Page 108 of Bound to Three Fae Beasts

“I’m starting to get some flickers,” Silas announced when the silence lingered a little too long. “I’m not sure exactly what it means, but I’m hopeful that I’ll get my beast soon. My magic is getting stronger, and it’s unusual to access magic before you’re bound, right?”

He glanced at Freta for confirmation and she nodded. She had her legs tucked up beneath her, chewing her lip as she watched me. It made me a little nervous to have so much of her attention on me, even though she was the one that said I needed to do anything I could to increase my standing.

“Freta?” Silas pushed gently.

She blinked and turned to him. “Huh?”

He repeated his question and some of the tension eased from her face. She nodded. “It’s a good sign. All the training we’ve been doing with the golden boys is paying off. Though my beast still wants to run and hide instead of fight.”

“You are getting better at fighting, though,” I told her encouragingly.

“Yeah. I am. Just look at how in the last duels I wasn’t knocked out in the first three seconds,” she joked, but her expression faltered once more as she gazed at me. “Z … the rumors that are going around—”

“It seems like attacking a woman’s sexuality is the same in the fae world as the human world,” I interrupted, attempting to make my tone lighthearted.

Whore to the heirs was still the prevailing theory in the Academy. It was the biggest reason why the four of us had agreed I wouldn’t be alone with any one of them now. We were certain the faculty was keeping an eye on our trackers. We weren’t sure if they would ever barge into one of the court rooms, which was why we hadn’t had sex since that first time.

The drive to be with them physically was almost too much to bear, but until things calmed down, we had to be extra careful. Seb and Gareth would get away with only a minor scandal, but Jasper and I both were in a more precarious position.

“How did you manage to get them on your side?” Freta asked, lowering her eyes like she was ashamed of asking. “I only ask because … I’m worried I pushed you into something you didn’t want.”

“Don’t worry. I have no intention of becoming Seb’s mistress, or anyone’s mistress, for that matter. The rumors are just that, rumors. I’m not having sex with any of them.” Not right now, at least. “Even if I thought sleeping with Seb would benefit me, would it be worth making a true enemy out of Flora? I’m surprised anyone would think that someone in Seb’s position would prefer me over her.”

Silas snorted. “Anyone who knows her would understand why.”

Freta’s shoulders relaxed. “So, you haven’t done anything you don’t want?”

“Not with them. I’m Seb’s mentee and my performance reflects his grades. I have a wolf, so my existence reflects Court Laurel. That … and I found a few things out about them that they wouldn’t want shared.” I winked in a cavalier way. I’d delivered enough blackmail material to Freta and Silas that they wouldn’t find it suspicious.

I was not prepared for the alarmed looks that crossed their faces. Silas tried to school his reaction, but Freta went pale. I winced. So much for reassuring them. It seemed that they were more alarmed by that than they were the idea that I might be sleeping with the three golden boys.

“It’s gotten us all their protection in exchange for me keeping my mouth shut, so that’s a good thing, right?” I asked, faltering. What if this made them so nervous they forgot to keep their minds on their studies and training?

“What is it?” Silas asked. His gaze was guarded, as though he was trying to reserve his judgment on how foolish I’d been.

I shook my head quickly. “Telling you would break the rules.”

Freta leaned forward. “Z—”

“It’s okay. Trust me.” I grabbed her hands and squeezed them as I smiled reassuringly. “It’s not just the blackmail, remember? If it was, then Gareth would have snapped my neck already and used his position to get out of the murder charge.”

Neither of them looked particularly satisfied with that, but Silas rubbed Freta’s back soothingly. I watched the casual touch and briefly wondered how it would feel to be so freely affectionate with my three mates. We were so careful, not even brushing hands in public. Jasper especially. When it was just the four of us, he would sit next to me, but he rarely touched me. When we weren’t alone, he always kept one of the others between him and me.

“I’ll accept this for now,” Silas said. “But the heirs aren’t people to mess with. It was bad enough when you might have been sleeping with them, considering Jasper’s situation. But at least if that was the case, the other two being involved could offer you protection. Blackmailing them?”

Freta took a deep breath and smoothed her tunic. “If Z says she has it handled, then she has it handled. She knows what she’s doing.” She gave me a trembling smile. “Let’s go to the great hall. I don’t want to be late for supper.”

The meal wouldn’t be served for another hour yet, but it was clear Freta wanted to get out of here to change the subject. So did I, so I readily agreed. The three of us headed out of the Alegro room. Outside, the weather was sunny but chilly.

“I guess your blackmail can’t be too damning,” Silas said abruptly as we got into the Academy again. “Otherwise they wouldn’t demand the three of us serve them food despite the tables being perfectly set already.”

I snorted, amused. “They are a bit finicky, aren’t they? Beating people up, no problem. Cutting a roast, though? Perish the thought!”

Even Freta giggled at that.

A handful of students were already in the great hall. We found our usual seats and pulled out books and homework to do while we waited for food. The tension remained tight between us, though, and I wished I hadn’t been so blasé. I should have stuck with the official lie.

I was just about to start closing my books when a pained scream ripped through the hall. My head whipped around to find a boy who had just come into the hall on his knees. He clutched his head as magic started to pulse around him. I recognized it instantly.