Daniel picked up the phone, complaining that it had been cheaper when Kalix just stuck to having an eating disorder rather than devouring everything in sight.

Kalix said nothing. She didn't intend telling her flatmates anything about the evening's events. She'd learned that it wasn't a good idea to tell them about werewolf battles unless it was really necessary.

Vex appeared in the room, smiling at the world, pleased with her new clothes. She wore a substantial pair of boots that reached her knees and a short skirt, making her look rather elf-like. "Hi everyone! Do you like my new boots? Aunt Malvie bought them for me because I got another gold star!"

Moonglow smiled, not entirely sincerely. She had an idea that some day there might be a reckoning concerning Malveria and Vex's alleged gold stars.

"Isn't college great? Hi, Kalix, you're looking cheerful, is it because you kissed Decembrius?"

There was a brief moment of shock.

"I didn't kiss Decembrius."

"Yes, you did. I can see it in your aura."

"Didn't I tell you never to read my aura again?"

"I forgot. Do you like my new boots?"

"Did you kiss Decembrius?" asked Moonglow.

"Do I need to order extra pizza?" said Daniel. "Because I really need a whole one myself. If you're going to start eating more because you've been kissing or something, then let me know now, and I'll order extra."

"I didn't kiss anyone."

"Apart from Decembrius," said Vex.

Kalix sighed. Vex was renowned as the worst reader of auras in the Hiyasta nation, yet somehow she still managed to come up with the occasionally deadly accurate interpretation, usually at the most inappropriate moment.

"All right, I kissed Decembrius. But it's none of your business."

If Kalix thought she could get away with this in a house shared with three other young students, she was mistaken. Vex wanted details, Daniel wanted details, and even Moonglow wasn't about to ignore such an interesting piece of gossip. Kalix found herself confronted by three eager faces, all wanting to hear more. "It just sort of happened."

"Did he grab you?"

"Did you grab him?"

"He fell on top of me."

"Ah," said Daniel, sagely. "The old accidental-falling-on-top-of-you technique."

"So how long did you kiss him for?"

"Only a second. He took me by surprise. I didn't mean to do it. I was confused."

"What happened after that?"

"I punched him and told him to go away."

"It sounds romantic."

"I don't know if I approve of all this kissing," declared Vex, to general astonishment. "We've got exams to think about, and an assignment. We're supposed to be studying."

"You never study at all!"

"I've been doing well in class. But face it, you're not doing so well. I'm just saying this for your own good."

Kalix threw up her hands in annoyance. If it had come to Agrivex lecturing her about studying, her life must have gone severely wrong.

"I'm going to my room," she said.

"Are you going to study?" Vex looked towards Moonglow. "Make her study."

"What happened after Decembrius kissed you and you hit him?" asked Daniel. "Did he hit you back? Is that a werewolf thing?"

But Kalix had departed, brushing roughly against the cat on the way. The cat, thinking this was a good game, raced after her.

In her room, Kalix had to push it out of the way as she attempted to write in her journal. For some reason, the cat liked nothing better than lying on any page Kalix attempted to write on.

"Decembrius kissed me," she wrote, slowly, "and there was a fight with hunters." She shuddered. Following on from Decembrius's suggestion that she pretend to be normal in front of other people, she'd been bottling up her emotions. When stressed or anxious, she took care to hide it from Daniel and Moonglow. It did make her life easier in some ways. She no longer had to answer questions about her state of mind or listen to well-meaning advice, which usually just made her more stressed. But pretending to be normal had disadvantages too. She could feel her emotions pent up inside her, waiting to break out. She'd felt like screaming at Daniel over the pizza, though she knew there was no reason to, and now that the feeling had faded, it left her anxious again. Kalix absentmindedly ran her fingernails over the letter "N" she'd cut in her arm, making it bleed. She watched the blood trickle down and felt a little better.

Downstairs, Moonglow was troubled. She knew Kalix didn't tell them everything that went on in her life as a werewolf. "I don't think Kalix would have kissed Decembrius without some powerful outside stimulation. Like a fight or something."

"Who would she be fighting?"

"I'm sure there are still werewolves who are out to get her."

"Can I kiss you?" said Daniel.

"How did that follow on from what I just said?"

"We were talking about kissing."

"No, we weren't. Anyway, you'd get sick."

"What if I wouldn't?"

"But you would."

"You're avoiding giving me a proper answer," complained Daniel. He slumped into the couch. "How did we get cursed anyway? It's uncalled for, in this day and age. I'm going to listen to music."

"Don't play it too loud."

"And you keep complaining about my music. Life is hell." Daniel went upstairs to sulk and to listen to music through his headphones.

CHAPTER 118.

Decembrius hurried to the twins' house in Camden, looking for Dominil. He told her about events in the park, including the notable piece of news that Red Ruraich had been shot. Decembrius didn't know if he'd been killed or not. It was grave news anyway. Ruraich was head of the MacAndrises, and though they were small in numbers, they were an ancient werewolf clan. Ruraich was known to everybody.

"We seem to be losing to the guild," said Dominil.

"I wouldn't say that." Decembrius grinned. "They don't have as many hunters as they used to. Thanks mainly to Kalix."

"She killed a hunter?"

"Three, I think. She's quite a savage when she gets going."

From Decembrius's tone, Dominil sensed he rather admired Kalix's display of savagery. That wasn't unusual for a MacRinnalch. No werewolf would ever be unpopular among the clan for killing the hated hunters.

Dominil called Thrix, who called the castle, spreading the news. The Mistress of the Werewolves was deeply shocked. Once more she wished that the werewolves in London would return to the castle. At least they'd all be in Scotland in a fortnight, for her fundraising event or for the Yum Yum Sugary Snacks gig.

Markus was in Edinburgh, attending to the preparations at Andamair House. When he received a call from his mother, he immediately arranged to return to the castle. As Thane, he needed to be at Castle MacRinnalch to reassure the clan once news of Red Ruraich became known.

He felt sorry to be leaving Heather MacAllister. She was a designer, not long out of Edinburgh University, a member of the MacAllister werewolf clan, currently employed on the renovations. She was a pretty werewolf, dark-haired, quite petite. Markus had begun an affair with her a week or so ago. He hadn't really intended to but had fallen into it after they'd both been working late. They'd planned to drive back to Edinburgh separately but had been delayed by a thick fog rolling in from the sea. The fog, called haar by the local inhabitants and not uncommon in the area, blanketed the region, making driving impossible. Finding themselves stranded in Andamair House for the night, it hadn't taken much for Markus and Heather to get together.

Possibly it hadn't been the wisest thing to do. The Mistress of the Werewolves would not be pleased to find her son dating two werewolves at the same time. Baron MacAllister might be offended too, if he learned of it. Heather was his grandniece, and he took an interest in her career.

Before returning to the castle, Markus posted money to Dominil for the hunters she'd killed as arranged. While his mother and the barons' natural reaction was to withdraw from the south altogether, Markus rather wished that he could go there himself. Markus wasn't the strongest werewolf in the clan, but he was a spirited fighter and hated the hunters as much as anyone. He'd welcome the opportunity to fight them. But the Thane couldn't just abandon his duties to fight on the streets of London.

He wondered why more werewolves around the castle didn't do just that. Those without family or work responsibilities could go to London and help fight the guild. Few did so. The clan had grown used to keeping its true nature quiet. Most MacRinnalchs wanted nothing more than to grow up and live near their place of birth and be left alone. Perhaps that was a failing, mused Markus. No MacRinnalch believed that the Avenaris Guild could ever trouble them in their Scottish stronghold, but what if they were wrong? If the guild were to grow in strength and gain confidence through victories in London, who knew what might happen? Perhaps one day, the MacRinnalchs would find the guild on their doorstep.

In London, at the twins' house, Decembrius felt suddenly weary as his exertions caught up with him. Dominil offered him the use of one of the spare rooms. Before retiring, he asked her about Kalix.

"What about her?"

"She isn't getting anywhere with Gawain. Finding his killer, I mean."

"So?"

"I thought you might have a suggestion."

"I suggest you help her to pass her exam," said Dominil. "That would be a more worthwhile way of spending your time."

"I don't think Kalix would see it like that."

"Probably not." Dominil stared at Decembrius with her deep black eyes. It was unsettling. "Do you care who killed Gawain? Or are you just trying to impress Kalix?"

Decembrius didn't reply.

"I take it your powers of perception haven't returned?"

"How did you know they'd gone?"

"It was obvious."

Decembrius felt deflated and abandoned the conversation. He didn't like Dominil and couldn't imagine why he'd thought it worthwhile to ask her anything about Kalix.

Dominil left him to sleep, feeling slightly relieved that Decembrius's powers of seeing showed no sign of returning. If he learned about Gawain's death and told Kalix, there would be trouble.

CHAPTER 119.

Isn't this fun?" enthused Vex.

Kalix didn't reply. They were on their way to college to take a test in preparation for the upcoming exam. The young werewolf couldn't imagine anything less fun. Moonglow kept insisting there was nothing to worry about. Kalix gritted her teeth and swore that if Moonglow tried to reassure her one more time, she'd leap out of the car and walk there herself. When Daniel pulled up at the curb, she fled the vehicle as quickly as she could. Behind her, Vex was assuring Daniel and Moonglow that everything was going to go well.

"I have new pencils and everything!" she said cheerfully, "and a new yellow marker and a Tokyo Top Pop Boom-Boom Girl mouse pad!"

"Good luck," said Daniel and Moonglow.

Vex hurried after Kalix, but as she rounded the old stone gate at the front of the college, she almost ran into two girls who were finishing off their cigarettes before going inside. Vex tried to duck past them unnoticed. She was unsuccessful. The larger of the two grabbed her arm. "Look. It's Spiky Hair."

Vex's spiky bleached hair had already elicited disparaging comments from the pair. Vex didn't know what they did at the college, but for some reason, they didn't seem to take to her.

"What's this?" demanded the smaller of the two, who wore a tracksuit and some pieces of gold jewelry. She grabbed the music player that dangled from Vex's neck. It was a cheap player, very out of date. The girls laughed.

"Let go of it," said Vex.

"Didn't we tell you not to bother us again?"

"I wasn't bothering you."

"Yes, you were."

Vex tried to pull away, but she lacked the strength, and the two girls held her tight while removing her music player. Vex, having no idea why she was being bullied, didn't know what to do. She asked the girls to let go of her again, but they just laughed.