I could’ve shaken that off, if he hadn’t then grabbed me in a bid to stop us both from falling.
The contact had me gasping as it triggered me, an awful flash breaking through.
“Revel in your humiliation as you take pleasure in the touch of a monster.”
I slapped my hand to my head, trying to fight through it.
“Are you okay? I’m so sorry,” I heard the guy saying.
“Fine,” I muttered, forcing my feet forward.
In my discombobulated state, I smacked into a tree.
“Now, then, break for me, whore.”
“Stop! Get away!” I found myself yelling.
It must’ve been so loud, because all eyes were suddenly on me.
It just made it all worse and it felt like the proverbial walls were closing in. I fought to draw in an unencumbered breathand I started panting, sweating too. My steps were shaking and uncoordinated.
In my peripheral vision, I saw some students step forward to come to my aid.
No. No. No.
Another flash hit me.
“You. Are. Mine. Fucking act like it!”
“Get back!” a familiar voice rang out, cutting through it. “And stop looking! There’s nothing to see here.”
In the next moment, somebody stepped up close, blocking out everything and everyone.
And then I was looking up into the face of Isabella Ravenfall.
Surprisingly, kind eyes met mine. “It’s okay, you’re okay. You’re safe at the Academy.”
I stared out at her, not understanding what was happening.
“Just a few more steps forward and we’ll be inside,” she told me, covering me as I managed it.
Without touching me, she guided me off to the side in a darkened area away from the main corridor.
I sank against the wall, fighting to regain my composure.
She waited there, guarding me, and not saying anything, staving off everyone and everything.
“You’re safe,” she kept saying. “No one’s gonna hurt you here.”
I was vaguely aware of her typing on her phone as she kept watch and waited for me to calm down and come back to myself.
“Thank you,” I finally managed, and she swung her head to me.
“No problem.”
“Why… why did you help me?”
“Because you needed it.” Before I could ask more, she told me, “I just texted Orpheus. He’ll be here in a moment.”