Page 35 of The Bond That Burns

“To cut you loose from the bed after maybe,” I joked.

“Him, actually.” Visha’s eyes danced. “Then there was a sweet little thing on Lucian’s estate who wanted me to teach her a few lessons.”

“Always the teacher, never the student?” I teased.

“Oh, no, I go both ways,” Visha said seriously. “There was Lady Callis of House Orphos who met me at her summer house for a few trysts. She thought she could tame me. Poor thing, she’s back home with her triad now. Dull things the other two are, too.”

Florence blinked. “Well, you’ve certainly kept busy.”

“Life’s too short, Shen.” She eyed Florence up and down. “Especially for mortals like you. Might as well have fun while you can.”

Florence blushed. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Stick with me and maybe I’ll bring you along next summer. You look like you could use some excitement,” Visha observed, looking at Florence’s stack of books critically.

Florence’s blush deepened. “I think I’ll stick with my books.”

“Books?” Visha looked appalled. “Where did you say you spent your summer?”

“I... I spent it here,” Florence stuttered. She glanced at me. “At Bloodwing mostly. I helped my mother in the library. We visited some of my mother’s family for two weeks but that wasthe extent of my travels.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Pretty exciting stuff.”

“I can’t believe we were both trapped here and I didn’t even know it,” I said slowly.

“I tried to see you but no one was allowed in,” Florence said miserably. “Not until today.” She glanced at the door. “I may even have begged Blake.”

“Blake?” I sat up straight. “Please tell me you didn’t. He’s dangerous, Florence. I think you should stay far away from him.” I thought of something. “Please tell me you didn’t...”

There was a loud knock at the door. I turned my head as it creaked open slowly. My heart had already started to pound. If Blake dared...

But it was Theo’s face that appeared, wearing a charmingly sheepish expression.

“Room for one more in there?”

Visha raised an eyebrow. “Since when do you even ask for an invitation?”

Theo grinned and shrugged. He stepped inside and held up a small, wriggling ball of orange fur. “I brought a date.”

“Neville!” Florence exclaimed, leaping off the bed and rushing forward to take the fluffin from Theo’s arms. The little creature barked—a high-pitched, melodic sound—and wriggled even more excitedly as Florence cradled him against her chest and made cooing sounds of affection.

“He was sniffing around the hallways,” Theo said. “Clearly searching for his one true love.”

I eyed the little fluffin. Neville had grown over the summer. He was no longer the tiny kitten-sized pup I’d found on the beach last year. His fur, once a soft, reddish-orange, had deepened a little into a darker copper. The creamy white fur on his chest was fluffier than ever, making him look as if he were wearing a ruff of snow. His tail, bushy and almost as long as his entire body, swished back and forth with excitement as Florence fussed over him.

“He’s huge now,” I said, smiling. “Where has he been all summer?”

“Oh, someone’s been feeding him.” Theo eyed Florence. “And if it wasn’t Florence...”

Neville’s joyful reunion suddenly turned into chaos. With an excited yip, he wriggled free of Florence’s lap and began to tear around the room like a whirlwind. His busy tail streamed behind him as he bounded from one corner to another, jumping onto the bed, then skidding across the rug.

We all watched him with interest, even Visha.

“Is this what you’ve been dealing with all summer?” I asked, as I watched the fluffin zoom through the room and knock over a stack of books in his frenzy.

Florence laughed and shook her head. “Sometimes. My mother likes to say he’s our worst library patron. I had to escort him out a few times.”

“Your mother lets a fluffin in the library?” Theo said with interest. He held up his hands quickly. “I’m not going to tell anyone.”

“She does love Neville, but ‘let’ is putting it strongly.” Florence bent down and scooped up the fluffin as he tried to run past her. “That’s enough now, Neville.” She carried him over to the bed where the fluffin lay down, panting.

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