22. Mind vs Heart #3
“Per your shifter bond’s contract, bare minimum, you’ll obtain a permanent marking on your flesh, a symbol representing their species.
But keep in mind, there are pros and cons.
After entering a contract, your lives are inextricable.
Meaning, if you’re to perish in battle, so will your bond, and vice versa.
” He pauses, reaching beneath the podium and retrieving another book.
Did he say the fay and their bond will perish? Who would enter an arrangement where their life depends on another? Hell no. I don’t need nor want that kind of pressure. Not with my luck.
“However–” He stands, flipping through a few pages.
“Your bond can release you from this agreement upon death if there’s a trusting relationship, or if you’re unfit to bear their markings.
Consider it, ‘breaking up’. Most shifters, when meeting their end, blame their fays, thus bringing us down with them. ”
This changes nothing. Responsibility of this magnitude will have me lying awake at night. Dogs, cats, goldfish, hell, even a bird is my limit. Having someone else’s life in my hands, well, I’ve seen how this story ends. No thank you. No shifter bonds.
These insane students with their ranking matches, on the wrong day, could kill me and my shifter. My hand raises to ask this exact question.
“Yes, Kyra,” he acknowledges, and I smirk at hearing my name.
Unbeknownst to me, Blaise has been scribbling the entire time, switching his focus between me and the others. He is having a grand ole time. Whatever.
I recite my inner thoughts aloud and hope Caspian has the answers.
“Good question, Kyra.” Now he says my name on purpose, and who am I to correct it.
“For one, most shifters won’t bond until the second or third year.
Say you have a sooner opportunity, your shifter will join you in all ranking matches.
If you find yourself near the end, have the decency to request a bond release and save their life. ”
I mouth, “Thank you,” and he returns a genuine smile. I hold back my emotions. Now knowing this room brings out every intrusive thought, I need to be careful. I’ve already drooled over the man.
“Let’s discuss the many types of shifters before moving on to the next category. You have the Grantis fox, Lezzure tiger, Ashling owl, and Hammertail panther to name a few. Out of these four, you’ll find it difficult bonding with two of them.”
The memory of a silver dragon roars through my mind, and I take notice he didn’t name their species. “What about dragons?” I ask, and his expression notes I shouldn’t have.
“Dragons do not bond. Though some may not kill you at first glance, bonding or even trying, will end in certain death.” He frowns, and my heart can’t take it. Is he scolding me for being a bad girl? I can be punished.
*Sigh* I place a hand over my face, wholeheartedly hating this damn room.
I’ve never thought of something this perverted, least of all having the balls to show it.
I’m not surprised Blaise noticed me fidgeting after showing an example of what not to ask.
He smirks and flips through page after page of written notes.
“Eternal bonds,” Caspian announces, and I’m thankful he moves on.
Though the skin of his neck is turning red.
“Some of you are blessed by Eros, and most of you are not. He decided these bonds many lifetimes ago when the war of Gods first started, preparing fays to reproduce more Gods along the span of time.”
He flicks his wrist, and holograms manifest. They expand, resembling an old pop-up picture book where magic and other worldly beings move about.
“Beautiful,” another female seated in the first row announces, blowing a breath and devouring him with her eyes.
“Caspian, your magic’s beautiful. Good thing I’m in House Earth; I can use some pointers. ”
She continues flirting, and Blaise leans over, still shrouded in a shadow. The single shadow in this damn room. I’m beginning to suspect it’s his magic.
“Her name’s Annika by the way,” he whispers, and I cut him a side-eye for knowing how to keep his voice low yet choosing against it. Until now.
“Why would I care to know her name?” I ask, clenching my fist beneath the desk.
“Good point. Who cares about her being a siren? Yearning…Obsessed…Unrestrained. Capable of manipulating fays into all three and lusting after her.” Now he has my attention.
I’m picking up on his hints. “Do with this information as you please, or don’t, since it’s not your concern. ” He grins and turns away.
I flex my fingers, not giving him a second thought. Annika, the first year siren who is in House Earth–with wavy teal hair and freckles all over her peanut butter brown skin–resembles the perfect chocolate chip cookie. She can have whomever she wants. I won’t remember her past today.
“Annika, disrupt my class again and you’ll be banished.
I don’t give private lessons. Now back on topic,” Caspian scolds, and the inner me rejoices from him turning her advances down.
Containing a smile, I toy with my plait as he flips a page in his magical book.
“Eros found a problem. Fays before us decided on challenging the Gods for power well before giving up their domain.”
Noticing a subtle twitch of his finger, I watch thickened vines materialize, twisting and molding into a wooden chair. I gasp, pondering what else he can make.
I refrain from contemplating, pushing my tongue against the roof of my mouth and remain quiet. Just a normal day here at ‘My magic’s better than yours’ Academy.
“After thousands of years, Gods became bored with their positions, and thus were challenged by our ancestors. You can deduce what happens when a divinity tires. They commence treading into one another’s territory.
A war broke out in their ethereal realm.
The Gods and Goddesses killed, open a spot for either another God or us fays to take.
Which is why there are rankings within the four Academies.
Each House’s students fight for number one, hoping to ascend and become a God. ”
Numerous hands raise, and I’m drawn back to when the gloom mentioned ascending. Knots are unraveling, and jigsaw pieces turn over in my mind to an unknown puzzle.
“How do we–” a guy two rows behind me starts.
“Let me finish,” Caspian belts, ignoring all other hands as magic twists and intertwines with the figures before us. We watch a battle of immortal beings and their ancestors.
“I’m aware some of you have alternative plans than ascending.
This doesn’t pertain to you. Those it does, you can pick an entity of your choosing, upon entering your final year.
However, if this being still lives, you must defeat them in combat, or pray you live long enough to see them expire.
Only then shall you obtain God or Goddess-hood”
He flips another page and the inquiring students write something down. I haven’t taken a note in either of my previous classes, and I’m worried that we’ll have a test later. What are they annotating, and will it be on the test?
“Anything else we should know?” Draco questions.
“Ask your House Leaders. We’re moving on.
” Crimson and white magic flings from the pages and takes a humanoid shape.
“Eternal bonds. Starting each academy year, Eros descends what he calls the Book of Bonds . Each student will sign their name in blood and wait. Since your first years, this means you.”
Caspian peers around, and the colorful images darken, showing us fays on their knees pleading, crying, and in search of something. No longer romantic and loving, yet amazing to witness.
Blaise taps my shoulder. “Are you searching for love? Your one–”
“Shhh,” I blow. He snickers and leans back, silently clapping, which prompts me to giggle.
“Signing your name does not grant you an eternal; it’s an initiation to his game.
You’ll receive a new ability, designed for you and your eternal bond.
Eros implemented this secret rule after the other entities forbade him from creating more mates.
A game of chance. You’ll seek out your counterpart, another fay tethered with this new ability, and combine auras in any way you see fit, finalizing your bond.
As seen here, most of you may never find your eternal bond.
The radius of your search can be wide and long, but you’ll survive. Any questions?”
I’m surprised; not a single student raises their hands after his speech ends.
Good thing none of this pertains to me. No shifter bonds or eternal bonds.
I’m here for vengeance. Regardless, Blaise’s question continues lingering.
If I am to bond, which one of these entitled males would Eros partner me with?
Russ or Caspian? Sure as shit not Blaise’s annoying ass or Ethan. Maybe Alex, Raine, or Mar…
The door opens, drawing my focus, and Marcel enters without so much as a greeting, but rather an otherworldly sign.
“Let’s go,” he demands, and Caspian sighs.
“Can’t this wait until later?”
“No, it’s either now or forfeit. Your choice,” he replies, and the surrounding air turns thick with tension.
I must admit that Marcel looks damn good in his workout gear. He is better off shirtless with how painted-on his sweatshirt is. Loose strands fall from his messy bun, and the tightness of his jaw gives him a rugged look–
Get. It. Together, please.
“You like him too? Let me–” In reaction, my hand reaches for Blaise’s book, and I fling it across the room. Embarrassment blends with frustration, and I can feel the heat bubbling beneath my cheeks.
“I don’t like him, so stop,” I whisper yell, and he stares without speaking. Reaching in his bag, he removes another brown leather book. “You’ve got to be kidding me. How many of those do you have?” Blaise shrugs before doing what he does best. Writing.
“Listen up, we’ll end our lecture for today. You can see yourselves out,” Caspian announces, peering over to me before they both exit.
Most students leave behind them in a hurry, but a few remain. Me, I’m getting the hell out of this sex-induced room with plans of hacking, practicing my magic, and taking a nap. Not in that order.
Obtaining my bookbag and departing, I notice Blaise grab his and follow after me, still jotting.
“What are you, the keeper of secrets? You wrote the entire lesson.”
“Information, secrets, conversations, it’s all the same.” He shrugs.
“Well, I don’t want mine spread across campus. I have enough lies being passed around about me.” I check my phone and see a few messages from Angie and Raine.
“Like being a mortal, having no magic, sleeping with Ethan, scared of Tish and Gina, doing fairy dust with Russ, and kissing Alex? Yeah, I’ve heard them,” he states, putting the remainder of his things in his bag, and I damn near scream.
“K–Kissing Alex, doing what with Russ? Who’s coming up with this shit?”
“Sooooo, you’re saying they didn’t happen? Okay.” Retrieving his brown book, he begins to write, yet again.
“Oh my god!” I storm off, officially done with today.