Page 102 of Bound to Three Fae Beasts

Gareth’s gaze lingered on me a moment longer and his eyes softened. He swiped a hand across the back of his neck as though he was uncomfortable and murmured, “You don’t have to be afraid of me.”

I didn’t know what to say, so I remained silent.

***

It took a while for the latest rumors to make their way through the Academy. More than once, upper-level students confronted Seb and the others, demanding why a fae-killer’s daughter would have their protection. But as I continued to work hard at my classes, my ranking improved. The formal duels saw me win five before being defeated. As my prowess improved, the confrontations became fewer and fewer.

The final binding drew closer, as did the end of the year. Seb, Jasper and Gareth worked with Silas and Freta to improve them, too. Silas proved to be quite adept at hand-to-hand combat, but he still could barely touch his magic and remained unbound. Freta made significant progress, but she still didn’t get any rank in the duels.

Would any of this be enough to keep them alive?

It was several weeks after Seb had declared me under his protection that Flora cornered me in the girl’s bathroom. She checked the bathroom stalls and nodded when she found them empty. Then she put her hands on her hips and gave me a superior sneer.

“Has Seb told you that our wedding is still being planned by our families?”

I shook my head. “Seb doesn’t talk to me about anything like that. We just train.” That was true enough. Despite spending so much time with him, he spoke less now than he had when we were officially enemies. He always looked broody and like he was wrestling with himself. I cleared my throat and curtsied to Flora. “Congratulations, my lady. You and Lord Seb will make a very good match.”

Jealousy curdled in my gut at the words. Seb was my mate, not hers! She didn’t have the right to touch him.

But I was low-born and half-fae. By their laws and customs, it was me that didn’t have any rights.

Flora tossed her hair over her shoulder, clearly displeased by my lack of response. “How has it been for you, Azriel? Being under the microscope? Never having a moment free of all the judging eyes? Have you gotten used to it yet?”

I plastered a smile on my face. “I’m not sure anyone could get used to this level of scrutiny.”

“You’ll have to. This is nothing compared to what you’ll face in the courts as Seb’s mistress.”

“I’m not his mistress,” I protested.

“Do you really think you have a choice? Do you think that as his mate, you’ll have any other position?” she demanded.

The pang hit my stomach hard. She knew? Did Seb tell her, or did she figure it out? I let out a half-breath and shook my head, trying to think of how to get her to shut up. “You’re assuming that I’m going to survive five years in the Academy. Why don’t we just see if I do before we start thinking about what position I might have in Seb’s bed, shall we?”

Flora narrowed her eyes at me, then snorted and stepped aside. “You forget I’m going to be Seb’s wife at the end of the year. But perhaps you need more time to consider what that means.”

I bowed to her and slipped away, then hurried to the nearest secret passage. I was meant to meet Gareth again, but I needed space to myself. My mind whirled over what Flora had told me, even though I fought against it. I didn’t want to consider the situation like that. I didn’t want to think about what was waiting for me if Seb did go through with the marriage.

I emerged from the passage in the trees, only to find myself facing a handful of second-year students … and Rusco of Court Manilow. He smirked at me as he leaned against a tree. He carried a curled whip at his hip, and in his hand was a wicked-looking knife.

“There she is. The daughter of a fae-killer who has decided to play the whore for Laurel and Thunderwood.”

I darted back into the tunnel, but his magic lashed out and grabbed me. It wrapped firmly about me as the second-year students used their magic on me, too. I was thrown against a tree and tied in place. I tried to use my own magic to break through, but I couldn’t.

“Are you Vespa’s whore, too?” Rusco asked as he unfurled his whip. He was going to hurt me worse than when Red had tortured me with the whip, I was certain of it. “You know he’s forbidden from touch … but maybe he doesn’t care and uses you anyway.”

The second-year students laughed. I struggled against the ropes and the magic, searching for some crack in it. “What do you want?” I demanded.

Rusco flicked his wrist. The whip smacked across my lower legs, making me gasp. His grin widened. “I am going to make you pay for acting above your station.”

He wasn’t talking about the golden boys. This was punishment for when I helped Gareth escape him. Dread filled me. And the whip struck again.

Chapter 45 - Gareth

Azriel slipped into the tunnel, looking shifty. My hunter’s instincts stirred and I went after her. What was she up to? All the things a shape-thief might get up to went through my mind as I crept through the passage, just out of her sight. She didn’t notice me, continually shaking her head.

When she left the passage, I waited a few minutes to ensure she didn’t see me come out of the tunnel before I stepped out, too, only to be greeted by the sight of her tied to a tree, surrounded by a half-dozen second-year students.

Rusco was with them. He grinned as he pulled back his arm, a whip snaking out behind him. I threw my aura forward, blasting them with magic. Several of the second-year students immediately screamed and ran. The others stumbled back, bringing their magic around them to defend themselves. Azriel twisted against the ropes.