Page 52 of Beastkin
“Alright,” she said, settling back in her seat with that same expectant grin. “Spill.”
I stared down at the foam swirling in my cup. “It’s… complicated.”
“The best things usually are.” Her voice softened slightly. “Phoenix, you know I’m not just asking to be nosy, right? Believe it or not, I want to beactualfriends with you. And if this guy makes you happy...”
“He does,” I said quietly, surprising myself with how easily the words came. “God, Lila, he really does. But that’s the problem.”
She frowned. “How is that a problem?”
I took a shaky breath. “We’re... we’re mates. Bonded mates.”
Her coffee cup froze halfway to her lips. “Holy shit. Phoenix, that’s incredible. Do you have any idea how rare?—”
“I know how rare it is for Beastkin to bond with anyone,” I cut her off, panic creeping into my voice. “And that’s exactly why I’m terrified. If anyone finds out...”
Lila nodded, a look of grim understanding on her face. “Your parents… they probably aren’t gonna get used to the idea of that, huh?”
“Get used to it?” I let out a bitter laugh. “Lila, they’ll kill me… or worse…” I wrapped my hands around the warm mug, trying to steady myself. “They moved us away from the Pacific Northwest when I was a kid because they found out I was friends with him. Just friends. If they knew we were bonded...”
“They can’t break a mate bond,” she said fiercely. “It’s impossible.”
“Maybe not, but they could hurt me… or Karrick.” I took a sip of chai, the spices doing nothing to calm the knot in my stomach. “And it’s not just them. Half the Academy would lose their minds if they knew a witch was bonded to a Beastkin. They think Beastkin are cursed creatures that don’t deserve…anything.”
“People think the same thing about vampires,” Lila nodded. “But I’ll tell you one thing, my existence is no curse. And I guarantee you Beastkin feel the same way. The only curse we’re under is the fact that everyone treats us like monsters.” She leaned back in her chair, taking a sip of her coffee. “But the truth is, we’re just people, like everyone else.”
“Why do people feel that way though?” I asked, honestly curious. “My parents never let me read about the monster races, so I really don’t know their origins.”
Lila sat thoughtfully for a moment before responding. “Have youread the French fairy tale by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve?” she asked in a perfect French accent.
I shook my head. “Fairy tales werenoton the approved reading list.”
“Well, it’s what the Disney movie is loosely based on, but I doubt you’ve seen that either.” She shook her head. “Anyway, weirdly enough, Disney got the story nearly correct. The first Beastkin was actually a prince or king that had pissed off a witch instead of a fairy. And that witch cursed him into a beast-like form. However, this curse couldn’t be broken. But that wasn’t the end of the story.”
“It’s not?”
“Nope,” she smiled. “Apparently the first Beastkin eventually found his mate, another witch. By then the pair of them had developed strong prejudices against the other. But thanks to the mate bond, they couldn’t resist one another. Eventually they fell in love and the witch, though she was considered a great beauty and very powerful among her kind, transformed herself into a Beastkin to be with her mate. And their children, both magical and bestial, became the foundation of what Beastkin are today.”
I sat there for a long moment, staring with my brows knitted together. “Is that true?”
Lila just shrugged. “I have no idea. I’m only a couple hundred years old. Beastkin already existed before I was born.” She leaned forward again, lowering her voice. “But if it is true, that explains why witches, especiallypuristwitches, hate them so much. Beastkin represent a blending of the species and of magic that witches feel shouldonlybelong to them.”
I let that sink in for a moment, staring at my chai latte. If Lila’s story was true, it would explain so much about my parents’ hatred. And why they’d been so horrified to find me playing with Karrick as a child.
“That’s... actually kind of beautiful,” I said quietly. “Two people from different worlds finding each other despite everything.”
“Right?” Lila grinned. “So don’t let anyone make you feel likewhat you have with Karrick is wrong or shameful. It’s fucking magical, Phoenix.”
I felt a small smile tug at my lips, but anxiety still gnawed at my insides. “It’s not that simple, though. If my parents found out...” I trailed off, unable to even voice my fears.
“They won’t,” Lila said firmly. “Not unless you tell them. And you’re an adult now. You don’t have to tell them shit. And you took care of the pendant, so they have no idea, right?”
“But what about everyone else? I mean, you figured it out right away.”
“Because I’m exceptionally perceptive,” she said with a wink. “And I was looking for it. Most people are too self-absorbed to notice what’s happening with others. You’re not the only witch here trying to impress Mommy and Daddy. Everyone is too busy with their own shit to notice.”
I wasn’t convinced. “What about the bond, though? Can other people sense it?”
“Only if they’re specifically attuned to that kind of magic. And trust me, most people at this academy couldn’t sense a mate bond if it danced naked in front of them wearing Christmas lights.”