Page 6 of Brutal Birthright

“I’m Brynne of the Abagarth Riders.” She turned and fluttered a wrist in Ri’s direction, beckoning her closer. “And this is…” Her eyebrow cocked in silent question.

“Oriana. Evidently, we’re all neighbours.” She gestured around the room, then rested a hand over the blade tucked at her hip. A male shifter sat beside the gossipy one on the bed. From the matching set of blond curls, pale grey eyes, and symmetrical noses, she presumed they must be twins. Perched around the room were two others, a female fae and a male witch.

“Wonderful. I’m Vanya… and this is Glade.” The blonde bitchy one might not have actually rolled her eyes, but it was right there in her tone. She acted like all the students here were already under her manicured thumb.

Just wonderful. A year of putting up with that kind of prissy attitude right next door was going to be like living the dream.

“Ok, and how about the rest of you? You got names, too?” Brynne pressed. Eyeing the others who sat there looking at the floor.

“Saskia.” A red-headed, freckled fae raised a hand. To her credit, she looked like she didn’t want to be there.

A witch with almost white hair hanging low across his deep kohl-rimmed eyes tapped ringed fingers against the windowsill. “Atticus.” His expression gave nothing away as he studied them all in return.

“Well, since we’re neighbours, how about agreeing there’s no need for gossiping and being dicks, hmm?” This Brynne character looked soft and squishy, but if she came from the Abagarth Riders, no doubt the girl had steel in her veins. After all, back in her home territory, sprites eventually became dragon riders.

“Well, it isn’t gossip that all the teaching staff are mated. That’s just a fact. And it’s safe to assume there’s only one reason no unmated teachers are present on campus.” Blondie twirled her hair with a smirk.

“And it’s safe to assume that you can keep the queen’s name out of your mouth. Especially when her sister lives right across the hall.” Ri had enough of this shit. Swivelling on her heel, she left gasps in her wake.

Let them choke on that little tidbit.

“Ohhh, we’re going to have so much fun this year. Are you honestly the queen’s sister?” Godsdamnit, the sprite had followed her back across the hall. Before Ri could say anything, the purple-clad figure bounced onto the bed. Making herself right at home.

“Yep.” Ri fidgeted with the gold chain around her neck.

“I thought she was an orphan… or… that the previous king had never claimed her as his child… fuck, sorry, I don’t mean to be disrespectful.” Brynne nibbled on her bottom lip. A faint silvery line of a scar ran along the side of her freckled cheek, just below her wide sky-blue eyes.

“My parents adopted Ruby as a baby. We grew up inseparable.”

“And wow… Now you’ve got a queen instead of a sister. I bet that makes for some interesting family dinners, huh?”

“Something like that.” Ri blew out a breath and relaxed a fraction. “Just call me Ri, by the way.”

“Ri, that’s pretty. So, judging by the fact you’ve got more knives strapped to you than I can count and that you look scary as fuck, I’m going to guess you’re headed for the training arena in the morning?” Brynne gestured up and down in her direction.

“What gave me away?” Ri couldn’t help but smirk. “How about you, little spriteling? What are you specialising in?”

“The same, although I hope to pick up as many extra herbalism classes as possible. I might be destined to ride a giant fuck-off dragon one day back home, but this year, I want to learn as many healing techniques as possible.”

She grimaced. “I can’t say I’m looking forward to those classes. My skills are better suited to fighting than studying… books aren’t really my thing.”

Brynne’s face lit up, and she practically levitated off the bed. “Well, it’s your lucky year, scary girl. For I shall be your good-luck-bookworm.” At the sight of confusion furrowing Ri’s brow, she flapped her hands around. “I’m a big ol’ book nerd. Absolutely love studying. So, you help me with being a badass in training, and I’ll help you with the book stuff. How does that sound?”

Sounds perfect.

“He’s hot, don’t you think?”

“Who?”

“Atticus. He’s got the whole tortured soul, but the right person could fix him, kind of energy.”

“I guess so. I didn’t really notice.”

Too busy getting fucked in dreamland every night by a hulking tattooed beast of a man.

“Oh, shit. Are you seeing someone? Mated? I’m sorry, I just assumed… you’ve got a ‘fuck off, I’m an independent bitch’ kinda vibe going on.” She crinkled her nose and waved both hands in a big show of highlighting the skin-tight training leathers and knives Ri still wore.

Her snort came out louder than intended. “Definitely not attached.”

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