The Gazelle Who Caught a Lion (3 page)

Still, he cursed himself for pointing that out because Angel

obviously took it as a rejection of sorts. He burst into tears and

instantly looked away from Clark, angrily wiping his eyes.

Clark grabbed his brother and forced their eyes to meet. “Angel,

look at me. Look at me. I’m not in a relationship with Layton. He’s a very good friend, but that’s it.”

Angel’s big, black eyes were so deep and beautiful they

hypnotized Clark. The antelope was so close now that his scent

invaded Clark’s nostrils. God, it was getting harder and harder to stay away from Angel and not take what Clark’s lion demanded. Even now,

only a miracle kept him from pressing his lips to Angel’s. It was one of those moments when Clark actually thought he could smell arousal

from Angel. And now, they were alone, and no one and nothing would

bother them. Nothing, except Clark’s conscience. Whatever he

thought he felt coming from Angel must be just his own wishful

thinking.

The Gazelle Who Caught a Lion

19

Clearing his throat, he took a step back. “Just a very good friend,”

he repeated.

For a few moments, Angel just stared at him as if unconvinced.

Taking a deep breath, he said, “Okay. But I know you’re hiding

something. If Layton’s not your lover, who is?”

Clark froze. “I don’t have a lover,” he said, shocked at his own

calmness. Blood roared in his ears as images of Angel finding out his secret shot through his head.

“I don’t believe you.” Angel narrowed his eyes at him. “You might

believe you’re as cool as a cucumber, but you can’t fool me. I’m not an idiot, Clark. Don’t take me for one.”

Angel made no attempt to disguise his hurt now, and Clark knew

he needed to do something, and fast. “It’s true that I’m in love with someone,” he said.

Angel swallowed, his expression completely blank. “Who? Since

when?”

“It doesn’t matter. The feeling’s not mutual. The person in

question doesn’t love me back.”

Angel gaped. “But, Clark…How is that possible?”

Clark shrugged. “Please, Angel. Let’s not talk about this right now.

Better, tell me about your roommate.”

“My roommate is just a stupid, arrogant jerk who thinks he’s

better than me because he’s a sable and I’m a gazelle.”

Clark had already learned some antelopes thought they were better

than others. It pissed him off that Angel was target of teasing because of that as well. To this day, he couldn’t understand why Angel hadn’t been assigned a gazelle roommate. Apparently, the differences

between the various species of antelopes weren’t considered big

enough to warrant additional caution. At least Angel wasn’t rooming

with a wildebeest.

“Don’t worry,” he said. “I’ll put him in his place. You’ll never

have trouble with him again.”

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Scarlet Hyacinth

“Seriously, Clark, it’s fine. I can deal with it.” Angel squeezed his shoulder. “I’m more concerned about you.”

Angel seemed so sad that Clark’s heart threatened to burst. He

wanted to say something, anything that could wipe the sadness away,

but suddenly, Angel’s expression changed, his eyes burning with hope and decision. “I know. Maybe I could help. I could talk to your loved one, convince him or her to give you a chance.”

If Clark ever had a doubt over Angel’s feelings, that phrase

effectively eliminated it. “No, that’s fine,” he hastily said, surprised he could even speak. “Thank you, but it won’t help.”

Nothing would ever help. Because Angel didn’t love him like that,

and Clark would have to shoulder this secret for the rest of his life.

The Gazelle Who Caught a Lion

21

Chapter Two

“Paranormal creatures can be of three types—shifters, magical and

mixed, or mythological. Most of the students here at the Academy fall into the first category, although we’re starting to have some magical admissions as well.”

The words of the teacher reached Angel almost through a cloud.

Because of the new influx of varied species, their tutors were

pumping all sorts of new information in their brains, preparing them for their new roomies.

Angel very much doubted the students in question would be

received with too much enthusiasm, and the lesson would probably

serve just to make the shifters even more curious. To Angel, it was so strange to think paranormal beings had lived so isolated from each

other. From what his father had said, no one from their community

had even thought of contacting other races. The elders were the only one who even remembered about their existence.

Since Angel’s grandfather was an elder, though, he already knew

about these distinctions, and the class was boring him to tears. He

wished the teacher had chosen something more challenging for today

because as it was, Angel could only think about the conversation he’d had with Clark.

“Can anyone tell me of a magical creature?” their teacher asked.

“Elf?” a student replied.

“That’s right. An elf is a magical creature.” The teacher nodded

approvingly. “Anything else?”

“Dragon,” another one said with a victorious sound.

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“A dragon is a good example, but for mythological creatures.

Other ideas?”

Some students offered the occasional answer, but Angel didn’t

hear the rest of it. He was now remembering the moment Clark had

confessed he loved someone. Clark was in love. God. It couldn’t be.

Clark couldn’t be in love. It wasn’t possible.

Angel snapped out of his musings when Reed elbowed him in the

stomach. “Pay attention. The teacher’s staring straight at you.”

Angel forced himself to focus. As if on cue, the teacher directed

his steely gaze straight at Angel. “Mr. Williams-Wade? What about

you? Any examples you can think of?”

Angel instantly fell back on his grandfather’s lessons. “Elves, fae, liches, gremlins, golems, sprites, pixies, witches, and demons are

magical creatures. Mermaids, unicorns, gryphons, phoenixes, rocs,

undines, and gargoyles are mythological. There are some who skirt a thin line between the two, like vampires.”

The teacher gave him a surprised look. “Very good, Mr. Williams-

Wade.”

Someone murmured, “Show-off,” but with the teacher’s attention

off him, Angel allowed himself to zone out. The lesson ended without further incident, and Angel only realized it because the students

started to get up.

He did the same, gathered his electronic pad, and headed out.

Reed was right beside him. As soon as they were out of the class,

Reed pulled him in a more private corner. “What is with you today?”

Reed asked. “Since you skipped yesterday with Clark, you’ve been

acting really strange.”

“It’s just…Clark told me something that surprised me.” As much

as he wanted to pour his heart out to someone, he couldn’t confess

Clark’s secret to Reed. He trusted the swan, but it wasn’t his place to say something about it. “Hey, have you seen Clark out with anyone

different lately?”

The Gazelle Who Caught a Lion

23

Reed thought for a second then shook his head. “No, not really. He

talks to that Tate guy from time to time, but nothing else comes to

mind. Why?”

“It’s nothing,” Angel replied automatically. Could it be? Could

Clark be in love with his roommate?

It would make sense. Angel knew Tate didn’t like Clark, mostly

because of Clark’s superior strength. They lived in close quarters, so some type of connection would have to form. Tate was quite

handsome. Well, Angel didn’t really like him, but he could see why

someone else might be attracted to him.

Angel would have never even thought about it a few days back,

but now…And God, it hurt so badly. Clark shouldn’t be in love with

Tate. He should be in love with Angel.

The mere thought froze his blood in his veins. God, he shouldn’t

be imagining himself as Clark’s mate. They were brothers and nothing more. When was he going to get his thick skull to grasp that?

Sometimes, he managed to bury the need he felt for Clark under

thick layers of pure affection. He was just so used to Clark’s presence that occasionally, he didn’t have to make the effort. But as more and more time passed, Angel’s neglected libido demanded its due, and his fantasies—all of them starring Clark—were increasingly explicit. It

was a dangerous thing, given that he lived in a shape-shifter dorm,

where privacy truly didn’t exist.

Knowing he would raise suspicion if he continued to act strange,

Angel focused on Reed. “I don’t really like that guy,” he said

truthfully.

“Me neither.” Reed sighed. “Unfortunately, we can’t all have

Derek and Jace’s luck.”

The two werewolf brothers were the only ones who’d been paired

together upon being admitted in the university. With Morgan and

Layton, it had been a close call, since the two were blood brothers, the same age, and both carnivores. However, the difference in shifter

species eventually led them to be assigned to different rooms as well,
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much to the two brothers’ dismay. They’d all been forced to accept it because, in an Academy full of young men and women still wary of

each other, this type of rule could make all the difference in the world.

“True,” Angel told his friend. He might have added something

else, but he suddenly felt Clark’s familiar presence approach. Even in the sea of shifters surrounding them, he could still sense his brother a mile away.

Clark appeared from the crowd and grinned as he reached them.

“Hey. I hear you impressed the Paranormal Sociology teacher.”

Angel snorted. “It was nothing. I just gave him a good answer

when he expected me to go blank faced. Seriously, people love to

exacerbate rumors.”

Clark’s eyes twinkled with mirth. “You know it. Hey, you’re done

with classes for today, right?”

Angel nodded. Clark knew his schedule well since they only had a

few courses different. “Want to go hunting?” Clark suggested.

Enthusiasm immediately coursed through Angel. Hunting was

their game. As kids, Angel would shift in his antelope form and run, while Clark tried to catch him. Clark was a bit faster, but Angel’s

slimmer build gave him an advantage. Sometimes, Angel managed to

escape his brother, other times not.

“Great idea,” he said. “Reed, you don’t mind, do you?”

Reed snickered and shook his head. “Nah. I’ll go tease Layton and

Morgan. You know it’s among my favorite activities. Oh, one more

thing. I’m going back to pack lands tomorrow. Care to come with?”

The news surprised Angel. He shared a look with Clark. “I’m not

sure. Why? Is there a problem?”

Reed shook his head. “No. I just want to see everyone.”

“Okay. We’ll think about it and tell you tonight.”

Reed waved at them and took off, disappearing into the crowd.

“Well, that was weird,” Angel commented. “I wonder if something

happened at home.”

The Gazelle Who Caught a Lion

25

As a rule, young shape-shifters didn’t run back to their parents

after leaving the proverbial nest. It varied a lot from species to

species, but generally, birds were quite independent, as well as felines.

In fact, as an antelope, Angel was more likely to yearn for home than Reed.

“He’d tell us if he was worried about something,” Clark said

soothingly. “Besides, our folks would know and warn us in advance.”

“I suppose.” Angel bit his lower lip. He cared about Reed greatly

and hated the thought that the swan might have a problem he wasn’t

telling them about. “I’m just not sure.”

Clark wrapped an arm around his shoulder. “Come on. Let’s get

some air, and we’ll talk to Reed later.”

Angel nodded, and the excitement over the hunt returned. They

walked out of the main building, chatting idly about their day. Even if the concern over Reed persisted, Angel found himself relaxing,

reassured by his brother’s presence and words.

Just as they readied themselves to leave Academy grounds, Angel

spotted a car pulling in. “Looks like some of the new students are

arriving,” Clark commented idly.

Clark was right, although from what Angel could tell, it was

student, not students. Several people left the car, but only one young man of an age close to Angel’s. Given the circumstances, everyone

seemed curious as to who the new arrival could be.

Reed, Layton, and Morgan made their way toward Angel and

Clark. “I hear his name is Alexis Whitaker and he’s an incubus,”

Layton whispered in Angel’s ear.

“Do I even want to know how you found that out?”

Layton snickered, and Morgan joined in. Sometimes, Angel forgot

their father was a mafia leader.

“All right, whatever,” he said. “We’ll find out more when he

actually enlists in classes.”

As interesting as it would be to go hunting for information on this

Alexis character, Angel much preferred spending time with Clark.

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Scarlet Hyacinth

Clark must have agreed because he started pulling Angel toward

the exit. However, before they could make their escape, Angel’s

sociology teacher appeared in front of them. “Mr. Williams-Wade.

There you are.”

“Hello, Mr. Ruiz,” Angel replied with a tight smile. “Can I help