. It was much harder to mask your true feelings through Voice contact than through normal conversation. I apologise.

Thank you. So why are you really contacting me, kitten?

I, uh, thought that maybe I should do something. You know, to make it up to you. I behaved badly.

Ripples of unfeigned amusement carried over the telepathic waves. Oh, I’m sure I could think of something or other that you could to do to make it up to me.

Kill me now. Don’t get any ideas, my Lord. This is purely on a platonic basis.

I will try not to let the disappointment overcome me. So what did you have in mind?

I crossed my fingers tightly and hoped for the best. I thought maybe we could meet. You know in person. And then I could, you know, apologise. And, um, we could chat.

Chat? About what? The weather perhaps? Knitting patterns?

You’re right. This is a stupid idea. I’m sorry for bothering you. Alex would just have to come up with some other way of getting into the vampires’ abode. This was not going to work.

Hold those horses, kitten. As you’ve gone to so much trouble to get in touch then perhaps you are right. We should meet. And…chat. Why don’t we have dinner? I know some good places that are quiet and intimate where we wouldn’t be disturbed.

I really didn’t like the direction this conversation was taking or the suggestive tone of the Lord Alpha’s Voice. Well, actually, Corrigan, I think it would be better if we went somewhere where there were a lot of people. You know, when you met me yesterday it was because I had anger management counselling.

You don’t say.

I swallowed. Err…I do say. And I find that it’s easier for me to keep my temper and act like a normal person if I’m in a big crowd. In fact, it’s actually part of my therapy to spend as much time out in the busy public as possible.

That’s an interesting choice of words, kitten.

What?

‘Normal person’. Because you’re definitely not normal and I’m pretty sure that you’re not a person either. You still owe me an explanation, I think.