“She had a fractured jaw and cheekbone, and her skull was cracked in two places,” said a soft female voice – my healer was a witch. “I’ve mostly fixed her up, but she needs bed rest for a few hours or so. Just to give her body time for any additional healing she needs.”
My eyes flew open and I pulled myself up. Maximus was on one side of me and Braxton on the other. They each placed a hand under my arm and lifted me to my feet. I was facing a tall, slender red-haired woman. She had dark eyes that were scanning my face. She looked familiar but I couldn’t remember her name.
“Thank you…”
“Grace,” she mumbled. “My name is Grace.”
Ahhh, right, now I remembered. When I’d been about fourteen, Grace had declared her everlasting love for Tyson, despite the fact she was a few years older. He’d been a typical immature boy and sent me over to let her down gently. Of course I’d had about as much tact as a troll or a tree, and after my brief stumbling explanation she’d fled in tears.
“Thank you, Grace,” I tried again. “I really appreciate you healing me.”
She smiled. It was genuine and her entire face turned from gamine sweetness to ethereal beauty. She had grown into her lanky looks. “You’re welcome. If you ever need any help, Jessa, please don’t hesitate to call me.”
As she stood, her eyes flicked across to Tyson in a movement almost too fast for me to track. I couldn’t read her expression, but she didn’t seem to be viewing him in the same romantic light of long ago. She looked a little pissed actually.
As Grace marched away, Tyson’s eyes followed her. The wizard looked a little shell-shocked; some gold was bleeding into his eyes. How strange was it that we hadn’t seen Grace for almost ten years? I wondered if she’d left Stratford. I was distracted from my thoughts as the rest of the class moved back into position.
Lincoln was talking to the Compasses. “Take Jessa home and put her to bed and make sure she stays there.” Everyone knew they were my pack. “I’ll see you all in the next class. I’ll inform her father of what happened and he can decide on the punishment for Melly. He’s suffering right now, but I doubt that will be enough for Jonathon.”
I’d forgotten about that coward-ass piece of shit – punching me while my back was turned. Scumbag. I pushed through the crowd to find he’d been strung up from one of the huge rafters by thick, heavy cord. His head was about two feet off the ground as he struggled upside down. Judging from the bruises already forming on his face, and the cut dripping blood onto the floor, he’d been ‘knocked’ a few times during detainment. I pushed a few more supernaturals aside, and bending over I got reasonably close to his face. Despite his predicament, he still sneered at me.
“Always so brave when you’ve got the quads watching your back.” His teeth were a little bloodstained. He spat onto the floor. “You disgust me.”
Reaching out, I grabbed his chin, hard, squeezing it slowly between my fingers and palm, letting my shifter strength flow along my arm. His eyes widened, but he didn’t make another sound. “You come near me again, Melly, and I will fucking take you apart piece by piece.” I’d already started planning it. “I don’t need the Compasses to destroy you, I have every weapon already at my fingertips. You live now only on my generosity. An attack like that, on a council leader’s daughter … Jonathon is going to want your head.” I shoved him hard, he swung out away from me. “And I might just let him have it.”
As he swung back, I spun and kicked out. My shin cracked him in the temple, knocking him out cold. “Tell my father to let him go with a warning this time,” I said to Lincoln, knowing he’d chat with Jonathon first. If Melly came at me again I’d be the one to kill him.
Braxton stopped me with a hand on my right biceps. “Jessa, he needs to die.” I shook him off. “He fucking hit you while your back was turned. He’s a coward, and his weakness is only going to hurt Stratford in the long run.”
I could see by the tight jaw, clenched fists, and raging fury in his eyes that Braxton cared nothing for the town. He was pissed that I’d gotten hurt. He was always my sweet protector. But I was a big girl and could look after myself.
“I have a feeling he won’t come after me again.” I shrugged. “Lesson learned.” Okay, I might have been overly optimistic, but I owed the guy one last chance.
Melly groaned as he woke from his little nap.
“If he steps within ten feet of you again, he’s dead.” Braxton’s voice had no inflection at all. He was serious. And scary. “No more chances.”
Mischa followed us as we left the room. The six of us were the sole focus of attention from the others, but as the doors slammed shut behind us I could hear the noise inside start up again. Gossip was already flying around.
Braxton was staring at the ground as we walked, his fists still clenched, and I swear small rumbles were shaking his chest, although I couldn’t really hear anything.