Page 71 of Her Feral Beasts

There’s a collective groan as my anima makes a very disgruntled sound. Minnie shoots me a look and I try not to show my discomfort.

“Well,” Minnie continues, “he’s been taken away for his crimes, so I’m safe now.”

Raquel and Connor swear in solidarity and I suddenly realise why Minnie might have empathised with me about my situation.

I say, “That sucks, Min. I’m sorry I didn’t know.”

Minnie smiles gratefully at me. “It’s okay. I don’t like to think about it too much.”

We all shut our mouths after that because we’re allowed to have our privacy, aren’t we? And Goddess, I understand playing the ‘ignore it and it’ll go away’ game all too well.

By nightfall, we’re tipsy and giggling, bobbing our heads to new RnB music on the phone and speakers Stacey smuggled in.

Connor brings out a little tub and we give the nimpins the full day spa experience, washing them with strawberry scented bubble bath and painting their tiny nails.

As I watch Connor blow dry a line of five nimpins, including Henry, I sit there in a tipsy wonder. Finally, at the ripe old age of twenty, I get to experience a slumber party, and just for a moment, I allow myself to feel like I belong. I suppose that just sometimes, good thingscancome out of a kidnapping attempt.

Chapter32

Aurelia

We watch rom-coms and K-dramas late into the night, and eventually, we all fall asleep in precarious positions around the room

By morning, everyone leaves our dorm to head to the bathroom, get more food or get themselves off, I’m guessing, by the way Sabrina lovingly picked up her vibrator and took it to her room.

Minnie prances off with some caramel flavoured lube to find the aforementioned orgy and she’s gone for hours.

I’m not aroused all that much, so I’m left to mope and try and mentally recover from everything that happened in the last two days.

I know that my father is trying everything he can, including framing me for murder, to get me back into his clutches. He has a plan for me, and if his previous plans are any indication, he’s likely going to sell me yet again. Perhaps to someone worse than Halfeather. To males like them, I’m a useful tool that shouldn’t be allowed to go to waste.

And my mating group is the key to everyone knowing just what atoolI am. Being open about my mates will lead to my demise. I will never be safe.

That evening, Raquel, Sabrina, Stacey and Connor return to set up for another night in our dorm.

“They’re going to be out in one week,” I say after a drink of something Stacey calls a ‘rabid lioness martini’. It’s got a gummy bear on a toothpick across the top instead of an olive. “I can’t believe they getone weekof jail time for what they did to me.” But none of the animas look surprised and Connor shakes his head in dismay.

“I fucking want revenge,” I mutter. “But I wouldn’t even know where to start.”

“Piss in his underwear drawer?” Raquel fiddles with their lip piercing, thinking deeply.

“That’s a class-C offence,” Minnie says sagely. “No urinating anywhere except the toilet, unless you want remedial classes.”

“Throw all their clothes out?” Sabrina says around a mouth full of chocolate. “Ooh, I know, steal the dragon’s headphones.”

Before I can say that would be disastrous, Minnie sits up abruptly. “Do you know what?”

“What?” we all say at once.

“Lia, I think you need to begin your villain slut era. Now’s the time.”

We all stare at Minnie with a mixture of shock and awe.

“H-How’s that g-going to h-help?” Raquel asks, but I’m already nodding, a massive shit-eating grin on my face because I know where this is going.

“They want you, right?” Minnie says, giving me a significant look. “Let them, especially Savage, know that hecan’thave you, in the best possible way. Rub it in his dirty old face.”

Connor snaps his fingers. “Minnie, you’re a genius! I mean, you have a stunning body underneath those old T-shirts, Lia. We need to get it out! Let them know who the fuck they’re dealing with. Animuses like that need a smack to face type of lesson. They need a shock.”

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