The loud music rings in my ears and I can feel the beat in my chest.

The talent show has been good so far. There's been singers, dancers and a comedian or two. Even the teachers have participated, dressing up in props from the drama room and dancing.

It's the last performer now, a student singing Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

Everyone is sitting on the gym floor, watching the singer. Killian is on my left, Clove on my right, leaning on Raiden who's behind her with his legs drawn up to his chest as a flat-ish place for Clove to lean against. Asher is behind me, playing with the ends of my hair after having failed at braiding it. Scott and Dean are beside Asher, behind Killian.

Where's Zaine? Raiden asks.

He went to the bathroom, I reply. He's not back yet?

I don't see him, Raiden replies.

I frown. Flash, is Changeling still not back?

He might be taking at shit, Killian replies. Or going on a walk. He said he was hot, which he is, and was getting a headache from the loud-ass music.

It's been twenty minutes, Clove says worriedly. He would have mind-linked us by now so Flash wouldn't freak out.

Come on, we should go look for him, Killian says, starting to look a little panicked.

He gets up and quickly heads out of the gym, followed by Clove and I.

We're going to look for Changeling, I explain to Raiden, knowing he'll tell the other three.

"I'll look upstairs," Clove says. "Reina, why don't you search this floor and Flash, you look outside 'cause if he ran off, your power is best to find him."

Killian and I both nod and we all hurry off. I jog down the hall, checking if the classroom doors are unlocked, and trying to find Zaine's scent. He went to the bathroom, then his scent leads down the hall away from the gym. I smell Kia's scent following Zaine's for a while then head down a different hall.

Found him, Killian says, his voice angry. Outside, by the outdoor classroom thingy.

Hearing his words, I run outside and around the school to where Killian said they are. The 'outdoor classroom thingy' is a semicircle of stones and benches with a weathered chalkboard on the open side. When the weather is nice, usually in the spring, teachers can bring their class outside to work. I hear quiet sobs, making anger flare up within me. No one hurts my brother and gets away with it.

I find them on one of the stone benches in the shade of a tree, Zaine sitting on Killian's lap, crying as Killian cradles him tightly. I hurry over to them, sitting beside them.

"You're freezing," I murmur, taking Zaine's hand.

I use my power over fire and heat up my body, like a living, breathing fire, pushing the warmth towards Zaine. His shivering eases slightly but not completely.

"What happened?" Clove asks, appearing beside me.

"Don't know," Killian replies, his voice cold. "But I do know that whoever did this is going to hell."

He kisses Zaine's forehead, whispering sweet nothings in his ear. Zaine's cries slowly turn to sniffles and the occasional hiccup. He stays cuddled up against Killian, his head resting on Killian's chest.

I close my eyes, a headache starting to form from using my power.

"Reina," Clove says softly. "Stop using your power before you pass out."

I look at her, then to Zaine who still seems cold.

"Let's go inside," Killian says, standing up and carrying Zaine.

Clove nods, taking my hand. Together, we walk into the school. The school day is over but there'll be some students staying later to finish projects and such, so the school is still open.

We decide to go upstairs to our lockers, before Killian sets Zaine down and sits beside him. Clove and I sit in front of the two, all of us looking at Zaine.

"Who's dying tonight?" I ask.

Zaine looks up at me, then back at his hands in his lap and mumbles, "Kia."

I growl softly, clenching my teeth.

"Dammit," Clove mutters. "I wanted to watch her death. I'm not bailing on Raiden though. He said something about a movie night, I'm not missing that, or time with him."

"I'll share the memory after," I say, making Clove nod in satisfaction and thanks.

"What happened?" Killian asks Zaine, running his fingers through Zaine's hair gently.

"I decided to take a short walk," Zaine starts. "She started following me, trying to be sneaky, so I called her out. She started ranting, saying crap like I don't deserve Flash and that he should be with her."

"We know you know that's bullshit," Killian says. "I'm not letting you go. Then what?"

"She tried slapping me." Zaine chuckles bitterly. "Of course, she couldn't hit me and my ninja skills. She got angrier and started throwing insults about my mom. It was just typical bullying but I started getting flashbacks of when... of when she died. So I ran."

Zaine closes his eyes, leaning against Killian, who has his arms wrapped tightly around Zaine. Beside me, Clove is furiously muttering all the things she wants to do to Kia under her breath. I don't know what to do right now. Stay with my friends, or go find and murder Kia?

"Come on," Zaine says, seeing my inner turmoil. "We should head to the pack house. We have to get the twins, Raiden's probably there for Strange to see and Kia's probably there with her followers and conquests. Reina can take her outside and kill her now."

I hesitate. "Are you sure you're alright?"

He nods. "Yeah. Besides, I know Flash and the twins will be at my service, so you can go." He hesitates and glances at Killian. "If you want something else to fuel the fire, it's not the first time Kia went after me."

"What?" Killian growls, his arms tightening around his lover. "When was the first time? Why didn't you say anything?"

Zaine grimaces slightly. "The first time was on Tuesday, when I went to the bathroom during second period. She's been trying to get me alone so she can insult me. Nothing she said bothered me at all, not until today, so I didn't really see a point in telling you."

Killian growls again and flicks Zaine's forehead. "You should've told us, Changeling."

"Sorry," Zaine mumbles. "Anyway, let's go. Kia's got a shanking appointment."

"She's getting more than just shanked," I mutter darkly. "All they'll find is ashes."

We all stand, get our stuff out of our lockers and start walking to the pack house.

Going on a bitch hunt, going on a bitch hunt, Raven sings happily.

I smile. Gonna kill a slutty one. She should be scared.

My wolf laughs in my head. This is gonna be fun.

I know, I reply.

As we walk to the pack house, I sing 'going on a bitch hunt' softly and soon enough we're all singing it and laughing. When we get to the pack house, we're met with two excited five year-olds along with Asher, Raiden, Scott and Dean.

"There you guys are," Dean says. "We couldn't find you after school, so we came here to wait for you."

"These two sure do have a lot of energy," Asher says as he gestures to Chase and Rhea, his wolf ears poking through his hair.

"What's with the ears?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.

Asher shrugs. "Your little munchkins were asking me to show them what I can do."

"Changeling!" Rhea says, latching onto Zaine's arm. She looks up at him, "You OK?"

Zaine gives a small smile. "Yeah, I'm fine." He looks at Asher, "You told them?"

"They were wondering where you four were and why you didn't come back with us," Asher replies.

"What's going on?" Kia asks, walking up behind Asher and standing beside him.

My eyes narrow when I catch her casting a disdainful look at Zaine, who's got Killian's arm around his waist and Chase and Rhea playing with his hands. Killian glares at Kia, also having seen her look while Zaine sticks his tongue out at her.

Kia growls at that. "You little bitch."

I let out a growl of my own. "Says the hoe. Seems like the pot calling the kettle black to me."

Kia glares at me.

Come on you two, Zaine says to the twins. We don't need to hear the other Royals cursing out Kia.

Ooo, you have to see what we made! Rhea says, starting to pull Zaine down the hall.

Chase joins in, excitedly dragging Zaine away. Killian stays here, smiling as he watches Zaine and his younger siblings. Then his expression turns into a glare as he looks at Kia.

"I don't get why you're so hung up about me," Killian says, his voice cold as his lips pull back into a sneer. "You accepted my rejection and you tried fucking someone else less than 24 hours since we first met. I see no goddamn reason for you to go after my boyfriend just to get me. I'll never be with you, Kia, so just give up."

Kia huffs. "I still don't get what you see in that bitch. What does he have that I don't?"

"For one, he has standards," Killian hisses venomously. Clove and I both snicker at the shocked and outraged look on Kia's face. "Two, he's a much more respectable person. Three, I'd rather spend the rest of my life with Zaine than with a whore like you."

Kia growls. She goes to reply but I interrupt her.

"Kia, can I talk to you privately outside?" I ask, forcing my voice to be calm and not give away my anger or intentions.

Kia looks at me and grumbles, "Fine, let's go, Rys."

"I prefer Rei, or Reina, thank you very much," I reply blankly.

I lead her outside and away from the pack house.

Give her what she deserves, Killian says darkly.

Burn her, Reina, Clove adds.

Zaine chuckles and sings, Now dance, fucker, dance, man she never had a chance.

"Where are we going?" Kia asks impatiently.

"I was thinking we could talk by the old maple tree, where we last saw each other two years ago," I reply.

"I'm not walking that far," Kia says defiantly.

I roll my eyes and grab her wrist before starting to run, dragging her behind me. I hum to myself as I run, ignoring Kia's screeches and attempts to break my hold of her arm. When we get to the tree, I let go of her and leave her lying in the snow.

She gets up, glaring at me. "Why did you even come back, Rys? You were banished."

"I wanted to see my brother and dad again," I reply simply. "And besides, they'd have a hard time killing me. I have my friends to help me and I don't go down easy. I'm not the girl I was before."

"I've noticed," Kia replies venomously. "You never spoke up, always avoided confrontation."

I shrug. "Two years as a rogue changes you. Anyway, I've done some thinking. Asher says he didn't write that note banishing me and I saw the honesty in his eyes. He also says he doesn't know who did. Now, looking back and using what I've learned from over the years I've been away, you were lying when you said you were told to give that note to me."

Kia rolls her eyes. "Of course I was lying, took you long enough to notice. I wrote that note, your mother even said it was OK."

"Of course she did," I mutter under my breath.

"What was that?" Kia asks sharply as if it was her business.

"Nothing important," I say sweetly. "Anyway, it's getting late and I want to finish this so..."

Before she can say anything, I send a punch at her stomach. She doubles over, gasping in pain.

"That's for faking our friendship," I say, my voice cold. I grab her head and drive my knee into her face, "That's for trying to get with my brother." I punch her in the breast, "That's for trying to spread your legs and hurting Killian. And this, this is for going after Zaine. Any last words?"

Despite the pain, Kia chuckles. "You can't kill me. You don't have the guts and besides, they'll know it was you, they'll be mad that a rogue like you killed one of their pack."

"I'll cross with that bridge when I get to it," I reply. "Anything you want to say before you burn?"

Kia thinks for a few seconds. "Tell Asher he needs to find someone more capable to be Luna. And that I have no regrets in my choices."

I scoff but nod. "Have fun in hell. And tell your dad I said he's a fucking whore."

Before Kia can react, I summon the fire within me, my hands covered in the orange flames. I grab Kia's arms, letting her clothes catch fire. Soon her whole body is on fire, the flames engulfing her as she screams. I let go of her and step back, using my power to make sure nothing else catches fire as Kia staggers.

The snow where she steps melts away, revealing the fall leaves. Kia screams again, collapsing. I only watch, my face expressionless. Eventually her screams stop. I don't stop the fire though. I let it keep burning, turning her body to ashes. The flames go out, leaving a pile of ashes resting on wet leaves and surrounded by snow.

A small smile crosses my lips. She's gone. Not forever, no doubt she'll join Leon and Brianna in cursing me out every time I'm nice enough to talk to them.

Deciding to leave a mark on my work, I let my claws come out and make a small cut on my fingertip. As blood starts to escape from the cut, I let it drip onto the snow, moving my hand so the dripping blood forms letters, then small words.

NEVER MESS WITH THE ROYALS.

I step back and smile. It's not clear but it's clear enough to be read. Asher will know I killed her, my scent is here. I don't really mind, he'll have to find out about my life as rogue queen eventually. It might as well be me willingly telling him rather than him finding out on his own and wondering why I didn't tell him.

If he doesn't like it, then he can always reject me again, though I hope he doesn't.

Satisfied with my work, I turn and walk away, heading back to the house.

That's one less bitch in the world.