Chapter 201

“Are you and Prince Shade an item?” she asked.

“We aren’t an item,” I assured her. “We are two items. We’re friends without benefit and will remain that way. Anyway, there’s one more. The big bad Jay. I call him Going-gray, and he hates it. He insists he isn’t even forty yet, but he looks more than forty-three to me. He’s lucky I didn’t start calling him mean grandpa.”

The girls roared with laughter again and forgot all about the rest of the snacks on the table, so I helped them out and consumed them like a locust.

“Prince Jay isn’t even married,” Summer said. She was keeping track of everyone’s marriage status?

“Now you know why,” I said.

 Danielle tilted her head to the side and furrowed her brow. “Have you called the Alpha Heir Sideburns in front of him?”

“All the time.” I nodded. “But I always apologize and promise him that I’d only call him Sideburns on a good day and Mutton Chops on a bad day in my head. But he still wouldn’t have it. That’s one of the reasons he sent me to the Academy—to reform.”

I grinned widely at the girls, brushing off the reality that Sideburns had dumped me here so I wouldn’t be his problem. “I’m going to learn manners from you.”

Paris winked at me. “We’re the politest shifters you’ll ever meet in the Academy. But that is only when we don’t bite.”

Summer laughed. “You’ve come to the right place, Pip.”

Warmth welled in my chest. I thought I’d been shot to Hell, only to come to Heaven and make friends.

I hoped this piece of heaven in my reality lasted.

“Hungry?” Danielle asked.

“Bless you for asking the most important question, Your Highness,” I

said.

“You look like you can eat,” she said. “Summer, do the honors, please.” Summer grabbed an electronic tablet on the table and typed something

into the screen rapidly. I scooted over to watch, so I could learn.

“You’ll want good comfort food after making a very powerful enemy

today,” the princess said.

“The farting contest will be the talk of the Academy for a full semester,”

Paris announced, “since it’s never happened before, and that it happened when they had their tongues down each other’s throats.”

“Stop it,” Danielle chortled. “We don’t talk shit here. We’re ladies of manners who must be shifter role models for Pip.”

“Will I get you all into trouble?” I asked, my face dropping. “I don’t mind sleeping in the bunkhouse. Even a bunk bed is ten times better than where I used to sleep.”

Danielle arched an elegant brow. “And miss out on all the fun you can bring? Not a chance.”

“Our territory might be smaller than the Europe territory.” Paris bared her teeth. “But our shifters’ bites are harder and our claws sharper.”

I widened my eyes and mock-cringed away from the girls. “I’m shaking in fear now.”

 “Tremble all you want, but you’re staying with us,” Danielle said. “I might be a smaller princess from a smaller shifter clan, but I’m still a princess. I can make up my mind and choose whomever I want to be friends with.”