CHAPTER 223: ORDER

Chapter 223

Daphne

"But why all the questions, my dear?" I ask lightly, flicking the last bit of green across the canvas.

Her answer is soft, almost too soft. "No reason." But her voice carries too much emotion for it to mean nothing.

Hmmmn? Something is up.

I set the brush aside and wipe my fingers, then push back from the easel. "Well, let’s go."

She blinks, startled. "Are you not going to paint some more?"

"Yeah, tomorrow. Maybe next week," I say, stretching lazily like a cat. "For this piece, I still need to... well, find inspiration." My eyes slide toward her deliberately.

Her ears twitch. I smile.

"Besides," I continue, stepping closer, "weren’t you bored?"

Before she can protest, I take her hands and gently pull her to her feet. She’s so light it’s like lifting a feather. Her wide eyes follow me, nervous and confused, as always.

"No," she says quickly, voice small but firm.

I grin, letting it slide as I lead her out of the room. I walk a few paces ahead, down the winding stairs from the private studio. It was pure luck finding this place in the art building—well, luck and a few well-placed threats to the staff. There was no way I’d give up a room like this, not when it reminded me so much of the space I used to paint in once andmy lovely Duchess Evelyn.

If I ever land in another world with similar architecture, I’ll do the same. Make it my tradition.

Somewhere along the stairwell, my bunny misses a step and crashes straight into my back.

Her arms clutch around my neck instinctively, warm and trembling.

"A little bold today, aren’t you?" I tease, glancing back.

"No... I tripped," she mumbles, mortified.

I turn fully in her arms, smirking. "Excuses, excuses."

Before she can argue, I hook one arm under her knees and haul her up with a single arm, tucking her snug against my side.

She lets out a startled squeak, clutching my shoulders tighter. Gods, she weighs nothing or I’m super strong? Nah she weighs nothing.

"It’s not an excuse..." she says weakly.

"I’m sure it’s not," I hum, "but hold me tighter anyway. We wouldn’t want you tripping again. I’ll do the walking."

Her response is to bury her face in my neck, hot ears brushing my jaw. An arrow straight to my heart. So painfully cute.

I ignore the sideways stares from passing students and head toward my dorm. At the base of the massive tree leading to my window, I pause.

"Hold tight, my dear," I warn.

"Why—?!" she starts, but her question cuts off into a startled scream as I leap.

My free hand claws into the trunk; my other arm keeps her pinned perfectly against me. I climb effortlessly, maybe showing off a little. In a few bounding leaps, I land lightly by my window, not even winded.

The stairs would have taken too long, seriously.

I set her inside the room, through the window gently.

"Go on. Bath, change," I say, watching her flushed face, hearing her heart race like a drum.

She turns to look at me, wide-eyed.

"Unless," I add with a grin, "you’d rather we bathe together. I wouldn’t mind."

She spins around so fast she nearly trips again and bolts deeper inside.

I chuckle, leaping back onto my favorite branch. My tail swishes lazily as I stretch out, the hum of campus below me.

It’s all the same every day. Students rushing to and from class, chattering like noisy birds. A group laughing too loud. Another huddled in some meaningless argument.

Two older students tug at a Longear’s ears and dump his books on the ground. He scrambles to pick them up while they jeer.

I yawn.

A couple of herbivores wander past hand in hand. Some predators posture at each other, all teeth and no bite. None of it interests me.

It’s background noise, the same bland scene on repeat.

Until—

Oh.

Now that’s interesting.

A tiger shifter, bold orange stripes and flicking ears, is sitting with a girl. She’s talking, not noticing. His tail, though? Sneaking up her skirt, curling like a thief under the fabric.

My ears perk. My tail pauses mid-swing.

Well, well.

How absolutely atrocious. And yet... how utterly fascinating.

I smirk, resting my chin on my hand. I’ve never not thought of that before, after all tails are like any other limb right?

***

Velesia

Something is wrong with Felix. I can feel it coiling under his skin even when he tries to laugh it off. He pretends nothing’s changed, but ever since that argument with the Longear on the trip, there’s been a tension in him that wasn’t there before.

He’s off-balance. And when Felix is off-balance, all of us feel it.

There’s a rhythm between the five of us, an unspoken order, and she just tossed away the order.

I hate this but she’s different from the rest of us.She’s the reminder of where he came from. The one who was there before the Leonhart name and crown made everyone kneel.

I hate that about her.

I hate that she’ll always have a piece of him no one else can touch. That no matter how unworthy she is, her history with him will anchor her in his heart.

And I hate even more that I’m the one slithering through the halls to see her now.

The stares follow me as I walk. Students make way, some flinch, a few even run. It’s always like this. Most beast shifters are mammals; reptilians like me are rare, and rarely welcomed. I’m used to the fear.

Only Felix has never looked at me like that. He sees me, not my fangs. Not my coils. Just me.

I stop in front of the Longear dorm, flicking my tongue against the air to steady myself.

"Uhm... may we help you?" A Longear stands guard by the door, ears twitching nervously.

"Poppy," I say simply. No need to elaborate.

"O-of course. She’s—" They rattle off directions, and I follow, my presence enough to send a few more Longears scattering as I pass.

I stop at her door and knock, knuckles sharp against the wood.