"I'm the one with the record," I answer. "And history of fighting."
"He doesn't?"
I shrug. "He's not a nice guy. But I doubt there's a record of it."
"Right, because he goes to school here."
"Not here. Printz-Lee."
"Even worse." Brendan is quiet for a second. "What if it remains unsolved?"
"Why should he get away with it?" Anger ignites my words.
Brendan studies me a second, like he's seeing something he hadn't noticed before. "Is justice that important to you?"
"She didn't deserve what happened. And if she doesn't make it ..." My jaw flexes as the rage overtakes the other emotions. "Justice won't be enough."
"I take it you're not afraid of him?"
"Hell no. He's an asshat. But he's also unpredictable. He won't care who he has to hurt to protect himself. And I can't let that happen." I realize I've shared too much, with a guy I'm still not convinced I can trust, and stop myself from revealing more. I need to get away from him. I rise from the floor. "I'm going back to my room."
"Want some company?" Brendan winks.
I groan in exasperation. "Get over yourself." I begin to walk away, but then I spin back around. I didn't want to have to do this, but I can't think of a way to avoid it. "Can you ask Lance to come to my room?"
Brendan laughs in disbelief. "Are you serious?"
I glower back.
"Fine," he answers before pushing open the door to Ashton's room.
A few minutes later, there's a knock, and when I open it, Lance is leaning against the doorframe wearing a dopey grin. "You wanted me?"
I roll my eyes. "Get in here." He comes in and shuts the door behind him. "I need your help."
"With what?" he asks, plopping down on the beanbag.
"I need to talk to your brother."
Concealed by the cloak, he remained hidden from the sorceress's view. For if she has known of the beast within the cavernous shadows she would never have left her most precious Thaylina alone the evening she went into town. Once the sorceress was out of sight, the wolf emerged. Licking his sharp teeth, he looked up at the girl standing in the tower's window.
It only takes me forty-five minutes to find my way to the Great Hall for breakfast. Everyone else chose to sleep in. On my way back, my phone beeps.
When I accept the call, I'm startled by an older woman with narrowed eyes and dark hair pulled back in a severe bun. I move the phone away, not wanting her to be that close to me even if she's only on a screen.
"Lana Peri, I'm Mrs. Seyer, your dorm monitor." Before I can say anything in return, she continues, "You have a guest waiting for you in the administration building. Don't keep him waiting."
Then she's gone. Guest?
Must be Niall.
I stop myself from spinning around and getting completely disoriented. I'm facing the girls' dorm. The administration building is directly behind me. So I carefully pivot to face it. Now ... to get there from here. I weave in and out of corridors of hedges and several gardens, 'round a pond and through the birch forest, finally reaching the wisteria tunnel. I'm pretty fricken proud of myself by the time I enter.
And run right into Brendan exiting a door next to the entrance.
"Hi," I gasp, his hands holding my upper arms to stabilize me.
"Can't resist, can you?" He grins lazily, his cockiness emanating like pheromones.