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“You know there’s other fun things for us to do, right?” I asked with a grin. “Just because I beat all of you in Willa’s treasure hunt, doesn’t mean I only want to do them from now on.”

Myve huffed, acting annoyed. “Maybe I want to practice at them for when my time comes. Hans and I have yet to do ours.”

“Speaking of,” Nym cut in. “Don’t you have a lot of prizes you can use? Why not pick one that will keep you entertained for a while tomorrow?”

He did have a point. “I do have a lot of prizes, but most are for couples. And I have to be mated for them to work.” Hurt rushed over me again, reminding me that even though I tried to forget Arthur for now, I couldn’t.

The wonderful scent of sweet apples reached me and I gasped as I turned around in my seat.

Chapter Seven

“Why are you so angry all of a sudden?” Ryn asked, rushing after me.

How could I tell him that the kitchen staff pissed me off. Why would they make apple pie today of all days? And why had they matched Arthur’s scent so perfectly?! My heart had raced in my chest as I’d spun around, only to see ten freshly baked pies laid out in cut pieces and students hurrying over there to grab a plate.

I stormed out after that.

“Nazuss!” Ryn demanded, voice tight. I stopped then, turning to face my brother. He looked worried as he approached, holding out one arm before crushing me against him. “I’m always here. Remember that.”

I nodded against his neck, feeling comforted in his embrace. “I think I’ll go bathe,” I said, stepping away from him.

He still had that worried look on his face, but nodded and let me pass him. I didn’t notice any students as I walked to my room, intent on keeping my gaze on the floor. I had to train myself not to look for Arthur and if floor gazing was a thing, I would soon master the skill.

Entering my room, I headed straight for the bathroom. I wouldn’t know if Arthur was in there or not, and honestly if I knew he was hiding it would only hurt me more. I undressed while the bathtub filled, my body longing for the relief warm water would offer me. I slid into the tub, groaning as my muscles seemed to relax and unwind. This was what I truly needed. As I lay there, I thought about my prizes and which ones I could use for myself. I’d already used the one for my hair cut and like I’d said to my family, most of my prizes were for me and Arthur to use together when we… If we ever mated.

One prize however, was for me to use alone. It was the same as the couple massages, just for a solo session with specialized training before the full body massage. There wasn’t much information other than that, but it would offer me some time away from the school. I hoped. We were never really told if we were transported away from the island or simply to hidden areas within. No matter, I would use it tomorrow. It was our day off and I had no better way to spend my time.

Freshly clean and dry, I got dressed in my pajamas and cleaned my teeth. My hair got a quick comb through and then I entered the bedroom again, not once pausing to let my pain fester. Arthur was either hiding or not here. I slid under the covers and flicked the light, basking in the quiet darkness. When the door opened thirty minutes later, I pretended to be fast asleep. I held back my tears as time passed and he never joined me on the bed.

Arthur was back underneath the bed. If I had any lingering hope left that he wanted me back, it all died right then.

I fell asleep unwanted and hurting.

The next day was spent training, as the paper had said. I’d been transported to a field where a woman clad in leather had stood. She’d told me to shift to my bear and then to follow her lead. She’d shifted into a bear herself and had run and run and run. I was dead by the time she shifted back and told me our lesson was over. How that was a prize was a mystery, but as I lay getting my full body massage not even an hour later, I suddenly appreciated having moved my body and pushed my limits. Once I’d returned from my massage, I’d fallen straight asleep, not even bothering with eating dinner.

Arthur hadn’t shown himself, and now one week had passed since my training. It was weird how sad my nights were now, just straight to bed and then turning off the lights and sleeping. No talking. No dreaming. No hope.

“That is why,” Niels droned on, pacing in front of his chalkboard. “You should always be up front with what your shifted form is. Otherwise, you could end up hunted. You don’t really care that those who hurt you will be in jail, not when you’re already dead.”

The girl who’d asked him why there weren’t more rules protecting shifters, likely hadn’t thought her question would turn into a one-hour long spiel about the most famous deaths of shifters and the punishment of those who’d hurt them. We all knew most of them. Wizards tended to think that playing ignorant would grant them their freedom, and telling their rulers that the bunny they’d hunted for hours could simply just “shift back”, hadn’t gone well for them. It was the same with capturing dragon shifters, which had once been something rulers did for protection, forcing the huge shifters into slavery as they fought for them in wars. Thankfully our world was a much better place now.

Jamie leaned closer to my right side, whispering, “You want to hang out after classes today? I want to show you this cool tree Casey and I made a nest in.”

Nodding, I smiled at my cousin. They were all great, offering me something to do each evening. I hadn’t had this much one-on-one time with any of them before, and it was nice.

My focus had been on Jamie, so when Niels started yelling at one student, I had no idea what had happened. I half-stood, wanting to see who he was raising his voice at and gasped. On the table sat a hedgehog shifter and I knew instantly that it was Arthur.

“You shift back this instant!” Niels boomed, raising his finger at my poor mate.

Arthur shifted back, now sitting on the table. He looked terrified as he let Niels yell at him, berating him for shifting in class when we were indoors. The look of terror on Arthur’s face, the way his body shrank in on itself. It was too much.

“You need to have better control over yourself!” Niels continued as I made my way to them. “What do you have to say for yourself?”

“I—” Arthur began, swallowing audibly.

Niels slammed his flat hand on the table, right next to where Arthur sat, making him jump. Arthur was terrified. I doubted Niels had ever laid a hand on him, but it was obvious someone else had from his reactions.

Without thinking, I grabbed Niels’ robe collar and yanked him back, making the teacher stumble. He turned around, frantic eyes that turned dark with anger. Anger that was now directed at me.