Page 205 of Forbidden Lessons

Thump.

My heart?

The music?

No.

I swing my head around, knowing, feeling him close.

Kai is on top of Ezra. Straddling him.

Elbow rising, falling.

Rising. Falling.

As he beats his brother’s face in.

Blood.

Fucking.

Everywhere.

I scream, surge forward, but I can’t touch him before I’m dragged away.

“No, stop, stop, Haven, no!” Melissa’s snatching me, her nails digging into my arm as she pulls me over the DJ stand. “Come on!”

Shouting. Yelling. A few screams.

But we leave it all behind, and then it’s just leaves snapping as we race through the foliage. Lights blur in my vision, because I’m crying?—

it’s raining

—and I can’t stop sobbing?—

yelling

—and then I’m flat on my face on the lawn, my fingers digging into the grass as I try to haul breath into burning lungs.

Melissa falls down on her knees beside me, grabbing my arms. “Come on, get up. We’re almost there.”

I shake her off, roll onto my back. Cover my face with my hands.

Can’t stop crying?—

screaming

—as the rain lashes my face.

“What the fuck is going on here?”

I surface from the depths of my ocean mind at the sound of Professor Rooke’s voice. Strong hands grip my wrists, drag my hands away from my contorting face.

“What did you give her?”

“Molly. She was fine, but then, fuck, he?—”

My fingers brush against a strong jaw that clenches at my touch.

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