Page 5 of Brutal Birthright

Trudging up the staircase, Ri kept her head down and wove through the throngs of other students coming and going. The hum of voices drifted up the stairwell from the entrance to Trelithia Hall. This was the residential wing where the students would be based during the academic year. Converted from what had once been a vast array of opulent, empty palace rooms.

Ruby had taken one look at the lifestyle favoured by previous royals and turned everything on its head. Uncovering dark secrets that had lingered in the shadow of the throne for untold centuries. Dismantling the deep-seated prejudice that had been entrenched for so long in the fae dominion, calling their kind—the Dark Fae—anything from whores to traitors. But Ruby had revealed the truth almost as soon as she took over the throne and immediately set about proving there was no truth to any of those dark rumours. Fuck, she’d been determined to sacrifice her own life in order to do so.

Surviving the curse upon her royal lineage was only one of her sister’s many awe-inspiring accomplishments. Not only that, but she had immediately turned her attention to the entire purpose of the fae court. Overhauling the palace and turning the vast number of gilded buildings into an academy and a legacy to be proud of.

Astracadia was destined to be a place where all supernaturals could come in order to learn and train together. Forging bonds across realms and dominions like nothing ever seen before.

She twisted her lips; if there was anyone determined enough to begin a legacy of this nature, it was her sister. That little creature was as relentless as a dog gnawing on a bone when she set her mind to something.

As Ri climbed to the third floor, no one gave her a second glance. Right now, she was just one of many getting ready to begin their first day tomorrow. The anonymity was a relief. What she needed was a fresh start.

A chance to prove she wasn’t what he said she was.

Heat flooded her cheeks, recalling the way his acerbic words had sliced straight through her that day. Ruby’s fucking coronation of all times and places. She hadn’t seen nor spoken to the asshole since he publicly humiliated her six months ago. And for all she cared, he could be long gone from her life.

Screw him. He didn’t know the truth of what happened. The ogre had jumped straight to assuming the worst and judging her by her inexperience.

But what did it say about her that his angry words lashing her that day had left her in a seething mess while, at the same time, her clit throbbed with need?

She hated his stupid, handsome face.

And yet wanted to feel the weight of his cock on her tongue.

Ri tugged on the shoulder strap of her bag. Shoving all thoughts of him and his dick out of her mind. She wound her way down the lengthy corridor until her assigned room came into sight. Each student had their own small quarters, with a private bedroom, shared bathrooms, and the first floor had been converted into a sprawling casual area and dining hall. Everything students would need while living and studying on-site here at the academy for the year.

Students. She hummed to herself at the odd concept when considering immortality. There was a myriad of beings here. With their respective ages ranging from centuries-old vampires, to witches, right through to fae like herself who had barely seen thirty winters.

Age had no bearing on skill. Experience and magic were two separate entities.

It felt strange having been privy to so many late nights planning all of this with her sister, and now here she was, in the thick of it all, about to settle into her own room. As she spotted the room designated to be hers for the year, she saw doors on either side of hers propped open. Laughter floated out from groups gathered in the bedrooms flanking her own.

It was comfortable enough. Bed. Desk. A large, vaulted window which overlooked the vast estate. Through the glass panes, the lush, leafy tops of broad trees towered over neat pathways. Gardens stretched in the direction of the training arena and in the distance the ornate glass and iron enclosure of the herbarium could be seen.

Tossing her small bag onto the plush blankets, she paused and stretched her arms above her head. Debating for a moment whether to strip down from her training leathers and remove the stash of weapons strapped to her body. This all felt awkward and unfamiliar. What was she supposed to do until training began in the morning?

Make friends or some shit?

“… All the teachers and academic staff are mated. I heard the queen made it a rule only to appoint someone if they were already bonded with a fated mate or multiple mates. Supposedly, it was to ensure there could be no risk of inappropriate behaviour between students and the staff.” A female voice floated in from across the hall.

“You know why that is, don't you? The queen would know all about inappropriate behaviour.” A male laugh followed.

Ri bristled. She flexed her fingers, resisting the impulse to grab a blade from her thigh and barge in there. With a deep breath, she closed her eyes. Threatening to sever the heads of her fellow students wouldn’t be the best look for day one.

“Yeah, I heard the queen was sneaking around fucking her bodyguard for months. Obviously, she doesn’t want to risk even more scandal attached to her name or the academy.” The high-pitched giggle made her teeth clench.

Oh, that was it. This gossiping bitch was going to taste the tip of Ri’s blade…

But as she swung around—ready to storm across the hall and choose violence against whoever was in there talking shit about her sister—a flash of pink hair and a bright smile filled the doorway to her room. A sprite blocked her exit, looking serene and mischievous all rolled into one. Ri went to snap at whoever this was to get the fuck out of her way, but the stranger simply put her finger to her lips and then gestured for her to follow behind.

Who knows why, maybe out of sheer curiosity, but she bit her tongue and dutifully followed.

The sprite skipped ahead, pink hair bobbing around her chin, and stopped just inside the doorway of the room opposite Ri’s. The voices dropped off at the sight of the willowy figure with sharply tipped ears and pointed features. Swathed in a soft, flowing purple dress, she looked like a gentle sunrise.

“Don’t mind us. You must be the expert on all things here at the academy?” She flashed a sweet smile at the group, who had suddenly gone quiet at their arrival. “I didn’t know we had designated gossips living on each floor. Sounds like you’ve got plenty to say on shit you know nothing about.”

Ri suddenly liked this little pastel-coloured creature a whole lot.

“What do you care? And who are you anyway?” A shifter with long blonde curls glared from where she sat on the bed.

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