Page 75 of Bound to Three Fae Beasts

I cursed under my breath, rolling up. The smell of what just happened filled the air, and with me here, Flora would know what we’d done. Probably assume we’d gone even further. I scrambled to pull on my pants, then grabbed the bloody handkerchief and half a pant leg from my injury. I glanced at the other handkerchief, the one in the fireplace, but shook my head. No point in trying to hide that.

“Go invisible,” Seb hissed to me. “I’ll get rid of her.”

I retreated into the indoor forest and concentrated. When Seb nodded, I knew I was invisible. He opened the door and Flora stepped in. She’d dolled herself up again, wearing a long turquoise cloak that set off her fiery hair, but I was too anxious about being caught to appreciate her beauty. I crept toward the door, being careful not to make any noise.

“What do you want, Flora?” Seb demanded.

Flora threw her hair back and took off the cloak. She had nothing underneath. Even I stopped, gaping at her naked body.

“I want you,” she said. “And judging by the smell in here, you could use a warm body to—”

Seb backed away from her as she approached. “How many fucking times do I have to tell you no? Get the fuck out of here, Flora!”

Flora let out an incredulous noise as she fell back a step. “Our families have decided we’re getting married, Seb. Why wait?”

“We’re not married yet.”

“But why wait? I want to have sex. I want to feel connected and alive in this damn place. You’re the only one I’m allowed to do that with!”

“You’re not allowed to do it with me, because I have said no,” Seb snarled back.

I hurriedly escaped while they were fighting. After what had happened between Seb and me, the last thing I wanted was to witness this fight. As I got away, it hit me just how crazy what I’d just done was. I’d let Seb touch me. I would have let him do even more if he’d asked. What was I thinking?

And what was this mate bond? Was it real? How could it be, if I had these feelings for Jasper and Gareth, too? If it was real, did that change things for me being a shape-thief?

I was so deep in my thoughts as I made my way toward the dorm that I didn’t see someone following me. Not until two strong hands caught my arms and a hand body-slammed me into the wall.

Chapter 33 - Azriel

The gag bit into the corners of my mouth, the wad of cloth that had been shoved into it turning my tongue dry. Red shoved me hard in the back, making me stumble. When he pulled the blindfold off me, I found myself in the forest. The tall trees rose up in every direction and my heart sank. He’d used a secret passage to get me out here. Which way was back to the Academy?

My hands were bound behind my back, so when Red grabbed me and threw me against a tree, I couldn’t fight him. I kicked the air, unable to reach him.

“If it weren’t for you, Flora would have gotten what she needs already,” he snarled. He slung the knapsack on his shoulder to the ground, and drew out another length of rope. He wrapped one end around his fist and rubbed the coarse rope across the back of my neck. “I told her I’d kill you for her. I said I’d take the punishment for her. She told me to spare you. So thank her for your life, you filthy human.”

I breathed heavily, trying to spit curses at him, but it all got swallowed up by the gag.

Red reached into his knapsack again and pulled out a whip that he flicked open. The snap of it hitting the ground made my stomach curdle. He grinned at me, pleased with my fear, and pulled his arm back. The whip struck across my chest and stomach, ripping my tunic. White splotches filled my vision and I gasped, arching to get away from it.

He whipped me again and again. All I felt was the pain, increasing with every strike. No matter what I did, I couldn’t free myself. Desperately, I reached for magic, but every time the whip cut me open again, it jolted out of my reach.

The pain was too much. The white of my vision turned black and I slumped against the ropes. The snap of the whip stopped. Red roared. And I knew nothing.

***

I woke in the Alegro room. Pain and nausea swirled through me so much that at first, I didn’t know where I was. Silas sat next to me, blood smearing his hands. When I groaned, he leaned forward, worry in his eyes.

“Are you awake?” he asked, tenderly pushing the hair from my face.

“Gonna be sick.”

Silas quickly moved me to my side and held a bowl beneath me. It already sank of vomit, the smell making another volley erupt from me. Pain slashed through my body and I whimpered, wishing for unconsciousness again. Silas held me half upright until I stopped retching, then set the bowl down. He wiped my face with a cool cloth, then helped me lie back down.

I was half-naked, I realized. Only a single cloth lay over my breasts for modesty. Heat rushed to my face, and I wrapped my arms around myself. That was a mistake. When my skin touched the whip-welts on my chest and stomach, they exploded with pain again.

“Easy, easy,” Silas said. He laid another cloth, this one damp, over my chest and stomach. “I’m sorry. Your tunic and undershirt were torn to shreds, and I had to take care of your injuries. I’m sorry. But now that you’re awake, you can drink a healing potion. Freta and Penry have gone to get more.”

We’d had to go through a good chunk of our store to heal Penry and Silas from their whipping. Guilt settled in my chest now. Not only was I putting them at greater risk, having to steal the potions, but the only reason Red had caught me was because I’d been so distracted with what happened with Seb.