Page 60 of Bound to Three Fae Beasts

“Oh,” I grunted, then narrowed my eyes as though defensive. “I was invited!”

Savannah rolled her eyes and headed off again. I lingered a moment longer, then followed after her just long enough to ensure she was going to the Academy. With her out of the way, I skirted into the forest, finding a space far enough from the party for privacy.

I took on Savannah’s form easily. It was so easy that at first I thought I hadn’t done it. Since I learned I was a shape-thief, I’d taken to carrying around a small pocket mirror with me. When I looked into it, I found Savannah’s face looking back at me. Staring into the mirror, I released her form, getting my face back. Then, slower, I retook Savannah’s face.

It felt so strange. I could almost feel my body changing, yet it was so quick, it was like a snowflake dropping on my tongue. I tried my best to take note of how the change happened so I could do it more smoothly in the future.

Nerves made my palms sweat, but I held on to Savannah’s face and headed back to the party. It was time to see just how good this disguise actually was.

Chapter 27 - Azriel

I stepped back into the clearing, keeping to the edge as I scanned the crowd again. Nobody paid me any attention. I was just about to head over to Red and Flora when Penry and two of the other volunteers stumbled out of the forest, followed by a magnificent black cat that had to be Gareth. His movement was fluid, his fur a deep ebony color. He was also intensely muscular in his jaguar form, with a blocky head and heavy jaws.

He shifted back to his human form as the three volunteers rejoined the party. Penry rushed over to Silas and Freta. I nearly headed over myself, wanting to make sure she was okay, before I remembered I wasn’t wearing my own face.

“Seb’s not back, is he?” Gareth’s voice boomed over the music as he grabbed a fresh bottle of wine. “Ha! Looks like I won!”

He gulped down a few swallows of the wine and then started to toss out handfuls of gold coins, laughing all the while. I frowned at his displays. These high fae didn’t make any sense. They were so high and mighty, treating everyone like shit on the bottom of their shoe, and yet here he was, casually giving away gold. Was it a stunt to get more popular?

But then, hadn’t I fallen for that, too? When I was first offered a place in the Academy, I’d had visions of returning to the human world with mad amounts of wealth.

It might also just have been that he was that drunk. I headed through the crowd, letting my body lead me the same way Savannah would navigate. People stepped out of my way. A few of them cowered back, and others greeted me with overly friendly smiles. I grabbed a plate of food and kept going.

Nobody tried to stop me. Nobody looked at me strangely. My heart beat fast, but it was excitement rather than nerves. So, this was what it felt like to be one of the high fae. They all saw me as Savannah. But the real test was still to come. It was easy enough to fool everyone here, but they didn’t know Savannah. I had to get closer to her own social peers.

As I drew closer, Gareth stopped tossing out coins and sauntered over to join Jasper. He started gesturing, as though trying to get him to join in the party, and Jasper shook his head.

Flora spied me as I got closer, and her pretty face twisted into a sneer. It occurred to me that she’d act pretty different if I was wearing Seb’s face—then I shut down that line of thinking. There were a whole host of quandaries that would come with that particular deception. Besides, she might be gorgeous, but I wasn’t interested in having to fend off her attentions.

I headed for Flora and she deliberately turned her back and grabbed the arm of one of the high fae women near her. They started laughing and talking, deliberately ignoring me. I came to a stop and glanced over my shoulder at Gareth and Jasper.

“Hey,” Red said, sidling up to me.

I turned to him. “Hey.”

Red gave me a small smile. “Flora will get it over it. You know how she is. She just needs a little bit more time.”

“Oh, I know. I was just hoping that maybe you could help her out a bit.” I brushed my hair out of my face, remembering the conversation I’d heard while I hid beneath the gazebo, when Red offered to get Flora pregnant so they could fool Seb into thinking it was his. “I think you should try to convince her again.”

“Convince her?” he repeated, his brow furrowed.

“Yes. You know. To ensure the engagement goes forward,” I said, adding a suggestive tone to my voice.

Red’s pupils widened. He looked longingly at her, letting out a shuddering breath.

I patted his shoulder and pushed slightly. “Look, things are getting more desperate every day. She did wonderfully in the first trials, but we all know this isn’t just about the Academy. She’s upset and needs someone to look out for her.”

“Yeah,” Red said. He tipped back his glass, which smelled like something stronger than wine. Then he headed for Flora.

I repressed a grin and sidled closer to Gareth and Jasper. So this was good enough to fool Red. At least, Red while he was drunk. It was useful. I could see why the fae saw shape-thieves as weapons. I slipped behind a tree and stopped close enough to hear what Gareth and Jasper were saying. I leaned against a tree, chewing slowly on the snacks I’d gathered.

“The teachers are suspicious,” Jasper was saying.

“Why should they be suspicious? I have every right to come to the Academy,” Gareth was saying. “Some would even say that it is mandatory for the high fae to the attend. It’s not like I’m doing anything illegal or wrong.”

Jasper snorted. “Yeah, but you are fully bound and legally an adult already. It’s strange for someone who has been praised for his strength to join the Academy.”

Wait, Gareth didn’t have to attend? I chewed my food, frowning. Was he just here to throw around his weight?