Page 45 of Queen of Wrath

“That's a good dog.” Diesel slapped the top of Jax’s skull as if to pet him. Then he stood up and left the house, leaving Jax behind, injured and shaking.

17

LEA

Isnuggled deeper into my mattress, pulling my potions book closer to my face.

My eyes glanced over the new potion recipes I had written.

This really is like second nature to me, after all, I smiled.

I’d thought I would have trouble picking up potion writing again, but it somehow felt as if I had never even stopped for a day, much less years.

“Now, if I'm right, I think this potion would… Yes, that would be very interesting to try out!” Happiness glowed out from the deepest part of my very being.

This was the modicum of peace I found in my new life. This was the only place where I didn't have to pretend I was someone else. Here I just had to be Lea. The girl who wanted to create potions more than anything else in the world.

My mind wandered back to the festival where I’d bumped into Emory Blake.

A mixture of confusing emotions poured into my chest.

I found myself both elated and terrified. I wanted to run down to the Sulking Selkie and demand more information from him, but it was too risky. I still had no idea who he was.

I don't even know if he plans to sell me out later…

Anxiety reared its ugly head, and suddenly I couldn't sit still anymore.

Maybe I'll just go for a walk.

I jumped out of bed and stretched my hands up to the ceiling.

Everything else in my mind fell away as soon as I thought I might have heard a knock on the front door.

I looked over my shoulder, standing quietly waiting to hear another knock.

Maybe I misheard it? It’s the middle of the night, after all?—

Sure enough, there was another knock at the door. It didn't sound panicked or worrisome in any way. In fact, it sounded rather weak.

Either way, I grabbed my exploding potions and tucked them into my sleeve before going down to the front door. I stood before it, staring at the thick yellow wood, as if I could see who was on the other side.

“Who’s there?”

I waited for only a moment, but it felt like so much longer. Finally, I got my response.

“It’s Jax…” he whispered through the door, almost as if he expected the neighbors to hear him.

“What in Lunaira’s good graces is he doing here?” I muttered to myself as I rushed to unlock the door, only to find him leaning against the frame…in tatters.

His clothes were torn to shreds and he was bathed in crimson.

My eyes widened the moment I realized what was going on. “Hell, Jax! What happened to you?”

He tried to stand up straight but ended up stumbling forward.

By instinct, I reached out and caught. “Come inside before somebody sees you!”

I managed to get him inside and slammed the door shut behind us. I tried to get him over to the couch, but he collapsed to the floor against it instead. “Who did this to you?”

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