Page 53 of Bound to Three Fae Beasts

I nodded slowly. “Ah, of course. Well, let’s get on with it, then.”

Red grabbed my arms and twisted them behind my back. I braced myself, knowing that all the politeness in the world wasn’t going to help me get out of this one.

Savannah punched me in the face. White-hot pain blinded me. Blood filled my mouth. I spat it out, fighting to hold myself still. A tooth fell out with the blood. Savannah took my knife while Red laughed, then he threw me down the stairs. I spun down them, knocking out another tooth before I came to a stop at the base of the stairs.

I glared up at them as they followed me down. Was this what Freta had meant? That I should subject myself to this so I could prove my worth?

“Do you really think that beating me is going to make her want to fall into bed with you?” I taunted Red, laughing through the bloody mess that was my mouth. I tucked the missing tooth into my pocket. If I put it back in place before drinking a potion, there was a chance I wouldn’t lose it. I grinned my broken smile at Savannah. “Do you think it will make her see you as anything but a servant? Or do you think that it will help your family pay off its debt to hers?”

Red howled in fury. His fists started to fly again, but Savannah stood back. She held her hands slightly apart and a spell started to glimmer in them. Through the pain of Red’s beating, I knew that it was Savannah I should be worried about.

If I was going to survive, I needed more weapons. If I couldn’t count on my friends surviving, then I’d have to rely on myself.

Just like always.

Chapter 24 - Azriel

I thew myself down the stairs to avoid Red’s fists. My body knocked into his legs, sending his arms windmilling as he fought to catch his balance. At the same time, Savannah released her spell. It slammed into the stairs where I’d been laying, then ricocheted back into Red. He toppled backward, howling with pain.

Savannah let out a strangled cry and rushed over to him. I scrambled down the last few stairs, sucking in deep breaths. The students around us started catcalling, but when I clawed myself to my feet, they didn’t stop me. Savannah started trying to undo her spell as I staggered away.

My body was aching all over, and my leg could hardly hold my weight, but I still limped to the Alegro room. It was closer than the nurse’s office. When I got there, though, I found our stash of potions was empty.

Groaning in pain and frustrated with myself, I sank onto the couch and took off my tunic. While my face was badly bloodied and bruises were forming over my ribs and stomach, I appeared to have gotten out without too bad of damage. Though if I was going to save my teeth, I would need to have a healing potion quickly.

First, though, if I just had a little rest…

I lay down, and the next thing I knew, I was being shaken awake. My head pounded like I had a hangover and I groaned in pain. Penry crouched next to me, pushing a vial into my hand. A large bruise formed over her eye. I winced and started to ask what happened, but my tongue and jaws were so swollen that moving them hurt.

“Freta said we didn’t have any healing potions left,” Penry said, helping me to sit. She put three more on the couch next to me. “I have to get to class now. I’m sorry.”

As she fled, I fumbled in my pockets for the missing teeth, and pushed them back into place. The pain was blinding and I nearly dropped the potion in my hand, but I managed to drink it, then had a nap while I waited for it to work. When I woke, the pain had greatly decreased. I gargled a bit with another healing potion before drinking it.

I was still left bruised, but at least my jaw no longer felt as though it was half broken. I put the other two into the stash. We hadn’t stolen many potions since the trials, too wrapped up in other worries. It was just the sort of thing that would get us all killed.

Anger swept through me and I grabbed one of the potions and clung to it. I tried to feel the same snap that I’d had when I became the wolf, but nothing happened. I shoved it back, then stormed around the room, grabbing things and trying to take their form. What was the point of having this power if I didn’t know how to use it?

I stopped in front of a small mirror and stared at myself, willing my reflection to disappear. Nothing. How had I even ended up invisible? So far every time I’d accessed my magic, it was an accident! I didn’t even realize I’d skimmed those forms until I was wearing that face.

Fed up and confused, I grabbed an urn that sat on the shelf and popped open the top, then stuck my fingers into the ashes. They were gritty, and the idea that I was touching a dead person made my stomach clench. I pulled my hand free and put the urn back.

I wiped my hand off on my trousers and returned to the couch. My eyes slid shut as I leaned back, trying to relax my body. As I practiced the breathing exercises Freta had taught me, a strange vibrating feeling washed over my arms. I pitched suddenly, losing my balance. A hiss escaped me and my eyes snapped open.

That had been an actual hiss. I got to my feet—all four of them. I looked down at myself, finding four fuzzy paws. Orange fur covered me. With a quick jump, I got to the back of the couch, then I leapt over to the shelf where the mirror was.

An orange cat stared back at me. I mewed, licked my paw, and washed my ear. The cat-like behavior came naturally. When I jumped to the floor, my body seemed to know exactly how to move and do what I wanted it to.

At the orphanage, we’d occasionally have cats that hung around. I was always charmed by the way they rolled over onto their backs and flicked their tail. When I tried to mimic that move, it happened easily.

The ability to use a body that was not my own must be part of a shape-thief’s power. I’d have to remember this, and trust my instincts to behave naturally. When I had worn Gareth’s face, my voice had sounded like his, too.

The sound of the entrance opening made me streak to hide beneath the couch. I hid there, keeping myself as still as possible. Freta and Silas came in a few moments later, each of them carrying various potions with them. Apparently, they had had the same thoughts as I had.

Freta paused and looked around. “From what Penry said, I expected Z to be here still. Do you think she went to the nurses?”

“Probably, yes,” Silas answered quickly. “Where else would she go?”

“Maybe she didn’t leave willingly,” Freta said darkly.