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I’d seen deer in headlights with less panic than my Little Thief was exuding. She had maintained a demure presence, even after clumsily meeting the stage. I was surprised she hadn’t noticed me then or any time before I had chosen to make her aware of my appearance through a subtle spark of wrath. I wanted to see the look on her face when I sent the official declaration of our interest in buying her for our ranks.
Only that there would be no fair made bid. No one had any chance at taking her now that I had focused my site on her. The moment she had fought back with the intensity of a hellcat on the prowl, I knew she would belong to me. Her silver eyes had merely been the seal upon her fate, my demon seeing its match at that moment even as I felt the same.
But I preferred her to come willingly, especially given she had some connection to the shifters nearby. While I did not doubt that even the three of us could take on whatever shifters camped on the borders of Academy territory, they could cause unnecessary complications for me if they decided to come looking for the girl. They could even petition the angels to assist in her return should they figure out what I was.
“A beauty, ain’t she?”Felix’s lighthearted tone grated on my nerves, causing an audible rumble in my chest. I had brought him along less for his companionship for his calm and charming facade, the perfect front for the guild image we were trying to project.
So why his tone suddenly bothered me, I wasn’t sure. He was perched against the wall next to me, sipping lazily at a glass of brandy while attempting to hide the bemused expression tugging at his face.
“You’ve certainly made an impression on the girl.”He continued, trying to bait me into a response. He was the type that would poke a sleeping bear to laugh at its angry charge. “Why, she looks positively ready to throw herself at you.”
Drew snorted back in, the laugh poised to escape, an awkward sound that made me raise a brow at him. He immediately dropped his gaze to the leather-bound book in his hands, flipping to the sixty-sixth entry. I merely rolled my heavy-set eyes at him. I returned to the face of the girl on the stage, her previously panicked expression returning to being demure, but the slight narrowing at the corner of her eyes and wrinkle beneath her brows did nothing to hide the scowl she no doubt wanted to give me.
Don’t worry, sweetheart; there will be plenty of time for that later. I couldn’t help but smile at the prospect.
Once my Little Thief had left the dais, a brief recess allowed us to slip from the hall. Having no interest in sitting through another group of pointless mortals wasting my much-valued time, I returned with Felix and Drew to our chambers.
Never one to be too cautious, Felix and I thoroughly checked the space for any magical or physical ways to keep tabs on us. Afterward, Drew deployed a small drone-like device he had created with Warrick, my emissary of sloth, meant to monitor and interfere with any electronic means of surveillance that magic alone could not detect. Only then did I feel confident that we could speak.
“Aeryn Ryans,” Felix tried the name out on his tongue, not appearing to like the feel of it. I couldn’t help but agree. It was the first time I’d heard it, and it felt wrong - far too common for a delectable little creature like her. “What kind of name is Ryans for a caster?”
“It’s a filler,” Drew responded with his slight southern twang. He creased his eyebrows thoughtfully as he leaned against the side of one of the four velvet burgundy armchairs, making up a semi-circle in the middle of the common room.
“Filler?” As old as I was, I had never paid much attention to caster nomenclature.
Drew squeezed his sharp jaw. “As I’m sure you know, Red Pines Academy is where the caster elite dump off their bastard test progeny after birth, some without real names.” I nodded for him to continue.
“I thought fathers always gave their children their family or bastard name?” Felix asked, forehead creasing as his ancient mild whirled through the knowledge within.
Drew shook his head at the question. “They should, but it doesn’t always happen. Mothers can give their child their family’s name or bastard variant, but that’s even rarer than fillers. When a caster’s parents or extended family declines to claim them after birth, they are given a filler name. Let’s say it’s not exactly a badge of honor, as it's usually human in origin. It holds no historical significance to the caster community to avoid tying the infant to anyone, not of their familial line.” Drew’s annoyed tone told me he wasn’t impressed with my Thief’s parents at this moment. “For whatever reason, Aeryn’s parents wanted nothing to do with her.”
“Or else her father doesn’t know of her.” Felix’s suggestion piqued my interest. I leaned towards that answer, not liking to think her father would intentionally abandon her. Despite being portrayed as selfish, careless creatures, demons were incredibly protective of their young. Even the idea of this academy being a home for unwanted and illegitimate children had my hackles rising. No matter the station at birth, a child should never grow up feeling unwanted.
Needing a distraction, I inspected the large black book in the middle of the coffee table, my copy of the candidate profiles, which I had intentionally ignored until now. I flipped it open, reading the welcome letter on the first page signed by the Headmistress, Abbess Atiana herself.
To the Distinguished guests from Sarnas, Xynin, Boralis, Chartin, Kelloric, Martier, and Helorac,
Welcome to Red Pines Academy’s 411th Annual Graduation and Guild Selection event. As Red Pine’s 22nd Headmistress, I take great pride in ensuring our students are prepared to take their places in the many esteemed covens of your ancient and ever-honored Guilds.
We take great pride in having raised our students for the first twenty-one years of their lives. We are assured that our graduates have excelled in their internships these past three years and will make remarkable representatives within your chosen covens.
First, I must remind you that you will not be permitted to interact with any of the younger class students unless otherwise stated. Second, our grounds are considered neutral territory for all Guilds, and no challenges are permitted on the property or within a fifty-kilometer radius of this school.
You will find detailed profiles of this year’s graduates on the next pages. Please review in detail, as you will only be allowed to interview candidates you expressed interest in during the initial Trek of the Humble ceremony.
Immediately following the end of the Trek, we shall have a one-hour recess before gathering promptly at 20:00 for our Welcome Dinner, where you shall be allowed to mingle with the candidates informally. We shall meet at 23:30 to discuss details for the forthcoming trials in which the candidates you have selected will participate to demonstrate the skills we have proudly nurtured within these walls.
His most esteemed Ambassador, Edward Kingston of Boralis, has arranged this year's Combat trials, and will begin at 13:30 tomorrow.
Ambassador Kingston has most graciously also arranged this year’s Support trials, and you will find a schedule of the events, which will begin at 09:00 the following two days at the end of this binder.
As with every year, the winner of each trial shall be allowed to pick what guild they wish to join.
Final bidding shall start at 16:00 on the day after the completion of the trials. You will then be welcome to enjoy our hospitality the following evening. Should you choose to depart before then, note that all graduates must be given at least four hours after the ceremony before they may leave with you to be given their final medical assessments. At that time, all female students will be given their final mandatory birth control shots to allow them time to acclimate to the Covens you designate them to.
More inane details concluded the letter, but I did not want to pay any attention. I knew who I was here for, and ultimately, I would have her, despite disliking the entire concept of bidding on her. I wanted it to be by her choice, her entire world revolving around me. I licked my incisors to control my wayward thoughts of what I would do to her to gain that control.
I flipped to page sixty-six, running my fingers across the photo there. Even on paper, she was pure sin. My lust rose hot and heavy as I studied the rounding of the hip she had slightly cocked in the relaxed, informal pose she bore.
