Academy for Courting Curses - Tara West Page 0,1

dragged on one side as he spoke. “Year of griffin.”

“You can talk, but you’re not very smart, are you?” Instinctively, the ruff on her neck opened and rattled as she asserted her dominance. “That is an interesting wand you have.” Holding out her hand, she impatiently waggled her fingers. “May I?” When Rem arched back, she pressed forward. “Please. I’ll give it back.” She worked up what she hoped was a radiant smile. “Promise.”

She inwardly laughed when he gave the wand to her with trembling talons. She read the mistrust in his eyes, but it was overridden by fear. That was good. The creature was naturally subservient and would make a fitting slave.

Turning over the thin, shiny wand in her hand, she was in awe of its design. She’d never felt such material before, sturdy like wood, but smooth as glass, and with its creamy color, it made her think of a unicorn horn without the ridges.

“Master make it special,” Rem said.

“They did.” She softly purred when she felt the vibration of magic within. “Talking griffins and strange, powerful wands. We must be at least a millennium ahead of my time. “Where is your master?”

The beast’s large eyes welled with tears. “Rem master dead.”

“Well, Rem.” She unfolded her wings, the flames in her chest warming her scales. “You have a new master now.”

* * *

For two days Gae and her pet traversed the maze of caverns, following the smells of humans, thinking she’d found their hidden lair only to come upon a dead-end where the tunnel had caved in. She could’ve blasted them open, but she didn’t want to risk the already compromised roof collapsing on her head. The foolish griffin couldn’t remember the spell he’d used.

She’d thought he was lying at first, but after spending enough time with the creature, she believed him to be no smarter than a child, and every bit as annoying as one. They subsisted off small creatures the griffin caught and water that dripped down the cavern walls, collecting in shallow pools on the ground, while delving deeper into the bowels of the island. Once she’d known this labyrinth so well, she could’ve traversed it with her eyes closed. Now everything looked unfamiliar to her. Even worse, she could not smell her precious stores of life water. Though she could keep herself alive for centuries using dark magic, she needed the life water to maintain her youthful appearance and heal injuries, should she get any.

She cast a sideways glare at Rem as he alternated between limping and fluttering beside her. Life water would heal his deformities, but she wouldn’t share any with him. After she found her precious stores, she’d keep it all to herself. The griffin’s hideous outward appearance lowered his self-esteem and made him a humble and obedient servant. It was in her best interest he remained that way.

She paused at the sound of a woman crying and held out a staying hand. “Hush,” she said to Rem. “I hear something.”

“What does mistress hear?” the creature squealed.

She glowered at him. “Do you know what ‘hush’ means?” she hissed.

“Rem sorry, mis—My Queen.” Looking contrite, his wings drooped and he hung his head.

Could he be any more of a fool? She would punish him later for his stupidity, and for calling her his mistress. How many times did she need to tell the little scab she was a queen? She’d been heir to the throne of Delfi until that stupid Fae bitch and her warriors defeated her father, the greatest king who’d ever lived. Though she never knew him, her mother had told her he’d ruled Delfi with an iron hand for nearly a hundred years and would have ruled longer if the deceitful Fae hadn’t turned his citizens against him.

“Is someone there?” a female voice called. “Can you help me?”

Gae surged forward. The woman was in peril, vulnerable. Good.

The woman was at the edge of a collapsed tunnel. She was a hybrid of some sort, half-cat and half-human. Covered in black fur, she had long pointy fangs that curved down over her lower lip, triangular cat ears, paws for hands, and a long curled tail. She had the distinct shape of a human woman, with generous hips and breasts. There were cuffs around her scarred wrists, with dangling chains attached.

Gae wondered how the feline had broken free, though it mattered little to her. The creature was absolutely breathtaking. Gae instantly felt a connection with her, for she was also half-human. Most people looked