Page 51 of Laid Bare

They both nod, agreeing with me completely. It’s one thing to have attention drawn to me being what I am, but having a magical Pegasus following me around just paints a bigger target on my back.

“Go ahead and give it a try,cor meum.”

Axel settles back, his leg crossed over his knee, his hands clutching the armrests of the chair. He appears to be unaffected, but it seems he wants me to achieve this just as much as I do. I hate knowing I might let him down, but that’s the nature of magic. If you don’t get it on the first try, keep going, because one of these times, it’ll happen like it’s supposed to.

My focus turns from my mates down to my Pegasus; the only thought racing through my head is of him being smaller. Easier to manage. Easier to hide. I gather my will, almost feeling like I’m pooling it in my hand, then thrust it into the feeling, the connection, I have with Aero.

I hold my breath—hell, it feels like the whole world holds its breath—waiting for him to shrink. I keep pushing and pushing, frustration bubbling in my veins the longer he stays the size he is. Instead of growing smaller, Aero farts, releasing what seems like a noxious cloud of stink into the air.

A shriek rips from my throat as I throw his head off my lap and jump up, distancing myself from the flagellating Pegasus. There’s a slow whine of displeasure at being disturbed, but Aero doesn’t make a move otherwise, more than happy to relax in his own fog of nastiness.

“Well.” I clear my throat, ignoring the way the guys are trying hard not to laugh their asses off. “On that note. Time for bed.”

My laughter echoes behind me as I race off, heading for the stairs. The guys aren’t far behind me, their chuckles mirroring my own.

I may not have succeeded in changing Aero’s size, but I can fall asleep easily now that I know what he is. Now that I know I’m not a failure with my shifting rune, and him showing up was meant to be.

Just like my mates.

The past fewweeks have been their own special brand of hell. The whispers and snide comments haven’t changed, but at least there hasn’t been any more talk of raping me. I’m still considered a mistress though, a homewrecker for ruining Thaddeus’ relationship with Miss Izzicle.

On a positive note, I can finally use my magic in my dorm without fear of blowing the academy to bits. Not that it happened when I blew after the gala, but I suspect that was a tiny occurrence versus actually going nuclear.

Thaddeus, the kind professor that he is, set it up to where there are wards around my room. The very same wards that keep the outside world safe in the containment rooms. Not that I knew he was the one that placed them to begin with. Mind blown. Literally.

So, every night for the past two weeks and on weekends, I’ve been testing out my runes and comparing them to the ones in the book Cassian gave me. Reluctantly, I’ve been writing the list, keeping a few of them to myself. Especially the ones he can’t see. I don’t foresee the councilman asking me to strip naked to make sure I’ve noted every one, but hey, stranger things have happened.

Aero, my faithful Pegasus companion, is still his same size. No matter how many times Iwillhim to a smaller form, it doesn’t happen. Maybe my intention just isn’t there or isn’t strong enough. Either way, he’s still the talk of the academy, right along with me.

Speaking of Aero, he shakes out his white mane and ruffles his wings as he clops down the hallway beside me on the way to Combat class. We’ve just left the dining hall, where breakfast was a somber affair. Marion still refuses to talk to me, but that doesn’t stop me from sitting at the table with her every day, hoping, one day, she’ll finally forgive me.

I haven’t missed the inquisition in her eyes every day, though. I know she’s dying to ask questions about Aero, but she hasn’t. She was there when he emerged, so she has some idea of what happened, just not what he is or how he came to be.

And I want to tell her. Gods, do I. But, for right now, given the state of our friendship,whatAero is will remain between me and my two mates.

I haven’t even brought myself to tell my bodyguards, either. They’ve been with me for a few weeks now, but I still don’t really trust them with more than my safety. Not with a secret of this magnitude.

They’ve tried, though. Every day after classes, they’ve asked me to hang out with them, or if they can help me with my magic. And I’ve turned them down. Every. Single. Time.

I’m not even sure why, either. Maybe it’s because I don’t feel right getting close to other men—demons or not—when I have two mates who are devoted to me. It feels like a betrayal on my part when I consider, even for a second, saying yes to them. I’ve mentioned it to Axel and Luka, and both are more than okay with it, but I just can’t bring myself to take that extra step.

Zane and Bane, as it is, aren’t far from me and Aero, their presence almost comforting in the crowded hall as everyone dashes toward their first period. From what I heard, after they tore the academy apart looking for me when I left without a word, other students and faculty have been keeping their distance from the terror demons. They’re fear works in my favor too, thank fuck. There’s always a wide berth around me when I traverse the academy.

Boisterous voices emit from the Combat classroom, each one louder than the next. Not that I could tell anyone inside apart. They all blend together into a cacophony of annoyance and too much unspent energy.

This class is one of the two I share with Marion, Transmutation being the other. Before the gala incident, she and I would walk here together, unless she was called away by her pack of men. And I use the termherloosely. Because she never did explain to me exactly who they are. So we’ve both been keeping secrets, mine just more life-changing than hers, that I know of.

As the four of us step inside, all chatter ceases, and the hostility goes up a few notches. It’s like this in every class, but this one is by far the worst. Mainly because every single one of them—sans Marion—are waiting to get me on the mat.

And the reason why the excitement is so high today? They finally get their wish. It’s been weeks of working on technique, moves, disarms, offense, and defense. In this class, we are to put everything we’ve learned to use against an opponent. Thursday, last week, names were drawn, each pair pulled in order of their match.

It was no surprise to me that my name was pulled first, but I was left utterly flabbergasted by who I’ve been paired up against. It just so happens to be the biggest, meanest, ugliest motherfucker in class. This shifter has a bone to pick with me, and I don’t doubt I’ll leave class with a few bruised and broken bones. Along with two pissed off bodyguards, and two mates who’ll be thirsting for blood.

Bane and Zane tried fighting the draw, claiming the shifter has an unfair advantage over me in all ways. Which is true. But Professor Simmons wasn’t swayed, sticking to his persona of being a stickler for the rules.

Only, what Professor Simmons doesn’t realize is the fact that this shifter has it out for me. He’s been more vocal than others in his hatred of me. And no matter how terrifying the brothers are, it hasn’t swayed his thoughts where I’m concerned.

Plain and simple, this match is going to be a bloodbath. My precious curiomancer blood in particular.

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