Page 12 of Bound to Three Fae Beasts

“Hey, I’m going to be late for class,” I said, hiding the panic in my voice. I made myself sound annoyed, as though this was nothing to be concerned about. It was a long shot, but maybe if they didn’t get their fun from seeing me squirm, they’d leave me alone.

Seb laughed in my ear. “Oh, but I wanted to talk to my little spy.” He leaned in so close that his breath wafted across the back of my neck. It made me shiver. “Do you know what the penalty is for spying on your betters?”

I made myself grow still, despite wanting to keep thrashing against him. He was too strong for me to break free. I had to get him to lower his guard.

“I’m not spying on anyone,” I said flatly.

He pressed his knee harder. “Then what were you doing in the dueling hall?”

“I never went to the dueling hall.” Was he worried about what I’d seen between him and Flora? She was giggling somewhere behind me, clearly turned on by Seb’s aggression. “You’re going to be late for class, too, if you keep this up. But I suppose you can get away with it.”

Seb laughed again. “Don’t think for a minute that this is over. And don’t think being friends with that embarrassment from Court Alegro is going to win you any favors. Red.”

A second pair of hands grabbed me, just above where Seb held me. He released me, replaced by his little flunky. This fae turned me around quickly, making me face him as he shoved me against the wall. Behind him, the golden boys, Flora, and Savannah all traipsed off as though nothing had happened.

The hall was filled with students, but nobody spared me a second glance.

“So, what kind of name is Red, anyway?” I asked as casually as I could.

Like all the fae, he was incredibly handsome, but his aura was weak in comparison to that of the golden boys. His black hair had a white line down the middle and his eyes were black. Otherwise, there was nothing to distinguish him. In a sea of handsome faces, he had nothing to stand out.

“I am Redmund of Court Oslo,” he sneered. “And you have no right to speak to me, low-born as you are.”

“Of course not,” I said, flicking my eyes to one side.

“That’s right. You are nothing,” he said, but despite his clear attempts to intimidate me, he was just so much less threatening than Seb that my panic dispelled. It was probably a mistake. This guy could kill me as easily as any other fae.

I nodded. “Shame you’ll be late for class over a nothing like me,” I said, barely managing to keep the sarcasm from my tone.

Red’s grip loosened slightly as hesitation flashed over his face. I took the opportunity, stomping on his foot as I twisted my body. He wasn’t expecting me to fight back and let out a strangled shout. He lunged for me again, but I was too quick and dodged his attempt. Then I raced for the doors, knowing even he wouldn’t try anything right under a teacher’s nose.

I arrived out of breath at the training pavilion. Lotmas was already running drills and his eyes narrowed at me as I dropped my knapsack next to Freta’s and hurried to my usual spot.

“Well. Miss Azriel, it’s a pleasure for you to finally join us,” Lotmas said, his voice sharp.

Red, it seemed, had decided to skip class entirely. I wished he’d show up late, too, to take some of the heat off me. “I apologize, Mr. Lotmas. I was detained by Sebastienne.”

As soon as his name fell from my lips, he stiffened. A low snarl ripped through the air, and everyone stared at me. Freta ducked her head and hunched her shoulders. She shot me a look of panic and shook her head, but I didn’t have much time to spare for her.

“Detained by whom?” Lotmas asked. Even he looked at me as though I’d just started stabbing people.

I hesitated, uncertain. Was it calling Seb out for making me late or using his full name that got me in trouble?

“It’s not her fault,” Freta said, squeaking as she spoke up. She didn’t lift her head as she rambled. “We had an errant spell in our room last night. She’s still hallucinating from it. Last night she was positive that Queen Morganna was coming to steal our beds.”

At this, the class laughed. My cheeks turned hot, but I pressed my lips together. I bowed my head. “Oh. Yes, that’s right. I must be still hallucinating. I apologize, Mr. Lotmas.”

“And?” Lotmas asked.

Grinding my teeth, I turned into Seb’s direction and made a quick bow. “I apologize.”

Lotmas nodded as though that settled things, and moved us back into our drills. It was far more brutal than usual. I was already tired from my rush to get here, and Lotmas targeted me for constant corrections. By the end of class, I sweated through my tunic and my mouth tasted like blood.

“Lord Seb, please stay for a moment longer,” Lotmas said at the end of class. “Miss Azriel. You are not dismissed.”

I froze. Oh, shit! This was exactly the type of attention I didn’t want. I turned back to the teacher, waiting where I was as Seb sauntered over to him. He shot me a smug look. The other students filed out, with Freta hesitating as she glanced swiftly between me and the teacher. But even she left with the rest of them.

“Miss Azriel. Come here.” Mr. Lotmas’s voice brooked no argument.