Chapter 28
My feet arelight as I bob and weave around my opponent, putting my barely-there skills to the test. I haven’t attended enough classes in this one subject to be any good, but there’s no telling the professor that. It was get in or get out and, at some point, I’d like to graduate. Hard to do if I continue skipping.
This class is one of the few required, and it’s the one I despise the most. Scratch that. Second most behind Transmutation.
Combat class. Bleh. Just what I want to do. Pound the crap out of people for an hour and a half and then listen to the assholes gloat for the next week. The whole idea behind it wouldn’t be so bad if it wasn’t set up street fighter style, where everyone circles around the two in the middle.
And there’s no way in hell to concentrate with the racket everyone is making as they cheer the two opponents on.
But you know what’s not happening, though? The cheering. Okay. That’s a lie. They totally are, but not for me.
Tank’s name—how freaking fitting—is being chanted by almost every student in attendance. But it’s the ones who have bloodlust in their eyes that worry me the most. They’re almost salivating for the kill.
“Go, Bailey! You got this!” Marion. Gotta love her. She’s the only one that’s been cheering me on.
I swear to all that is holy, I’m tempted to go complain to Jasper. Sorry. Headmaster Stonewell. Cause seriously. Where’s the track class? Give me a 100-yard dash or hurdles. Both of those are immensely better than making sure the person I’m up against doesn’t kick my ass.
And this huge mother trucker in front of me? Yep. He’s totally going to.
If I don’t keep moving, this asshole will take out the last curiomancer in existence without even knowing it.
But the two s’s I have that he doesn’t are working for me. Speed and size. I’m much, much smaller than the bulldozer trying to run me over, and he’s starting to flag under the constant movement of trying to catch me.
Like I expected, Tank stumbles, tripping over his own huge feet. The entire student body in attendance laughs or boos at his misstep, but I view it as a small blessing. It gives me a chance to wipe the sweat off my brow. Cause, gross. I don’t think I’ve ever sweated so much in my damn life. Hell, I think even my sweat is sweating. That’s just how bad it is.
Not only that but there’s a really good chance I stink to high hell. I don’t give a shit if I’m late to my next class. I’m taking a shower after this crap. Because there’s not a single person that would want to be near me reeking the way I am.
It takes a mere moment for Tank to regain his equilibrium, and I swear I can see steam pouring from his ears and nose at the sight of me. Like it’s my damn fault he almost fell. It’s them massive clown shoes on his feet that are to blame. Not little ole me.
But it’s apparent he doesn’t feel the same way when he charges me at full speed, faster than he’s been any other time. I didn’t even know someone of his size could move that quickly. I try to get out of his way, but I can’t. Too many people crowd behind me, not allowing me to break free to get away from the pain I know he’s about to deliver.
Marion’s scream rings in my ears before nothing but pain obliterates my entire body. My breathing becomes harsh and difficult to attempt with what feels like the weight of a boulder sitting on my chest. Bright lights flash behind my eyes, and I swear I hear little birdies chirp in my ears. I giggle, even though the movement is painful as hell. I remember those old cartoons where one character would get bonked on the head, and little tweety birds would flap around them. That’s exactly what this feels like.
“Alright!” Professor Simmon’s voice cuts through the haze of tweeties tweeting my name. “Great job, you two. Matthews, walk it off.” Where the heck have I heard that before?
I snort, but it sounds much more like a groan. That’s easy for him to say. I’d love to see him get run the fuck over and, as he says… walk it off.
Jerk.
“Come on, Bailey. I’ll help you.” Marion helps me to my feet, but the moment she lets go, my knees crumple beneath me, and I hit the floor once again with an oomph. “Fuck. Earth to Bailey.” She snaps her fingers in front of my face. “Can you walk?”
“Nope.” I pop the P, even though it hurts.
“Shit. Okay. I apologize now for what I’m about to do.” Uhhh.. I don’t know if I like the sound of that.
“Wa—” I don’t even get to finish telling her to wait before she grabs my arm and hauls me up, throwing me over her shoulder in a fireman”s carry. “For shit’s sake, Marion. Put me down,” I hiss, wiggling around as her shoulder digs into my ribs. I hiss again, but this time it’s because the shit goddamn hurts.
Marion marches out of combat class like a woman on a mission, but I hide my face in her sweaty back to escape the mocking laughter that follows behind us in our wake. Couldn’t she have just helped me hobble out or you know, carried me differently? At this rate, I’m never going to live this down. It’s going to haunt me for however many years I have here.
The second the door closes behind us, Marion carefully lowers me to the floor, propping me up against the wall. My legs shake under the exertion, but I manage to stay on my feet this time. Barely.
“Why are we stopping?” I inquire, wanting more than anything to go lie down. As much as I need to attend my other classes, they’ll have to wait for another day. I just can’t anymore today.
She snorts, a very unladylike sound. Hell, if I didn’t already know that she’s a wolf, I’d think she was a happy piggy ready to go for a tumble in mud. “You didn’t think I was going to carry your ass all the way to your room, right?”
“Umm, no?” It comes out more a question than an answer, earning another snort from the damn one-person peanut gallery. “But if you’re not going to, why pick me up in the first place?”
“Oh, that?” She waves a hand. “Shock factor. Make that fucker think you’re more injured than you are. Maybe he’ll think twice next time steam-rolling someone like that.”
If she had even a small inkling of the pain coursing through my body, she’d know that I’m a hell of a lot more injured than what I look like on the outside. I’m not sure my magic is strong enough yet to heal so much without knocking me unconscious first. Hopefully, Marion will return to class quickly so I can start the attempt, and if I pass out, fingers crossed I wake up in time for my first class of the morning.
Marion throws my arm over her shoulder and her arm bands around my waist, letting me lean against her as we hobble toward the dorms.
In the wrong direction.
Shit.
“Mare, my room…” Dammit. “My room is in the opposite direction.”
She shakes her head, not changing direction. “You must be turned around. The only thing in the other direction is the faculty wing.” I remain silent, and she quickly picks up on the fact. “Ohhhh… yeah, I guess that makes sense.”
I don’t know what she thinks makes sense, but I don’t have the time or the breath to ask before she turns us around, and I limp toward my room.
A groan rips free from the depths of my very being as Marion deposits me on the couch. Everything hurts. It feels like bruises on top of bruises litter my body, and I’m even more confident now that I won’t be able to heal them all. There are just too many.
Marion travels around my dorm room, peeking behind doors and checking out my fridge, but she still hasn’t questioned why I’m living in the faculty wing. Anything could be going through her head right now, but I bet it’s nowhere near the truth.
“Ah, man. This room is awesome.” Marion’s voice floats out from my bedroom, reverence thick in her tone. “I want a circle room. Too bad the bed isn’t a circle, too. Think of all the fun stuff you could do on it.” My face heats at the implications of her words. The bed doesn’t need to be in a circle for all the fun things that could happen. It’s just drawing up the nerves to invite one of my guys to said bedroom.
Persistent, obnoxious knocking starts at the door, getting louder and harder by the second. My limbs ache as I try to get up from the couch to answer it, but I drop back down with a groan, wiping the sweat dotting my brow with the back of my hand.
“Mare-bear! Someone’s at the door!”
“Awwww.” I screech as she coos in my ear, not having heard her come back into the room. “I love that nickname. But I’m not a bear.” I snort. No shit. “But I’m keeping it. Don’t you dare change it.” She wags her finger in my face before heading to the door to find out who it is.
“Can I help yo—hey!” Two overbearing men shove her out of the way, beelining straight for me. “You idiots can’t just barge your way in here.”
“Lu… Thaddy… What are you guys doing here?” And what the hell are they doing together? Do they know each other?
Luka snorts as he eyes the blue fae next to him, obviously realizing that two and two make four and this is the man I called Thaddy.
“I heard what happened, sunshine, and got here as quick as I could. Are you alright?” Luka raises an amused brow as Thaddeus crouches in front of me, reaching tentative fingers toward whatever bruise may be pushing to the surface. “Have you tried to—” His eyes widen as he catches himself before admitting that I can heal myself. Luka may know that already, but Marion knows nothing. Not that Thaddeus is fully aware of who Luka is.
“Not yet,” I murmur with a pain-filled whimper, trying to reposition myself on the couch.
“Tried what?” Marion looks around at all three of us, trying to figure out what she’s missing.
“Nothing, Mare-Bear.” I give her what I hope is a reassuring smile.
“We appreciate your help getting her back here, but shouldn’t you be getting back to your classes?” Thaddeus asks, redirecting the conversation.
“And you are?” she inquires, propping her hands on her hips. “I’ve never seen you before, and now it’s like you’re trying to kick me out of my bestie’s room. You,” she points at Luka, “I remember you. You’re cool. But you,” that finger swings back, “are an unknown.”
I can’t help but giggle at her attempt to put Thaddy in his place.
He gawks at her before pulling himself together and shaking off her words. “Professor Winterton. The portal professor.”
Marion’s lips part, making one impressive O-face. “Sorry, Prof. Yeah, I’ll go. You all good, Bails?”
“Awww,” I coo, mimicking her, “I love it. My dad called me that.” Marion scrunches her nose, making me laugh. “I’m good. I know these two yahoos.”
“Alright. Be good, and just know that I’m watching you two.” She points to her eyes then glares daggers as she points back at both of them. “Take care of my girl.”
“I will,” they say simultaneously, throwing each other odd looks.
The door closes softly behind Marion as she heads back to class, leaving me with the two men currently staring at me, waiting for me to explain what happened. What is there to say, really?
“Combat class.” There. Simple answer. Explains it all.
“What the hell were you doing in combat class, goddess? Playing punching bag?”
“Goddess,” Thaddeus murmurs to himself, eyeing Luka. He looks almost green with jealousy at another man calling me that, but he shakes his head, focusing back on the conversation.
“Yeah.” I groan again. “Fuck. Hold on.”
Closing my eyes, I whisper a silent plea to my magic to heal what it can while directing it toward the mark between my breasts. Oh so slowly, the aches and pains start to go away, making me feel a little bit better every minute my magic heals me.
A phone”s ringtone pierces the quiet room, knocking me out of concentration. I sag back on the couch, the extensive use of my magic zapping all the remaining strength I had left.
Luka pulls the phone from his pocket and answers it, switching it straight to speakerphone.
“Luka, I got your message. Is she okay? How badly is she hurt? I can be there in minutes if you need me. Just please tell me she’s okay.”
I give a tired giggle, my eyes fluttering. “I’m okay, vampy. Just got run over by a bulldozer.”
“Why the fuck are you around construction equipment?”
All three of us laugh at his words.
“Who the fuck is there with you?” he grunts, knowing there are very few I surround myself with. “Besides Luka.”
“Hey, Axel. It’s just Thaddeus.”
“Oh. What’s up, man?”
My eyes flutter closed all the way as I listen to another bromance coming to fruition. It may not be as advanced as the one Luka shares with Axel. But it’s definitely something.
Listening to the three of them talk, contentedness washes over me and I let myself fall into the blackness of my mind, knowing that with the three of them here—even one by proxy—I’ll be okay.