Page 21 of Creatures of War

“Never. You’re my roommate, and I’m not the type to turn a blind eye.”

I sighed, feeling bad for snapping at her like that. She was right; she was just being a good person. There was no reason for me to ruin that for her. And it was good that she was here with me; otherwise, I’d feel lonely. We sat at our own table. As soon as we sat at the end, the people around us got up and moved away. I recognized them as my classmates, so they were more than aware of the rumors spreading about me.

“Well, isn’t it the dirty farmer whore?” Coral said, coming over, holding a tray with very little food on it.

My shoulders slumped as exhaustion hit me. “Coral. How are you?” I tried to force a smile, but it felt bitter.

“Why are you even here,” Coral asked me. “It’s clear all you care about is spreading your legs for the dragons. You aren’t even anyone. What are you? A farm girl from nowhere? A nobody?”

Her attack against me was quickly gaining the attention of the people around us. I balled my hands into fists my lap, trying to hide my anger and frustration. I didn’t even know her, and she was attacking me out of nowhere.

What did I even do to her?

“You should just give up and return home to your farmer family. Let your mommy and daddy spoil you there because you won’t find that here.”

“Stop it, Coral,” I whispered.

“I’m sorry. Did you say something to me?” Her expression darkened as she stepped closer. “Who do you think you are? Riding dragons before you’re mated. Only whores do that, and you put their bond with their mates in jeopardy. How selfish can you be?”

“I didn’t do anything to ruin any bond.” I stood from the table, unwilling to let her stand over me any longer like that. I could only bite my tongue for so long before enough was enough. “And I don’t even know you. Why are you in my face?”

Coral snorted. “I’m glad I don’t know you. Just go back home. You aren’t cut out to be here, and you’ll realize that when the dragons all deny you. No one wants something dirty like you. No one will ever want you.”

“That’s too far,” Aylia said in a shaky voice, also getting up from her seat and standing at my side.

Considering her penchant to avoid talking to strangers, this was impressive for her. And I appreciated her all the more for it.

Others around us all began whispering. Now the rumors about me were going to spread to all the riders, not just those in my class. Coral had just effectively alienated me from the entire academy with this one incident. There was no telling what kind of rumors were going to spread about me now.

“I heard you killed your dad,” Coral continued, a cruel smile breaking out. “That you talked him into bringing you here, and you sacrificed him to get here. Threw him to the Fae to get away.”

Pure rage slammed through me as Aylia gasped next to me. “Do not talk about my dad,” I warned.

“Or what?” Coral challenged.

That warmth that pulsed inside of me when the guys were hurting came back through me. It was like my body would momentarily burn and die down, only to burn again. I pulsed with that heat, as my anger bubbled up and I glared at Coral.

“Are you going to over and spread your legs and fuck some dragon to get them to come beat me up? Are you going to cry about how mean I am for calling you out? You’re a murderer, and you know it. You got your dad killed.”

“Shut up! You don’t understand anything,” I said, my voice loud enough for silence to fall all around us.

Everyone was watching us now.

“I understand enough to know if you didn’t beg your daddy to bring you here so you could chase after the dragons, then he’d still be alive.”

Something in me snapped. All reason fled as I screamed and charged forward. Coral shrieked in surprise as she realized I wasn’t going to stand there and take it anymore. Someone called out my name, but I was lost to the fury that was in me.

People kept telling me over and over to keep my mouth shut. To behave. Well fuck it. Fuck it all. All it had gotten me was separation from my mates, nightmares, and a bitch who wouldn’t leave me alone for some reason. And I was exhausted. So fricken exhausted. I was done.

I slammed into Coral, both of us tumbling over. Something wet hit my body, but I didn’t care as I grabbed onto Coral’s pretty curls and yanked. Hard. Others yelled out, and there was a chant going around, but I didn’t hear what they said as my heart thundered in my chest with all the adrenaline pumping through me.

She screamed again, lifting her knee and slamming it into my stomach. The pain was muted, but it was enough to make me lose my balance.

Coral rolled us, getting a grip on my own hair. I swung my elbow, hitting her at the side of her head. She jerked to the side, letting me go. I crawled on top of her and began throwing punches, letting out days of stress, frustration, and fear on the one bitch who dared to cause trouble with me.

Arms scooped up under my armpits and lifted me off Coral.

“Let me go!” I screamed.

---