Page 52 of Bound to Three Fae Beasts

I thought I knew who I was. Human. Worthless. The daughter of a criminal. Unwanted by anyone, and fine on my own. I was never going to be seen as anything other than worthless. I was never going to have friends or a home that was truly mine. Nobody would ever choose me.

Now, I was still unwanted in every way that mattered. But I had friends. Friends that would turn against me the moment they knew what I was. I was a thing, not a person, to be feared. Wearing a face I wasn’t even sure was even my own.

I read the rest of the night, reading and rereading the book. By the time dawn broke, I was certain of what I was, but uncertain of where to go from here. It wasn’t like I was given an instruction manual for these powers. Did I even risk taking lessons with Freta? If she found out…

The idea of being ripped to pieces by Seb, Gareth or Jasper was bad enough. But to think that my friends might turn against me was even worse. So what did I do? I risked revealing myself to Freta if I took her lessons. I risked revealing myself to the whole school if I didn’t.

Still uncertain, I headed back to the dorm, feeling heavier and more confused than before. I had just enough time to catch an hour’s sleep before it was time to head to class, but when I arrived I found the candle burning and Freta awake, sitting on her bed.

“Couldn’t sleep,” she said when I entered.

I padded to my bed and slumped onto my side. The pillow felt good beneath my head. “Thinking about the binding trials?”

She nodded. “It’s a miracle we all survived. If Silas and Penry don’t find their beasts…. There are no students who get to second year without being bound. I can’t help them. If they can’t get their bound forms, then they’re dead. There’s nothing I can do.”

The air left my lungs in a slow exhale. While I’d been worried about my chances, she was sitting here, worried about everyone else.

Freta moved to my bed and grabbed both my hands. Her grip was surprisingly tight. “There’s nothing I can do to help them, but I can help you. I know I’m not the strongest. I might not be strong enough to make it, but I have the training. I can teach you what I know. But I can’t teach you the way Seb can. If he or any of the golden boys show interest, you have to encourage it.”

I tried to pull my hands away. “I’m not—”

“Z, listen to me,” she growled, panic and urgency pitching her voice lower. “Do what you have to do to survive this place. If that means leaving us behind, then you leave us behind. Promise me. Promise you will do whatever it takes to survive.”

“I promise,” I stuttered. Why did she care so much?

Freta released my hands, letting out a heavy sigh. “Thank you. And some day, when you’re a powerful fae, standing with the rest of them as an equal … remember me.”

Her face crumpled. I pulled her into my arms as she started to sob. I hugged her tightly, not knowing what else to do. Freta buried her face into my shoulder, clinging to me like a kitten clinging to a branch over a raging river.

***

“Watch what you’re doing!” Flora shrieked as her hand whipped out, slapping me across the face.

I jumped back, crying out as the viscous slop I’d spilled on her ran down my cheek. Quickly I wiped it off, but Flora had to strip off her tunic. Atira rushed over to counter the potion, but I only sat still, watching without emotion.

I hadn’t meant to spill the potion on her. While students weren’t given full potion-making lessons until second year, those of us who had bound forms were given an extra class today to see if we had any sort of potion-making talent. So far, I’d ruined everything I’d done. The only positive was that it wasn’t the magical aspect I messed up.

Over the last week, Freta had been tutoring me after class. Seb’s mentorship classes had continued, too, and he gave me usable advice. Now, eight weeks out from the next binding trials, I could summon some little magic at will.

“I apologize for burning you, Lady Flora,” I said, getting to my feet. “Miss Atira, I seem to be very distracted today. May I be excused for the rest of class? I would hate to cause more trouble.”

Atira waved at me. “I will have remedial lessons for you to complete. See me in my office tomorrow.”

“Learn to be more careful,” Flora snapped at me. “I won’t always be so forgiving.”

I bowed toward her. Due to Freta’s urgent plea to me, I’d been doing my best to play the part I was expected with the bullies. “Thank you, Lady Flora, for your forgiveness. I truly did not mean to injure you.”

Flora snorted and waved an imperious hand to make me leave.

I hurried away from the classroom, intending on going to my next class and waiting outside the door early. I glanced down at my hand as I went down the stairs. Wait, I’d touched Flora when I knocked over her cauldron. I hadn’t felt the spark, but I’d also been distracted. Hmmm … I clucked my tongue. Did that mean I could skim her form?

What would I do wearing her face, anyway?

Someone stepped in front of me, and I came to a stop, lifting my head. Savannah stood in front of me, her lip curled back in a sneer. I sensed more than heard Red crowd in behind me. The students nearby had one of two reactions. Most of them took off, not wanting to be caught up in the trouble. The others drew closer, taking bets.

“And to what do I owe the pleasure of your attention, Lady Savannah?” I asked, but unfortunately it came out sounding sarcastic.

She slid a pair of brass knuckles onto her hand. “You’re going to pay for hurting Flora.”