“When in private,” she answered, pressing her lips to mine harder. “It would not be appropriate for others to hear my pet address me so casually,” she explained.
“But you want me to use your name?” I asked, still unsure. Only nobles and other Royals used her name, and I worried she would change her mind when she came down from her high.
“Yes.” She growled playfully, taking my hands from her hips and placing them above my head. “I want to hear you scream my name in ecstasy. I want to hear you whisper my name in heated moments when you try so hard to be quiet. And I want to hear you speak my name freely when we talk together,” she said, running her nose along my neck.
“Because I own a part of you?” I asked timidly, not wanting to be so weak but needing confirmation that I hadn’t imagined her words.
“Because only you own any part of me.”
12. Uncomfortable Truths
Persephone Flores
Heidi was waiting for me outside my Introductory Healing class. Selene walked me to my class and left my side to greet Heidi with an embrace. I was surprised by my jealousy at the public show of affection.
“Selene, do you always walk your Percy to class?” Heidi asked her.
“I will, when her class is in the only school building devoid of other servants,” she answered.
“Do you worry someone will try to steal your pet?” Heidi teased. Selene smiled, reaching blindly behind herself and finding my arm to pull me to her side.
“Percy would never be swayed to another’s side, would you, pet?” she asked, looking down at me, and I couldn’t help how my eyes searched out my mark on her neck. It was healing fast, and I doubted it would be there in even an hour’s time, nothing more than a faint ghost of a mark, but I liked seeing it. It settled whatever jealous unrest I had felt watching her casually embrace another.
“Never, Ma’am,” I answered her. She turned back to Heidi.
“I have nothing to worry about,” she told her.
“Oh, no? Are you sure? I’ve seen your pet all dressed up. I have to say I wouldn’t mind having her all dressed down,” Heidi teased, and Selene responded with a low guttural growl. Heidi laughed, waving her hand dismissively. “I’m only teasing. I know it’s a strictly look but don’t touch policy when it comes to your girl.”
“Do you test my control purposefully?” Selene ground out, her growl dying, and I pressed myself against her side.
“Yes, it amuses me,” Heidi replied. “Anyway, our class is about to begin; hand over your pet. She’s mine for the duration.”
“Heidi,” Selene warned lowly, but the Coactus witch only smiled sweetly in response. She turned to me raising her hand on the arm that wore my scented bracelet. “Be good, pet,” she commanded, running her knuckles against my cheek.
“Yes, Ma’am,” I answered.
“Good girl,” she replied and lifted her gaze to Heidi, “No inappropriateness with my pet, Heidi,” she warned light-heartedly before leaving me.
“Come on, Percy,” Heidi demanded, walking towards the classroom door, “You’ll sit with me today; Sophia is a sour face,” she told me as I followed her into the class. The girl clearly heard the insult and frowned in our direction. Heidi simply waved happily in return.
“But Dr. Phears assigned my seat,’ I told her, hesitating. “Shouldn’t I ask, before changing seats?”
“Percy,” she huffed, “Such a well-behaved little servant,” she said, and it sounded like an insult. “Dr. Phears, I would like Percy to sit with me from now on, on account that Sophia is no good company to keep, and I promised our Royal Highness that I would keep her pet safe,” Heidi addressed Dr. Phears, who was busy with her lecture notes.
The older woman looked up, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose.
“Heidi, Percy is here to learn. Am I to believe that you will not be a distraction?” Dr. Phears asked her pointedly.
“I would never deprive Percy of an education. I will be an excellent classmate, helping the Princess’s pet to pass your class,” Heidi replied confidently, already beginning to pull me towards the steps.
“I would be surprised if it were not Percy helping you pass my class, Heidi. Very well sit together, but if I even suspect that you are a detriment to the child’s attention, I will move her,” Dr. Phears told Heidi, and there was muffled laughter around the class; I assumed at Dr. Phears's suggestion that I was a better student.
“Why does Dr. Phears call me a child?” I whispered to Heidi as we sat down.
“Because you’re the youngest person here. Plus Dr.Phears is like sixty or something,” Heidi told me. I couldn’t possibly be more than a few years younger than anyone else in the class, and if Dr. Phears were sixty, I would be surprised; if so, she looked good for her age.
“Today, we will be moving on to the treatment of illness. In particular, how to treat fevers, influenza and vomiting. Chapter three covers these topics in your textbook,” Dr. Phears began, and I realised I had forgotten my textbook.