Chapter 3
Chapter Three
I’d met my mate already? That was the question I kept asking myself as I left Ulysis’ room.
My light guided me back to the dining room.
I figured that meant I had the rest of the day off.
I hadn’t shifted in two days, so I made my way outside, stopping as I reached the bench Casey would meet Riddick at later.
This was a good spot. I had to admit that.
I shifted into my racoon form and made my way up the tree.
It was shaded and had the perfect view of the academy.
I decided to explore the tree some more, my racoon needed to feel his claws scratching on the bark.
There was just something so calming about climbing and sniffing out the best spot to take a nap.
I’d always been happy with my shifted form, and it wasn’t until I came to this school that I learned not all felt that way about their forms. Our teacher, Niels, was determined to create a strong bond between every shifter and their form.
It appeared as though it was his life’s mission, and I had to agree that it was a good one.
If I wasn’t so at ease with my form, I’d likely have felt out of balance, like my body couldn’t rest properly.
There wasn’t a particular form that was superior to the others, but many wished to be dragons, simply because of how rare it was.
In fact, it was so rare that for a time they were believed to be extinct.
My uncle Jax had lived in hiding because of it, not daring to let anyone know he was a dragon.
Thankfully, those times are over now. I didn’t think of myself as less than Nym just because he was a dragon and I was a racoon shifter.
We even knew a queen who was a mouse shifter, and Queen Daniella was a brave and loyal ruler.
As I thought about all the shifters and how much we needed each form in our world, I somehow fell asleep. I’d found a hollow further up in the tree. The coziness and safety had been enough for my racoon to shut down and nap.
“Casey!”
I woke up with a start. Riddick was calling out a greeting for Casey, who was approaching him. I blinked my eyes into focus, knowing I was definitely spying on them, but I didn’t care. Casey was my friend and I would do anything in my power to protect him.
“Hi, Riddick,” Casey greeted, a friendly grin on his face.
I fucking hated Riddick.
“You still up for a flight?” he asked Casey, looking so eager. It was horrible to watch, honestly. Like, have some gods damned pride, man.
“Sure,” Casey shrugged, looking a little nervous. “Where do you want us to fly?”
“I was thinking of the cliffs. When the sun sets it should be amazing from up there.”
There were literally hours until the sun would set and I could tell Casey was confused by this as well. Just how long had this Riddick dude planned on flying around with Casey?
“Maybe just a quick fly around?” Casey suggested.
“Oh,” Riddick sounded disappointed by that. My racoon was all smiles though.
“It’s just that I have plans with Jamie after this,” Casey said, sounding sincere. We didn’t have plans. I never forgot my plans with Casey and never would, so I paid closer attention to this Riddick. If Casey felt the need to lie to him, then he likely wasn’t really into spending time with him.
Riddick scoffed. “Jamie? He isn’t too busy dating everything with a pulse?”
Okay, rude.
“What?” Casey said, sounding just as surprised as I felt from Riddick’s ire. I had no idea we had issues. Then again, I hadn’t known he existed before he’d asked Casey out for a flight.
Riddick rolled his eyes. “You aren’t fooling anyone, Casey. It’s clear that you like Jamie, but he doesn’t see you as anything other than a friend.”
Wait, Casey liked me? No, Riddick must’ve been mistaken. I would’ve known if he was into me. Then why did my heart flutter with excitement at the idea of Casey liking me?
Riddick continued, stepping closer to Casey. “You should give me a chance to prove I could be your mate, don’t you think? Instead of waiting around for Jamie to date the entire student population.”
He made me sound like a whore, even if that had been my plan.
It wasn’t as though I kissed or slept with all of them.
I’d only kissed one of the students here and that hadn’t been my doing.
Riddick had seemed shy when he’d asked Casey to fly with him, but that had to have been an act for him to act so brazen and forward now.
I was halfway out of my little hole in the tree, trying to see everything as Riddick closed the distance between them. “Just one kiss, Casey, that’s all I ask.”
Casey’s hands were fisted to his sides, fear evident in his eyes as Riddick grabbed his chin, closing in on him.
Instinct had me moving forward, wanting to stop them.
I’d forgotten in my haste that I couldn’t speak in my racoon form, and instead I screamed out some barking noises.
I’d also forgotten I was high up in the air and soon found myself falling down, the air cutting into my fur before Casey’s startled voice called out.
“Jamie!”
Then I hit the ground.
“He’ll be fine, luv,” a raspy female voice spoke next to me. “Just a broken arm.”
“He fell from a great height.” That was Casey’s voice. I felt calmer instantly knowing he was near. “Are you certain there isn’t more he needs healing for?”
Right, I’d fallen. That had to be the reason why I felt like death. And why I’d yet to open my eyes.
“He’ll need time to rest. His entire body will be bruised, but I have a salve you can rub on his bruises before he goes to bed each night. Or have his roommate do it for him. It’ll make them heal faster,” the healer said. Or at least I hoped she was a healer.
“Thank you, Janine. Do you mind if I stay here? I don’t want him waking up alone,” Casey asked.
“Of course not, luv. You just need to sign the paper on my desk. If non-patients sleep here, we need to document it. I’ll grab a mattress for you to sleep on.”
“And it truly is no trouble? I don’t mind sleeping in the chair.”
She laughed, a raspy rich tone. “You think you’re the first mate who refuses to leave a wounded mate’s side? We normally need to make room so mates aren’t separated when one is injured. It makes them agitated, and no one wants that.”
I was ready for Casey to correct her, informing her that we were just friends, but instead he just whispered, “Thank you.”
Once I heard the door close, I dared opening my eyes. I was alone in a small room. When my brother Nym had been injured, he’d been in a big room filled with beds. I wondered why I’d gotten an entire room for myself.
The door opened softly once I’d situated myself as well as I could on the bed.
My entire body was aching and bruised, but my arm felt little to no pain, likely because Janine had to numb it before putting the bones together.
I had a sling around it, making it clear to everyone that I’d fucked up. Thankfully, it was my left arm.
Casey came into view, walking on soft feet so as to not wake me. “Hi,” I rasped, making him jump.
He held his hand over his heart, his eyes wild. “Are you trying to kill me?!”
I laughed at that, then winced from the pain it caused me. Damn stomach muscles were aching.
He hurried over, a gentle hand on my shoulder. “Are you okay? Need me to grab you anything?”
I shook my head. “Please just stay?” I didn’t want to be alone in this tiny room the entire night and feared now that I was awake he would leave.
“You really think I could leave you here alone? I would never hear the end of it.” He tried to joke, but it was clear that my fall had scared him.
“I’m sorry,” I said, trying to reach for him with my good arm. “I fell asleep in the tree and then saw Riddick was trying to kiss you. I just forgot I couldn’t fly, I suppose.”
He scoffed, but with his glassy eyes it seemed forced. “Why were you even in that tree? You normally venture further into the woods and play around in there.”
It was true. I liked hiding and that tree had been on the outskirts of the forest, but that had also been the reason why I’d chosen it, wanting to make sure Casey was all right.
I felt silly admitting it, but I had to. “I wanted to watch over you.” My eyes were downcast as I whispered the words, but I felt his eyes on me.
“Why?” he asked, not in an accusatory tone, more like genuine interest.
“Why?” I scoffed. “You’re my best friend, Casey. I know we haven’t known each other long, but it’s true. Even my closest friends at home don't compare to how much you mean to me.” I looked at him, needing him to know the truth of my words. “I love you, Casey.”
One thing about Casey that I admired above all else was how proudly he shared his emotions, so him crying should’ve been expected. But as his tears fell, I was struck by how it affected me.
“Please don’t cry!” I begged. “Because if you cry then—” I began to cry. Why? Because seeing Casey so emotional seemed to break something inside of me, something only he could fix.
Then he finally spoke, voice loud and clear, “You’re such an idiot!”
“What?” I choked, wiping at my eyes with my good arm.
“You love me?”
I nodded.
“Then why the fuck haven’t you realized I’m your mate yet?!”
Now, I’d seen Casey heartbroken from when Harpy found Nym, and I’d seen him scared. I’d seen him laugh and tease. I thought, stupidly, that I’d seen all of his emotions. Right now, I knew I’d never seen him truly angry. He was shaking with it, his hands fisted at his sides, eyes glaring at me.
“Um,” I said, not knowing what to say to him. “Mates?” I croaked, trying to piece what he’d just said together in my brain.
“Yes! You fucking idiot. MATES!”
“But,” I stammered. “How do you know?”
“Because I love you, too! No matter how fucking oblivious you are! Or maybe because I long to be around you, or perhaps, simply because you’re mine.”