He simply had to be. Why else would my dragon have this reaction to him? I’d heard about shifters’ forms’ taking over control, it had even happened to my father Luka back when his panther form wanted more time around one of his mates, who he had no idea was meant to be his at the time. So I just knew this Harpy guy had to be mine.
Harpy’s attention turned to Casey and a fond smile grazed his lips. I hated it. Growling low, I turned around and moved away to a safe distance before pushing off the ground, soaring through the skies to get away from my fated and his boyfriend.
Why had no one told me what to do if my mate was already spoken for? Some waited around with the hope of finding their fated early in life, while others dated and some even married. But everyone knew that once you found your fated you wouldn’t want anyone else. Father Luka had even told me that once you seal the mating bond, you wouldn’t find others attractive anymore, which meant that Harpy would continue to like Casey unless I somehow convinced him to kiss me, and if a kiss wasn’t enough then maybe we could do more?
I shook my head as I hit an invisible shield. It seemed I’d accidentally hit the edge of the island’s protection. Being so far into my own head, I hadn’t even realized how long I’d flown for.
My dragon urged me back to Harpy, but I had to create some distance between us or my heart would surely suffer. We’d only just met and all I knew about my fated was his name and that he was already taken. And that he was the most breathtakingly beautiful being in the whole world.
I wanted to lock him away forever and treasure him.
The last part was definitely my dragon talking, but I agreed. Harpy should be ours and not Casey’s.
After circling the island a few times—because my dragon wasthatagitated—I returned to my room, hoping to find Casey and ask him a few questions about Harpy without killing the man, but he wasn’tthere. So, instead, I went in search of food. The huge dining hall was easy to locate, especially since the green light showed up for me again, likely knowing what I was searching for. The Magic here truly was something else and I couldn’t wait to explore further. When it came to my purpose here, it was to learn and become a strong shifter, it wasn’t solely to find my fated, and I still had two whole years to make Harpy mine. I could be patient.
Maybe.
“Nym!” Jamie called me over to his table where he sat with our cousins, all of them with stuffed plates in front of them and beaming smiles. My body relaxed at the sight of family, of knowing they truly were here too.
I sat, smiling back at them with what I hoped was my normal smile, then stole some food from Jamie’s plate, too lazy to grab something for myself.
“Hey!” Jamie exclaimed, slapping my hand away. “Go wait in line like the rest of us.”
“I found my fated!” I blurted.
Myve’s eyes widened before her smile followed suit. “Where?!Who?!”
Cursing myself, I whispered, “My roommate’s boyfriend.”
They fell silent before Ryn asked, “Does he know?”
I shook my head. “I don’t think so.”
“But you have met him, right? This isn’t just a look from afar?” Nazuss questioned.
“I was shifted when he showed up, so technically we’ve met, but he hasn’t seen my human form yet,” I explained.
Myve nodded thoughtfully. “Perhaps, this fated mate of yours will realize you’re his once he sees the human version?”
I shrugged. “Maybe, I just don’t know what to do with my dragon until then.”
“Oh, is he annoyed?” Jamie asked, knowing how dragon shifters could be around their mates. We’d heard all about it growing up from our uncle Jax who was a dragon shifter himself.
“Agitated,” I corrected. “And very much so.”
“I bet it’s because you know he already has someone,” Myve stated. “Had he been single, your dragon wouldn’t be so on edge already.”
“Maybe,” I hedged. “But this is only the first day here, I can’t just demand he leave Casey.”
“Casey is your roommate?” Ryn asked.
“Yes, and I actually like him, which is only making things worse for me.”
Myve snorted. “When it comes to love, there are no rules. Fate will bring you two together no matter what.”
I hoped she was right.
“But enough about that,” Myve continued, clearly reading that I needed to be distracted. “I heard from one of the students that the foyer has a board with classes on it. We can already go and check out if we’re in the same classes.”
