Page 129 of Her Tortured Beasts

“I heard that,” Scythe mutters, rolling over to give us space.

Their voices centre me and my heart attempts to slow its pace. Once we get into the bathroom, I realise I’m reluctant to shift from the comfort of my eagle form, but a single, meaningful look from Lyle has me shedding my feathers and beak for human skin. I let him haul me into the shower, where he gently pushes me against the wall, gets onto his knees, and hungrily devours my pussy whole.

“Is this an approved therapy technique?” I sigh, running my hands through his unbound hair.

He chuckles into me, sending sweet vibrations twirling right up into my stomach. “For me, yes.”

Lyle takes his time with his ministrations, during the shower and after, as he dries my hair and gently rubs moisturiser on my face. I try not to look at the black and gold tiles of this bathroom. Try not to see Xander in the dragon spouts. Try not to be reminded of Drakos Estate in the golden hardware.

“I am in Animus Academy,” I whisper to myself, touching my neck. “I am safe now.”

Lyle looks up at me from where he’s carefully rubbing moisturiser into my right thigh. His eyes are stitched with pain. “You are with us, regina. There is only love here.”

I close my eyes, nodding in agreement as he stands and warms me with his presence.

Voices from outside make me open my eyes and put my hands over his where they press against my cheeks. We quickly dress and head out into the main sitting room.

I’m met with a tableau. Minnie is jabbing a finger at her phone, showing the screen to Scythe, as tears flow down hercheeks and her face is screwed up in an expression of such pain that it breaks my heart.

“Min?” I whisper.

Her head snaps towards me, her eyes widening all the way around as she stares. Her eyes flick down to my legs, then back up again. “Is it really you?” she breathes. “Is that my Lia?”

My own face scrunches up and I nod. She doesn’t run at me. Doesn’t cry out. She walks slowly, as if underwater, her movements careful. When we are toe to toe and I can smell the incense on her skin, the silver bangles on her wrists chime as she raises her hands and gently holds the sides of my face.

“Goddess,” she whispers. “Thank the Goddess.”

My legs give away and I fall into her arms. Even though she’s so much smaller than me, she catches me with feline strength. My head lands on her boobs and there is something about laying your head on the soft mounds of your best friend’s tits that heals one of the cracks in my tired heart.

I’m coughing through my crying, sagging and clutching onto her for dear life, because I missed her scent, I missed her friendship and I simply…missedher. I can tell Minnie is using her telekinesis to keep me up when Savage ends up having to hold me up from behind. Yeti and Marduk stop Minnie from falling backwards too, and it’s a strange, wonderful group hug. Just the thing I needed.

“I love you,” Minnie murmurs into my hair.

“You don’t hate me?” I say, wiping my nose and adjusting my head on my new pillow.

I’m pretty sure Marduk is wiping Minnie’s nose for her, because she’s muffled as she says, “I always knew you’d try to run away from here. I haven’t forgotten that botched escape attempt, after which Savage held mehostage.”

“I would never!” Savage gasps in horror.

“Liar!” Minnie and I say at the same time.

“What were you showing Scythe on your phone?”

The room goes deathly silent then and Minnie’s chest stops moving. I heave myself off her so I can see them all properly. Minnie takes my hand, clearly not wanting to let go just yet. She flicks at her phone with her thumb and holds it out to me.

It’s a legal notice on theAnimalia Todayapp, in the section with the list of wanted ferals.

Hunting Warrant Issued: Aurelia Boneweaver, 21-year-old female, wedge-tailed eagle, likely rabid, one leg.

My nostrils flare at the last two words. Someone had wanted to advertise that they’d taken my leg. That they’d turned the mythical Boneweaver into food.

Marduk is trying hard not to stare at the leg I’m very obviously keeping the weight off. I’m only letting my toes touch the ground.

“What did they mean, Lia?” Minnie asks.

I clench my teeth and gesture to it, shrugging. “Well I fucking grew it back, didn’t I?”

Minnie’s mouth drops open and her two tiger bodyguards go goggle-eyed.

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