CHAPTER FIVE: FOX
I’dseenthelittle purple headed spitfire days ago for the first time. I’d been in the quad, doing boring parlor tricks for the people who fancy themselves my entourage.
My gaze had snagged onto her, even as pain slammed into my body as I shifted into a raven, a form I don’t really care for. But as I flew into the sky, my eyes stayed riveted on her. And I’d continued to watch as she went toe to toe with Soskia.
A part of me had hoped she’d give Soskia a taste of her own medicine.
Though I haven't had many interactions with the ice princess myself, I’ve never liked her.
With Nerys, I’d decided I’d like her the moment I saw her.
But then she opened her mouth and threatened to bitch slap me.
And I realized I’d shot the gun a little too early.
The girl is just like Soskia. Gorgeous on the outside, ugly on the inside. And I’ve already got far too much ugliness of my own to deal with.
I clench my jaw, rubbing at my chest and the ever present pain that moves through it.
Fuck, when is this shit going to end?
I prop my elbows up on my knees and drop my head into my hands. I draw in a deep breath, trying to focus on my breathing the way my yogi is always telling me to. But the pain doesn’t shift, if anything it grows.
My head starts to throb, adding to the painful overload and I dig my nails into the side of my face, hoping the small pain can somehow distract me from the big pain.
“You really shouldn’t dig your nails into your skin, I like that face far too much after all.”
And the biggest pain of them all enters the room.
I scowl as I look up at Brynsyn leaning in my doorway. His dark hair is slicked back today, showing off the haughty, disturbingly attractive lines of his face. His bright green eyes move over my face before a slow grin spreads over his lips.
“Need me?” he asks, drifting closer to my bed. I don’t bother asking how he even got into my dorm at this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if the asshole has a key to everything I own.
“No,” I grunt out, pushing through the pain as I sit up.
He laughs, stopping a foot away from my bed. His lean body stretches and he reminds me of an evil cat as he raises his arms above his head. His amused eyes tilt inward slightly and his eyes darken to a charcoal gray before shifting back to green.
“I don’t need you here,” I tell him and it's partially the truth. I do need him and what he offers me, the way he takes away my pain. But I don’t need him today. I can go a couple of more days before I finally cave and give in.
“Sure you do,” he says, twirling around in a lazy circle that makes me dizzy. He stops his spin with a grand landing on my bed, sinking down on the edge next to me. His shoulder bumps against mine, hard and warm.
Finally, the only thing my body is feeling isn’t pain and I hate it.
“Go away, Brynsyn.”
“When I’m ready,” he drawls, leaning close enough that his warm breath fans over my cheek.
I shiver.
His laugh is silky as it leaves his throat and I pray that the gods just go ahead and strike both of us down now. Put me out of my misery, but make sure he comes with me.
“You’ve met the new girl,” he says, catching me off guard.
“It's a new school year, there’s a lot of new girls here, you’re going to have to be more specific.” But I have a feeling I know exactly who he’s talking about.
As much as I hate to admit it, Brynsyn and I are alike in a lot of ways. Starting with the fact that we’re both attracted to bright, loud, rash women. It’s part of why he’s always trying to talk me into a thressome with Soskia.
She’s the loudest, feistiest, most annoying woman I’ve ever met.