Chapter 54
I locked my fingers together as we headed toward the school. Had it really only been a day since I’d been here last? It felt like a lifetime had passed in the past twenty-four hours. With all the revelations about the supernatural world, I’d barely had time to think about the dead rat in my locker.
Declan reached down and untwined my fingers, taking my hand. “It’s going to be okay.”
Colt nodded. “I had new security cameras put in around school that we’ll have access to.”
I turned toward him, my jaw going slightly slack. “The school let you do that?”
Ronan scoffed. “Who do you think funds the majority of the school?”
Colt shrugged. “It comes in handy now and then.”
This really was a whole new world. I stilled. “Wait, is everyone at Castle Prep a supernatural?”
Colt nodded. “Mostly, or they are at least aware of us. But using our abilities on campus is forbidden.”
Dash took my other hand and gave it a squeeze, leaning in to brush his lips across my temple. “We’ll be sticking close today, too. Don’t worry. No one will hurt you.”
I couldn’t help but notice the stares our fellow students gave us as we passed. Sam grinned, her boyfriends surrounding her, and gave me an encouraging wave. It was clear no one had missed the way that all the guys, except for Trace, were touching me.
My gaze pulled to him as we walked. As if he were acutely aware of my focus, his eyes tracked to me. He’d said very little since the events of last night, but I got the feeling he wasn’t on board with Colt’s plan.
“Are you okay?” I asked softly.
His jaw worked back and forth. “Fine.”
Because that sounded truthful. I worried the corner of my lip. “I’d never make you be with me if that isn’t what you wanted.”
The guys around me went unearthly silent as a muscle fluttered in Trace’s cheek. Those violet eyes glowed brighter. “It has nothing to do with you. I don’t want to be with anyone. Ever.”
And with that, he took off toward the school building.
Coach Calhoun blew her whistle. “We’re running the mile today. Start stretching.”
All the girls around me groaned. I guessed even going to a ridiculously expensive prep school couldn’t save you from gym class. So far, we’d avoided any truly strenuous activity, but apparently, that was changing today.
“Get moving,” Coach yelled.
I pushed to my feet. My shoulder was surprisingly fine after the attack last night. I shuddered at the reminder and began to stretch my quads.
Someone knocked into me from behind, and I barely caught myself from going flying.
“Oops. Didn’t see you there, trash,” Chloe crooned.
I rolled my eyes as her two henchmen stepped in behind her. I opted for ignoring them all and headed for the starting line.
“What? Cat got your tongue, trash?” Chloe called.
I shrugged. “Don’t like to waste my time with people who clearly don’t have two brain cells to rub together.”
Heat hit Chloe’s cheeks, and her nostrils flared. “At least I don’t put people at risk because I’m a moron. They could’ve been killed because they were trying to protect you, and you were just throwing a hissy fit.”
Each of her words hit like a carefully placed blow.
I hadn’t known I was putting the guys at risk, but the result was the same.
And more than that, someone had obviously told Chloe the details of what had happened last night.
And there were only five other people who knew what had led up to the attack, the guys.
Chloe tossed her long, brown locks over her shoulder. “That’s what I thought. Stop messing with their lives. You weren’t meant for this world. Your anchor powers not manifesting is just proof of that. So run along, little freak, and let us be.”
She, Mimi, and Grace took off before I could say another word. The whistle blew, and girls started running. I forced my legs into action, but my whole body was numb.
I rounded the track four times, Coach calling out a series of numbers I couldn’t discern as I crossed the finish line. All I could hear were Chloe’s words echoing in my head, over and over again.
“All right, hit the showers. Anyone who got over twelve minutes, you’ll have to run it again,” Coach yelled.
I had no idea what I’d gotten. But I couldn’t find it in me to care.
I followed the throng of girls into the locker room, grabbing my gym bag and waiting for a shower stall. Chloe’s fake giggle carried across the space, grating against my skin.
When the girl in front of me exited the shower stall, I stepped in. I quickly ditched my gym clothes and stepped under the spray. I turned it as cold as it would go, careful not to get my hair wet.
The curtain yanked back, and I gasped, whirling around and trying to cover myself. Mimi burst out laughing. “I told you. God, what happened to you? Those are disgusting,” she said, her gaze zeroing in on the scars on my side.
Chloe scrunched up her nose. “You really are a freak, aren’t you? Do you honestly think any of my guys would want to touch you with skin like that?” She gave an exaggerated shiver.
Grace grinned and held up her phone, snapping a photo. “Maybe we should show them to make sure they know how grateful they should be to have avoided being stuck with her.”
I lurched for the phone, and Grace shrieked. “Get away from me, freak.”
Hot, angry tears built in my eyes as I grabbed my towel, trying to cover myself.
“Thank God,” Chloe muttered. “Looking at your deformed body is enough to make me sick.”
It shouldn’t have hurt. Cruelty coming from such an ugly person was never a shock. But it was just one thing too much, and I could feel my mental walls beginning to fracture. Laughter carried through the girls in the locker room. Not all of them but enough.
The weight of it pressed in on me, and I couldn’t breathe.
Mimi laughed. “Oh, geez. Is she going to cry?”
I battled to keep the tears at bay, not wanting to give them an ounce of satisfaction, but I couldn’t get air into my lungs. My hands began to tingle, and dark spots danced in front of my vision. Panic grabbed hold, seizing my muscles to the point of pain.
The door crashed open, the banging sound making everyone jump. And then Trace was there.
“I’m going to kill you.”