Initiation by Imogen Rose Page B

very least, you should have come and discussed it with me first. In any case, it’s completely out of the question. All will proceed as planned. Dismissed.” She lowered her face to peer at her screen.
    Gathering every inch of courage I possessed, I practically whimpered, “What letter?”
    “This, you silly girl,” she hissed, and threw an envelope at me. “Now out! I’ve had enough of this nonsense.”
    I caught the envelope and ran out of her office, not stopping until I was safely in my room. I locked the door and looked at the letter.
     
     
     
    Dear Frau Schmelder,
     
    I wish to withdraw my complaint against the shifters who allegedly attacked me. I made it all up. It was just a back-to-school prank that got a little out of hand. No harm done.
     
     
    Sincerely,
     
    Cordelia Hammer
     
    WTF? I didn’t even have to sniff the envelope to know who had written the letter. The stink came through loud and clear. That damned eagle. I was going to have to de-feather her!
    A knock on the door interrupted my satisfying image of pulling the feathers off that bird, one by one, while it shrieked, and then roasting it. And feeding it to the werewolves. Ha! “Who is it?”
    “Quinn.”
    I went over and unlocked the door. Quinn walked in with Faustine.
    “Thanks for bringing Faustine back for me.” I stood on my tiptoes and gave him a quick kiss.
    Quinn slumped down on my bed. “Why was your door locked?”
    I turned to Faustine, who looked ready to head back to her own room and bed. “Faustine, I know you’re probably tired, but can you sit for a minute? We need to talk.”
    “That sounds serious,” Quinn remarked, sitting up straighter and scrutinizing me. “What’s up? What did The Smelt want?”
    I handed him the letter, feeling I had to share it with someone. In the two years I’d known him, Quinn had never once done anything to betray my trust. I watched him read, his expression not changing.
    When he was done, he put it aside and studied my face. “Any idea who wrote it? Is this what Frau Schmelder wanted to see you about? Here, Faustine, read it so you know what we’re talking about.”
    Unlike Quinn’s, Faustine’s emotions read like a book, and when she finished reading the letter, her face reflected total confusion.
    “I didn’t write that letter,” I assured her. “Though The Smelt thinks I did, unfortunately.”
    “Why didn’t you just tell her you didn’t?” Quinn asked, sounding perplexed.
    “Well, I didn’t have any idea what she was talking about when she confronted me about it in her office. She clearly thought I’d written it, and then stuck it on her door. She only showed, or rather threw it at me, as I was leaving. I didn’t actually read it until I got back here.”
    “Well, you obviously have to go back and tell her that,” he said adamantly.
    “I know. I will.”
    Faustine sniffed the letter. “You know, the smell reminds me of something. Can’t put my finger on it, though.”
    “Here, sniff this.” I handed her the feather.
    “Where did you get this from?” she asked.
    “It was in an envelope left outside my door earlier today.”
    “Was there a note in it?” Quinn asked.
    “Nope, just the feather.”
    Faustine brought it close to her nose and smelled it, closing her eyes. Her eyes popped open. “I think I know what it is! It’s that eagle. You know, the one who knocked us down.”
    I nodded. “Thanks, Faustine. I needed you to confirm that. That’s exactly what I thought.”
    “Clearly a warning,” Quinn mused. “So, now what?”
    “Well, even if I wanted to withdraw my complaint against the other four shifters, I can’t. Frau Schmelder was crystal clear about that. So I guess I just have to be on guard and take out that feathery monster if I ever see her again. I can’t remember what she looked like in her human form, but now I’ll be able to track her using her own scent.”
    Faustine gasped. “You’re going to kill her?”
    “If she comes