Page 20 of Her Rabid Beasts

“Oh, Goddess! Sorry. Hello, sir,” she says sheepishly, kohl lined eyes blinking.

I stare down at the tigress, assessing. There are bags under eyes and her brown skin has an ashen tone. “When I ask you this question, Miss Devi, I want you to answer honestly, do you understand?”

Her eyes widen before she controls herself, paper bags crackling. “Of course, sir.”

“For how long has Miss Aquinas been in her shifted form?”

Minnie blinks once, twice, then rubs her eyes with her wrist. “Um, I haven’t… I haven’t seen her change into her human form at all, sir.”

“In this entire week?”

She gulps and shakes her head.

“And when she sleeps?”

Minnie shakes her head again.

A cold trickle of dread snakes down my spine, and by the nervous look in Minnie’s eyes, she also knows what this means. The longer a beast stays in their shifted form, the longer they risk becomingchanged.That is, losing their humanity completely. Losing the ability or will to change back to human form. Even my rabid students shift when they sleep.

By the way Minnie is chewing her lip, she understands what is at stake.

“No shifting,” I say sternly to her. “For you or the other animas. Speak to her as much as possible. Touch her as much as possible. Try and remind her who she is.” Although Minnie nods eagerly, I know there are personal challenges that weigh her down on top of this. “I don’t want you all sleeping down there, either. You need to sleep properly.” Her nod this time is not so eager. She’s a good friend to Aurelia; I chose purposefully when I placed them together.

As I step around her to leave, I say over my shoulder, “And Minnie?”

“Yes, sir?”

“Not a word. Toanyone.”

Chapter 9

Aurelia’s Anima

Iknow he is mine. The lion who chains himself. I do not have the energy to soothe his weary soul, but I can warm his body with mine. So when he comes to sit with me, I lie next to him.

The wolf who wears a human skin is also mine, but he is not like the lion. He is full of life, but I do not have the energy to play with him as he demands.

He brings me food that I do not wish to eat. He speaks through his human mouth, noises I do not wish to hear.

I must concentrate. I must focus.

The fingers reaching for me have turned into fangs, blade-sharp points thatscrape, scrape, scrape.They scratch down my shields, hunting for any entry, any weakness. Though I sense they come from far away, they are strong, and the black hand that wields them is relentless. I have no choice but to bury deep within the recesses of my beast, the seven layers of my protections straining.

But they hold.

Keep us safe. Keep us safe. Keep us safe.

It is a song I chant even in my sleep.

My sisters go away during the day, and when they come back at night, making additions to my nest, bringing colourful, fluffy items to keep away the cold that has nothing to do with the temperature of the cavern. They bring food as well, but it tastes like ash on my tongue, barely giving me enough strength to keep afloat.

Then one day, my tigress-sister nervously brings something to my nest, eyeing me uncertainly. Immediately, I am suspicious.

“Aurelia, we don’t want you getting fleas from this damp place,” my tigress-sister says gently. “You need this medicine to keep them away.”

Despite her peaceful tone, the scent I catch from the tube she is holding smellsfoul. I let out a warning growl at her approach, and she freezes.

“Here, let me try,” my playful wolf says, plucking the substance out of her hands. He advances towards me slowly and respectfully on his knees to show me he means not to attack. My hatchling flies upward, making soothing sounds in my ear.

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