Page 39 of Taste of Thorns (The Firestone Academy #3)

Chapter Thirty-Six

B riony

I drag my feet getting ready the next morning and after calling me to hurry up for the tenth time, Fly comes charging into my room.

“Didn’t you hear me? We’re going to miss breakfast.”

I shrug. “I’m not feeling very hungry.”

“You’re always hungry.”

“Not today.”

He comes and bumps his shoulder against mine. “Men are not worth it. Trust me. Definitely not worth missing breakfast over.”

“It’s not that. It’s just that time of the month, and I’m feeling nauseous.”

Fly takes a decided step away from me like I just told him I have rabies.

“You’re sure?” he says, inspecting my face.

“Urgh,” I say, resting my hands on my belly and groaning.

“Do you want me to stay or …”

“Go. You get way too grouchy when you don’t eat.”

“I get grouchy?!” he says, outraged. Then adds, “Do you want me to get you anything? It’s sprints this morning.”

I flop back on the bed. “Life is so cruel.”

“I’ll get you some toast,” he tells me.

Ten minutes later, I drag myself from my bed, throw on my tracksuit, and stomp over to the field where most of the other students are waiting.

I don’t know what is going to be worse this morning, facing Beaufort and Henrietta or facing them with the entire academy watching us and gossiping about it.

I keep my gaze focused right ahead, out across the field towards the forest, even when Fly jams a piece of cold toast in my hands.

But my curiosity gets the better of me eventually, and when the shadow weavers turn up, I can’t help peeking that way.

I’m half expecting to find Beaufort and Henrietta hand-in-hand or pawing all over each other.

I spot Dray bouncing along, surrounded by the other shifters. I see Thorne lurking several paces away from everyone else. I even see Linette Smyte talking quietly to her thrall. I don’t see Beaufort. I scour the group of shadow weavers again, then look through the waiting ordinaries.

He’s not here.

Neither is Henrietta.

A sick sensation spins through my stomach. I really do feel nauseous now.

Are they together?

Several intrusive images float through my head. Of them together in Beaufort’s bed.

That same bitter jealousy I’d experienced with Fox returns with a vengeance.

It takes me by surprise. I’ve never been a victim of this feeling before. Even when my life was seriously shit and I had every reason in the world to be envious of other people, I didn’t have the time or motivation for it – I was too busy surviving the day to day.

Is this what happens when you become a pampered princess? You suddenly have time for all the petty feelings.

I have no time to mull any further though, because the twins are marching towards us and blowing the whistle for the men to start running. As usual, Dray and Thorne shoot off in front of the others and once the last straggler crosses the field, the whistle is blowing for the women.

With a little wave to Clare, I take a deep inhale and set off. The snow has thawed overnight, leaving the field wet and boggy. Soon my boots are covered in a thick mud weighing down my legs and I’m panting harder than usual, wishing I’d had a proper breakfast and not just a nibble on that toast.

I hang back from the Iron Quarter girls, not fancying another altercation, and wait for them to pass under the trees. I follow, pleased to find the ground a lot firmer here.

I’ve only run a few steps further when a massive white wolf comes bounding towards me, its tail wagging from side to side.

Dray.

I come to a grinding halt.

The wolf doesn’t. He skips right up to me and takes a mouthful of sweater between his powerful jaws.

“What the hell are you doing?” I screech.

The wolf doesn’t stop, it drags me along and I am not strong enough to stop it.

“Stop,” I yell, as he pulls me off the path, through the scrub and deeper into the trees.

I’m about to shrug off my sweater and run in the opposite direction, when he lets me go and I stumble backwards onto my ass. In a moment, the wolf is on me, licking at my face in a manner that reminds me of Blaze.

“Dray,” I say, “please stop.”

The wolf stills, and gazes right into my eyes. His are colorful, like Dray’s, and I wonder how I never realized it was him.

He holds my gaze and transforms into a human in front of me. It’s so quick I barely spot the process. One moment wolf, the next human.

“Hey, Kitten,” he says eagerly, crouched down in front of me with absolutely no clothing on at all.

“What the hell are you doing?” I repeat.

“I haven’t seen you in a while.”

“You saw me yesterday.”

“Exactly. Fucking ages ago.” He grins. Then takes a sniff. “Hmmm, you smell all wolfy like me.”

He leans closer, arms resting either side of me on the cold ground.

“I thought we could have some fun together.”

“We’re meant to be running. If we’re late back–”

“Ahh don’t worry about that. There’s a shortcut. We can beat them all if you want.”

“There is? Do you cheat every time?

“Depends,” he says.

“On?”

“Whether there are better things to do.”

His gaze falls to my lips, he smirks and then he kisses me.

Usually, Dray Eros’ kisses set me on fire, but, despite the way my magic shimmers in my body, I don’t feel my usual enthusiasm. I’m still too shaken by the whole Beaufort thing, worrying about where he is, who he is with, and what they are doing.

I’m guessing Dray senses something is wrong.

He pulls back and frowns.

“What’s up?”

“Nothing.”

“Kitten,” he says, “you usually kiss me like you want to suck the soul from my body. But this morning …”

“Where’s Beaufort?” I ask in my best light and cheerful voice, forcing a smile onto my face.

“He’s gone back to Onyx for a few days.”

“Onyx? What? Why?”

“We have some potential information on who’s behind the attacks.”

“And Henrietta Smyte?” I say, my voice cracking in my throat.

“Ahhh,” Dray says, lumbering to his feet, his heavy cock hanging by his thigh.

That sick feeling in my stomach worsens.

“Are they back together, Dray?”

“Wh-what?” He grins at me, raking his fingers through his long hair. “What gave you that idea?”

“People are talking–”

“–Fuck people.”

“They were making out yesterday in class!”

“Who were?”

I frown. Is he being deliberately evasive?

“Beaufort and Henrietta.”

“Little Kitten, have you met Henrietta Smyte? She’s off her fucking rocker.”

“So! They dated before, right? He must have liked her once. What’s not to say he still likes her?”

“They’re friends,” he snorts, “sort of.”

“What does that mean?” I say, standing.

“It means he puts up with her, gets along with her, because he has to. Which is why he’s gone with her to Onyx. Henrietta has information.”

“And you expect me to believe that?”

“Kitten, Beaufort’s crazy about you. He hasn’t looked at another woman since you came along.”

“Then why was he kissing her?” I say, my voice breaking out into a sob and tears filling my eyes. “I trusted him. Am I a fool, Dray? Are you all playing me?”

“Ahh, little Kitten,” he says, pulling me into a warm hug.

Dray and I have done a lot of dirty stuff recently, but the way he holds me feels far more intimate and far more real – like he truly cares about me. I melt into him, resting my head against his chest and hearing the reassuring thud of his heart. Suddenly, nothing seems so bad.

“I don’t like it when you’re sad, little Kitten,” he says into my hair, “so if you don’t trust him, at least trust me. I’d shred Beau’s ballsack to pieces with my claws before I let him hurt you.”

“You’re bond brothers.”

“Yeah, but you’re my mate.” He kisses the crown of my head. “Talking of which …”

Without warning he scoots down and flips me right over his shoulder.

“What are you doing?” I squeal.

“This is a waste of time. I’m already the fastest person in this place and you, little Kitten, can wield light. We’re gonna do something better with our time.”

“But the teachers!”

He snorts and I understand why a couple of minutes later as he strolls past the Titan twins, waving at them as he does and informing them we’re skipping class.

The taller one simply chuckles and the other shrugs.

“Are you sure they won’t report us to the Madame?” I say, resigned to my fate and not even bothering to struggle.

“Those two are lazy fucks. They won’t be bothered.”

He carries me back towards campus and along the pathways. Soon I realize we’re not headed to his tower, we’re walking towards mine.

“Where are we going now?” I ask.

“We’re going to move you across to our place. Its been long enough,” Dray says. “No arguments. It’s not doing any of us any good being apart and it’s not safe for you to stay here.”

He lowers me to my feet right outside my tower.

I’ve spent the last few nights shivering alone in my bed in my room.

I have questioned what the hell I’m doing and if I’m right in the head.

Especially when I picture that amazing room at the top of the Princes’ tower.

However, the idea of leaving my friends behind, even if they’re just across campus and I’ll see them at meal times and in lessons every day, has prevented me from making the move.

I haven’t had a lot of friends in my lifetime – for the last year or so I had none at all – and I’m not prepared to let the ones I do have go.

Now, I’m wondering if that has given Beaufort the opportunity to reconnect with his old girlfriend.

“I’m not sure I’m ready,” I say. Yesterday, I was ready. Since hearing this information about Beaufort, I’m unsettled and less sure about everything. Especially now he’s in Onyx and didn’t even come to say goodbye.

“It’s too unsafe to remain here,” Dray says in a manner that suggests he won’t be brokering any arguments.

“Dray, I really don’t think I can.” If Beaufort really is cheating on me, moving in with him and his bond brothers would be the most stupid act in the history of stupid acts.

“Why not?” he challenges.

“Beaufort–”