He reapproaches the podium and leans his forearms over it,placing a gloved hand beneath his chin with his tamed red mane falling around his face.
“Do you gain anything from bonding with a shifter?” Leander asks, and we all peer at Draco who raises his shoulders in confusion. Caspian smirks then proceeds.
“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 thesecond 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,willend 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 shroudedin 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 usfays 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.
