Page 76 of Stray
How in the world had that even come up? She wasn’t surprised that Emily’s response had been so cruel and emphatic, but rather that it had ever even been a question to begin with.
She knew Axel wasn’t the one who would’ve broached the idea. It was common for toms of particularly high breeding to take a second, which was more like a human mistress than anything, should his first mate allow it. It was especially true of the queens who had a large number of mates at their disposal, and couldn’t give them all the time and attention they demanded.
A male of Axel’s breeding might easily have had several seconds, but Ella knew full well he never would’ve considered her as a possibility.
Tessa must have asked Emily. It was the only explanation that made any sense. After all, she had expressed her disapproval with Emily’s lack of a plan for Ella after her graduation. Ella could see the well-intentioned woman thinking that would be a more suitable position to her than her previous role of live-in maid, but she had no idea.
The only thing more torturous than knowing Axel would never care for her the way she had always cared for him was the idea of him being forced to pretend that he did.
He would only hate her even more, if that were possible.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Emily said, clearly lying through her teeth. Ella knew her well enough to be able to tell from a mile away. The fact that she was even bothering to lie was proof the dynamic really had shifted between them, but it was far from a genuine improvement.
“That is Ella’s decision to make,” Natalia said, calm and composed as ever. Ella marveled at the way she could make her opinions known so plainly and unquestionably while still seeming so regal and demure. She could spend an entire lifetime in the woman’s tutelage, and she still wouldn’t feel ready to become the Empress. The very idea seemed more and more absurd the more time that had elapsed since the Unveiling.
Then again, maybe the shock had simply taken that long to wear off.
“Please,” Emily scoffed. “You’re just hoping that cozying up to her will make her pick Bishop.”
A flash of irritation lit up Natalia’s eyes.
It was unsettling that two of the names that had come to mind immediately were being discussed before her, as if they were the obvious choices they were. Ella knew that her third, but by no means last-place choice, would’ve been even more controversial had they known.
“Not everyone is an opportunistic social climber who uses other people like currency,” Natalia quipped. It was the closest Ella had ever seen her to losing her cool. As impossible as it seemed, she was starting to think the two queens were about to get into a physical altercation to match their verbal sparring when Tessa spoke up.
“That’s enough,” the priestess sighed. Usually Natalia was the one playing referee, but it was clear she saw the need to step in. Ella was just relieved it didn’t have to be her. “The choice is Ella’s, and by tradition, it is one to be made in confidentiality.”
“In any case, I don’t think that you need to worry about being turned down,” Natalia said in a gently knowing tone. Ella wished she had half as much confidence in herself as the other woman seemed to.
“How am I supposed to choose anyone when I can’t even go to class like this?” Ella asked.
“With these,” Tessa said, handing her a foil wrapped packet of what looked like chewing gum.
No… On closer inspection, she realized the tiny pills more resembled birth control. Not that she had ever had any use for it. Even if such a thing would work on shifters, she never imagined she would be in this position.
There were twelve small pink tablets arranged in a circle around the packet, and while there was no label, Ella had a vague idea of what they were for. “Heat suppressants?” she asked warily.
Shifter biology was too unique to be properly studied in most universities without courting the risk of exposure to the humans. The existing birth control methods were of questionable efficacy at best. “I didn’t even think those worked.”
“They’ve made some considerable strides in pharmacology since I was a girl,” Emily said, her arms folded indignantly. She was obviously still sore, but at least things no longer seemed ready to come to blows between her and her rival at any moment. “This is far from a long-term solution, but it should hold your heat off for a few days to a week. Enough time for you to make a decision and attend your classes regularly without being hounded by boorish toms.”
She spoke with such derision that Ella wondered what she would think if she knew her son was the most boorish of them all.
“Just remember, there’s still the possibility of you becoming pregnant, even if it is diminished,” Natalia warned.
“In other words, save the fun stuff for when you’ve made your final decision,” said Tessa.
Ella’s blush worsened at the older female’s remark.
Natalia gave her a look. “I think the poor girl’s been through enough for one day without us teasing her even more.”
Tessa just gave an unapologetic chuckle. “It’s not like she’s going to the gallows. I may have taken a vow of celibacy to serve the goddess, but even I can see this is an enviable position to be in.”
Ella felt like she was going to melt onto the tile. She tucked the pills into her pocket along with the rings for safekeeping and tried not to give into the impending panic attack that rose up whenever she thought about returning to class. Thanks to Brad and Axel, it was all but a guarantee that word of her predicament would’ve spread across the school well before the first bell even rang.
Chapter 13
Ella
