Page 63 of Muse

By then, Baxley's head lolled backward, but Soren's left hand was knotted in the front of Baxley's outfit, holding him up while he punched him with his right hand.

When Soren raised his arm for a fourth time, Briar said, “That’s enough.”

Soren stared down at Baxley’s bloody face, and he let out a ragged breath before dropping him to the floor.

“Nothing to see here,” Wrenley announced and held up xer hands, shooing the crowd away. “There was a little misunderstanding, but it’s over now, and we should probably get a medic to check him out.” Xe kicked at Baxley’s leg gently with xer foot.

Briar ushered me toward the exit, and the crowd slowly parted for us.

“What was the misunderstanding about?” an onlooker asked.

“Well, the unconscious fool on the floor misunderstood basic decency and thought he could touch whoever he wanted, and he can’t,” Wrenley replied, and then xe gave Soren a shove with xer shoulder. “Let’s go.”

Briar kept her arm through mine, and we hurried to where the carriages would pick us up.

“I’m sorry about pulling you away from your fun night,” I apologized to Briar and Wrenly as soon as we stepped out into the night. “You can go back in if you want. I don’t want to ruin your night.”

"Oh, you never ruined anything." Briar wrapped her arms around me and hugged me. "Are you okay?" I nodded, but the way her eyebrows crinkled, I knew she'd seen the pain and confusion in my face.

“You know it’s never a good time until there is some bloodshed,” Wrenley said, and xe watched as Soren flagged down our carriage driver with new appreciation.

"Do you want us to come over?" Briar asked, and then her eyes bounced over to Soren. "Or do you want to come over to my house? Me, you, and Wren can have a slumber party like we used to."

"No, thank you." I shook my head. "I do want to rest, and I don't want to spoil any more fun. You and Wren should head back inside.”

“Are you sure?” Briar asked uncertainly.

I smiled tiredly and nodded. “Yes, I’m sure.”

“Let us know if you need anything,” Wrenley added. “And you were great tonight, Izzy.”

“Thanks.” I smiled as I watched my friends reluctantly head back into the palace.

Soren stood with his back to me, watching for the carriage, and I walked over to join him.

“How are you?” I asked.

“Fine.” He let out a rough sigh. “I’m sorry about making a scene like that.”

“Baxley is the one who made a scene,” I corrected him.

He looked down at me. “How are you?”

"I want to cry, and I want to laugh," I admitted. "But I did like watching you knock that smug look off his face."

He smirked. “Me, too.” His hand was flexing and unflexing at his side, and I noticed blood all across his knuckles from punching Baxley.

“You’re hurt!” I gasped.

He glanced down, then shook his head. “It’s mostly his.”

"I can see that your flesh is torn and puffy around his knuckles," I said. "Let me have a look."

I reached down to take his hand, and he let me. His hand felt hot in mine, and the familiar charge whenever we touched. I used one of the satin scarves to wipe away blood, and he was right that most of the blood was from Baxley.

I slowly wrapped the scarf around his hand, and then I bent over and kissed his hand over the satin.

“Thank you,” he murmured.

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