Page 5 of Monster's Heart

“Wow,” the little Witch whispered, her luminescent eyes wide as she took in what just happened.

No one else paid any attention, but that was to be expected. Fights were not unusual at Blackthorn. After all, when you put a group of powerful creatures in a limited space, most of whom had serious dominance issues, then yeah, it often happened that fisticuffs were the only resort.

“So,” I said, not even breathing heavily. “What did you want to ask me?”

CHAPTER 3

Amrin

Holy fuck.

Did that really just happen?

I wasn’t usually into violence, but something happened between the time that jerk Gunner called me fatty and the smexy blue-skinned giant handed the overgrown dog his ass that turned me into a fan. Maybe it was because I was tired of being the butt of lame jokes like that one.

Or maybe it was because I had never noticed all the muscles on Sten—of course I knew his name. He was in my class. I mean, I didn’t pay a lot of attention to Professor McEwan, but I would have to be dead to not notice him.

But honestly, why hadn’t I ever considered the cords of muscles beneath the black on black ensemble he usually wore around school?

He kept to himself. I knew that because, like I said, we were in the same class and never once did he speak to me, or anyone, for that matter. He sat in the back of the classroom, never taking part, apparently acing everything, shrouded from head to toe in all black, as if all that darkness could somehow mute the cerulean glow of his skin.

“So, what did you want to ask me?”

I stared at Sten with my mouth hung open like a fish out of water until he huffed impatiently and started to turn away. We were starting to garner attention, and it was my guess, he really didn’t like that. But I needed his help, so I followed after him.

“I’m failing Astronomy,” I said when I caught up with his stupid long strides.

Really?

Wasn’t it bad enough he was built like some sort of sexy blue MMA fighter?

Did he have to be tall as fuck, too?

I sighed and grabbed his elbow, causing him to stop and me to bump into him. His eyes zeroed in on where I was holding onto his black hoodie, and I gulped. Audibly.

“Don’t touch me. You can never touch me again, understand?” Sten grunted the words between clenched teeth, and I felt them like a clap across my soul.

“Sorry,” I muttered, shivering as I let him go. “Your legs are too long, and I can’t explain what I need help with if I can’t breathe because I have to run to keep up with you,” I explained, cheeks flaming.

I mean, how embarrassing was it to be the fat girl who just got called such by some Wolf Shifter asswipe in front of the whole school, only to prove him right because I couldn’t keep pace with this, this whatever he was. Gunner, that lewd asshole, had called him a Hobgoblin, and I didn’t know what that was, but for some reason it rang false to me.

Sten looked like more. He looked powerful. Radiant. But maybe that was just because of his unique coloring.

I touched my hair self-consciously, realizing belatedly we sort of matched. I’d dyed my hair a sort of turquoise color weeks ago, but it was faded now, more gray than blue. Anyway, I squirmed where I stood, waiting for him to say something to break the tension.

“I’m Amrin,” I said when I gave up on waiting for him to speak.

We’d started walking again, his pace slower, and I smiled to myself. I didn’t know why, but it felt like I’d won something, getting the giant, powerful male to slow down for me.

“Sten,” he muttered, looking around like he’d rather be anywhere but there.

“I know your name,” I said, pulling out the sheet of notes I made after reading through Professor McEwan’s ridiculous extra credit assignment.

“Okay, so, like I said, I am failing Astronomy, but really, I can’t. My parents, especially my mother, will be so upset if I have to redo the course,” I explained.

“So, get a tutor,” he replied, taking a turn that led to one of the many winding paths outside Blackthorn Castle.

“I’m trying, but you keep running away,” I mumbled and followed him.

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