Page 5 of The Lion’s Bunny

I eyed the room, trying to find a clock or any indication, there was nothing so I shook my head. “I apologize, but no,” I said, not even looking over at Damon. I didn’t want the headmaster’s attention on him.

“I can inform you that it's now half past two, and you should’ve returned before eleven.” I wasn’t about to remind him how my cousin Nym hadn’t been scolded when he’d stayed out late with Harpy. I wasn’t a snitch. He sighed, “I’d hoped to avoid spilling secrets this time around, but it seems you dragon shifters can’t function without knowing.”

Damon and I shared a worried look, secrets?

“As you know, rules are rules for a reason, but we also know how hard it can be for mates to be separated,” headmaster Wren said, looking intensely at us. I wondered if he had a mate somewhere around here, maybe one of the teachers?

He continued, “You should respect the curfew and use your rooms for when you need privacy as mates. I understand it can be hard when you have a roommate living with you, but you must stay inside during the night. I’m not saying the island isn’t safe, but the teachers need rest as well and they all know if students are missing. I took the night watch so luckily, I’ll be the tired one tomorrow and not those who are meant to teach.” No, just the one meant to run this place.

“We’re sorry,” I said, feeling guilty over his lack of sleep.

He held up a silencing hand. “I know dragon shifters are different, I deal with new ones every two years, often it’s just one dragon per two years, though,” he sighed. “What I’m about to tell you stays in this room, understood?”

We both nodded, maybe a tad too eagerly. I was honestly very intrigued about what secret we would be privy to.

“As you know, no one is sharing a room with their mates,” he began, and we nodded. “But that will change once we hit the one-year mark.”

Hope filled my chest. “We get to be roommates here?”

Headmaster Wren nodded. “All students will room with their fated mate for the last year of school. The Magic knows who’s fated and will pair them together. We simply wanted everyone to have a chance at friendship before we threw fated mates around. We also respect that every student has to have a safe space. Not everyone would feel comfortable in a new place with new rules and be shown their fated mate on the same day.”

It made sense. I thought of Myve and how she felt with her fated, Hans, and then I thought about Harpy and Nym; how Harpy had been in a relationship when he came to the school. He needed time to accept that Nym was meant to be his. Damon had seemed to need the distance between us as well. His dragon and human form were at odds with when to claim me. Even though they both wanted me, Damon needed the connection first. At least, that was how I’d read him. He clearly wanted me, but didn’t want to force me to be his, like his dragon had obviously wanted to.

“So,” he continued. “Please be patient as you wait, soon you’ll have every night in each other’s arms.”

“Does that mean we get to share a bed too? Not just those single beds?” I asked, feeling giddy at the thought of snuggling with Damon each night. Holding him in my arms. Where he belonged.

“Yes, one big bed will be placed in each room for mates to share. The day the change takes over, The Magic makes it happen, transferring personal items and everything while you’re in classes. At the end of the day, your light will guide you to your new room.”

Chapter 4

My entire body vibrated with excitement as I waited for Damon to meet me at breakfast. After Headmaster Wren had sent us straight to bed, we’d agreed to meet up. This time, Damon would join my table and officially be introduced to my family as my mate. My lion’s pride was evident in the smug way he prowled inside of me, eager to show everyone at the academy that Damon was ours.

I’d purposely avoided my table, knowing my family were nosy and would need details. They would have to wait, though. I stayed by the opening to the dining hall, eagerly searching through each student who passed; waiting for the moment a tall blonde hunk of a man would step through, making my heart flutter.

When the sweet scent of vanilla hit me, my eyes scanned in the direction it came from and there he was: my Damon. I hurried over to him, ignoring the scowls from the students I passed. Yeah, I was going the wrong way leaving the dining hall and not entering it, but I had a mate to kiss good morning.

Damon smiled shyly as I approached. I pulled him into my arms, hugging him tight as I felt my lion purr inside of me, content now that Damon was in my arms again. I then tugged at his neck, pulling his lips down on mine, humming in satisfaction when he eagerly kissed me back, making me swoon.

We ended the kiss, sharing a look that made those flutters erupt inside of me. I took his hand in mine, lacing our fingers. “Come, I know my family is dying to hear what happened yesterday.”

He blushed and I knew he still felt guilty over dragon-napping me, but I found it romantic, and I was sure my family would think so as well.

Myve was returning to our table with two plates, making me frown. She was rarely that hungry. Then I broke into laughter when I noticed she’d placed them at the two empty spots. She didn’t want to wait on us grabbing our own food it seemed.

We stopped next to the table, all their eyes on me and my lovely bunny. “I got a mate!” I exclaimed proudly, hugging Damon into my side. “Isn’t he just perfect?”

Myve snickered. “You’re so cute when you’re all in love, brother.”

“I know,” I sighed dreamily.

“Sit down,” Nym said, gesturing to the empty spots. “And tell us everything.”

I eyed my cousin with a raised eyebrow. “Since when are you into gossip?”

Nym just smirked. “You weren’t the one who had to listen to Myve and all her theories. It will be nice finally knowing what really happened.”

“I’m not that bad,” Myve grumbled, crossing her arms and sticking her tongue out at Nym.