Page 56 of Laid Bare

Maybe it’s time to change that. Starting now.

My anger is a tangible thing,almost as real and living as Aero is.

But I don’t know who it’s directed at more. The flying rock bird, the assholes in class, or at myself for being in this position.

The brothers are silent protectors at my back, doing what they do best. But their presence doesn’t stop the torrent of emotions raging through my veins.

My surroundings are as chaotic as my mind with everyone rushing back and forth, trying to stem any more information leaking outside of the academy walls. Fat chance of that happening, though. If it has to do with me, it’ll be the spotlight of the evening news, with false stories coming from every angle. None of them will be an iota of the truth, but that won’t matter.

Only the repercussions I’ll face for what’s been done.

Not that Jasper said any of that. But with Cassian, my backer, calling him while we were in his office and setting a meeting in his own, I know I’m in trouble.

I barely hear one of the demons mutter something about twenty minutes before I’m slamming my door shut, locking it for good measure. Not that it’ll stop someone who is desperate to come inside, but it’s the thought that counts.

I know I should stop and call my mates. Relay to them the whole situation so they get it straight from me, but the blood and dirt clinging to my skin makes my stomach churn with nausea. Most of the blood is mine, I’m well aware of that, but it’s the blood belonging to the others that makes bile surge in my throat.

My clothes fall to the floor, piece by piece, step by step, my panties the last to go before I make it to my bathroom. A flick of my finger has the water running, the heat curling around my trembling form.

The hot water hitting a particularly deep cut on my shoulder has a hiss escaping my lips, but I relish in the burn, knowing I’m alive. That I survived yet another occurrence of someone taking my life into their own hands.

Because, I know, without a shadow of a doubt, those students—my peers—would have killed me without a second thought. There’s no other explanation as to why they jumped in except for that.

My mind blanks as I mechanically go through the motions, cleansing myself of the remnants of combat class. But no soap or otherwise will be able to wash away the stain on my very soul.

When I’m as clean as I’ll get, I get out, sending my magic to the cloud rune on my belly. The slight burn that always accompanies using my runes warms me from the inside out as air whips around me, uncontrolled. It’s a maelstrom of chaos clearly feeding off the residual anger no water will ever wash away.

In no time, my skin is dry, my hair lush and falling around my shoulders in soft waves. But the only thing the cleanliness did for me is highlight the injuries I sustained. My eyes are blackened and swollen, there’s a cut on the bridge of my nose, and my lip is split. And that’s only my face. The rest of me is decorated in bruises, each one darkening further as the seconds tick by.

Gah. Just looking at myself in the mirror makes me sick. Like, what the fuck did I do to deserve any of this? It’s prejudice at its finest, something I thought the world left behind long, long ago. But no. It’s alive and fucking well in the supernatural world, and I’m the lonely outcast it’s all directed at.

Knowing there’s no time to dwell on the subject, I retreat to my closet, throwing on a red sports bra and matching boy shorts. Next comes black joggers, and there, hanging amongst my clothes, is another hoodie that I know damn well isn’t one of mine. The metallic and parchment scent infused in the fibers reminds me of my sweet vampire, Axel.

I still question how the hell those two sneak these into my closet without me knowing, but I’ll take what I can get. It’s a comfort I desperately need right now, anyways.

Like Luka’s hoodie, this one also has a pun written across the chest that puts a smile on my face.I’m just here for the fang-tastic vibes. It’s not something I could ever see him wearing out in public like Luka, but this must be something he lounged around in at home. And to think, he originally struck me as a silk-wearing kind of man when we first met.

Just thinking of my mates reminds me that I need to call them before I’m taken to Councilman Cassian’s office. After slipping on my shoes, I go in search of my bag, finding it in its usual spot next to the door. Somehow, I dropped it there, not even realizing I did.

My phone buzzes in my hand, numerous messages and missed calls lining the screen. I don’t even have a chance to check them before a call comes through, and I answer it immediately, knowing it’s one or both of them.

“Hello.”

“Oh thank the gods. Goddess, I’ve been hearing a lot of shit going around the academy, but no one seems to know for sure what’s truth and what’s not. Jasper has us doing some bullshit, so I can’t get away to come see you. Not yet anyway. What the hell happened?”

Just hearing his voice soothes the battered part of my soul.

I open my mouth to reply, but someone else beats me to it.

“Cor meum, you can’t send a text like you did and not answer for so long. You’ve had me worried out of my damn mind. I’m already halfway to Stonewell.”

Tears well up in my eyes at the genuine concern in both of my mates’ tones.

“I’m okay…ish. You guys know I had the match in combat class. Well, people were pissed I was beating my opponent, and they decided to jump into the fight.” There’s a sharp intake of breath and an answering hiss. “Things got out of hand, which is putting it mildly. Bane killed one of them, and now we’re being summoned to Cassian’s office.”

A screech of tires sounds loud in my ears, followed by the revving of an engine. “When do you leave?”

“As soon as Bane and Zane get here.”

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