Page 95 of Bitten By the Fae

“And what was that exactly? That she can’t trust you?”

“Yes. Nor should she rely on me.”

I shook my head. “Something tells me that lesson was more for you than it was for her,” I muttered, turning around.

“Where the fuck are you going?”

“To fix the pretty little flower you just ripped apart,” I tossed back at him.

“Class isn’t over yet.”

“Then fail me,” I retorted.

“Don’t tempt me,Your Highness.”

I ignored him and followed Aflora’s energy signature toward the Elite Residence. Zeph could kiss my left nut. Then spar with Shade, assuming the Death Blood bothered sticking around. He’d probably disappeared at his earliest chance, choosing to skip class rather than attend. Given Zeph’s behavior today, I wouldn’t blame anyone from jumping ship and telling theheadmasterto fuck off.

Dick, I thought, irritated all over again. When I saw Raph, Zeph’s pet snake, ripping into Aflora’s falcon, I nearlyintervened. But then Shade’s damn bat went after Night, and nobody messed with my familiar.

Sensing my unease, Night settled on my shoulder, his black wings brushing my neck in a sign of affection. We’d met years ago when I first learned how to conjure him, as would be the case with most Midnight Fae. But Aflora would be brand new to the bond created with the protector spell, which only made what Zeph did that much worse.

“You can help me give her a demonstration, Night,” I told my crow. “Then I’ll release you to the wild once more.” Most Midnight Fae had a relationship with their familiars where they only called upon them in time of need, or in this case, during a course discussion. They were considered a defensive arm, mostly used in combat. But I suspected Aflora wouldn’t feel that way about her falcon.

I entered my suite, noted the stillness of the living area, and went straight for her room. She hadn’t bothered closing her door, just went to her bed and curled up in a ball to stare out the window.

After everything she’d endured, this exercise had been the one to fracture her strength. Knowing that had my hands curling into fists at my sides, my irritation at Zeph mounting by the second. He’d taken this strong, beautiful creature and belittled her to a ball of sorrow. All because of his own emotions over his losing control around her.

My crow cawed, startling Aflora into a seated position, her blue eyes filled with hope.

Only to die when she found me in the hallway. Her focus went to Night on my shoulder, her expression clouding over. She returned her gaze to the window, her shoulders caving inward in a way I recognized immediately. Usually, that sort of response would send me running. But I stepped forward instead to sit beside her on the bed.

She trembled in response, her quiet sadness piercing the air and prickling my heart.

“You can bring him back,” I informed her softly, referring to her falcon. He’d started stirring around the time I’d stepped into Zeph’s path, which meant the beast would be back to full health soon. “Just use the same spell, and he’ll find his way up here. It just might take a few minutes to get through all the doors. Sir Kristoff will let him through since he’s tied to your essence.”

“I don’t want a new familiar,” she said, her voice barely a whisper.

“It won’t be a new familiar. We only get one.”

She shook her head, her cheeks glistening with fresh tears. “Zeph killed her.”

Her?I thought, frowning. I hadn’t gotten a good look at the falcon, but Aflora would know better than I would. Just as she would be able to sense that the bond still thrived if she went looking for it.

Night flew off my shoulder to perch on her nightstand, taking my mental cue through our connection.

“Aflora,” I murmured, sliding my arm around her shoulders. It was an awkward angle with her legs tucked partially beneath her, but she melted into my side, her body curling into mine as a single tear slipped from her eye.

“I thought the squawk...” She trailed off, her shoulders beginning to shake.

I followed her train of thought. “You thought Night was your falcon.” I didn’t bother pointing out that falcons didn’t sound the same at all. Her heart didn’t know the difference because Zeph had broken it with his cruelty.

“I’m sorry. This is... I’m being...”

“A familiar creates an unbreakable bond with its host,” I whispered, my lips brushing her temple. “That’s why you felt the pain from your falcon, sweetheart. But I promise you he, orrathershe, is fine. A familiar can’t die unless his or her owner dies. Zeph was an asshole for not telling you that.”

Well, he was an asshole for a lot of things.

I gave her a reassuring squeeze and added, “Our familiars are created with the protector spell, meaning your falcon was born from the incantation. She’s tied to your existence, so she’ll always regenerate for as long as you’re alive.” Which, if I had it my way, would be for a very long time.