Page 8 of Strength of Desire

“I didn’tcry outto him,” I said, indignant, but also embarrassed, because Sean was essentially correct. I hadn’t done anything to defend myself, and I hated that.

“Ah, right. My mistake. You just stood there, pissing your pants, too scared to even move.” Sean shook his head. “I don’t know why I’m surprised. It’s no different from how you act when therearen’tmoraghin around.”

“He’s been here, like, two weeks,” Ash said, exasperated. “And he didn’t just stand there. He stabbed the thing in the eye.”

I blinked, looking at Ash. I didwhatnow?

“For all the good it did,” Sean said.

“Right. And I suppose you came out of the womb knowing martial arts and everything?”

“At least he came out of someone’s womb,” Rekha said darkly.

“At least we can get through a simple sparring exercise without falling down,” Tim added.

“I’m doing my best,” I said, my heart thumping now, but I was as baffled as I was angry. Had I really stabbed the moragh? With what? And why didn’t I remember doing it?

Sean gave me another dismissive look, and anger surged, winning out over confusion. His words weren’t hurtful. Or, well, they were, but they were so close to the kinds of things my dad used to say that I was used to them.

But I was sick of Sean’s superiority complex. I might have…done things…with him, but that didn’t mean I was going to do them again. And I didn’t have to take this crap from him lying down.

You’ve taken plenty from him standing up, though,said the traitorous voice in the back of my mind. I kicked it, mentally.

“Ash is right,” I said. “I’m pretty new here, but I was under the impression being a Hunter was about fighting supernatural threats, not being a bully. Did I get that wrong? Is it actually just about making other people feel shitty so you can feel better?”

“Being a Hunter is about taking down whatever needs to be taken down. Hexers too,” Rekha said, her voice ice cold.

“I’m not bullying you, I’m describing reality as we all saw it,” Sean said. “Besides, I thought you liked it when someone put you in your place. Told you exactly how to take it.”

I inhaled sharply, and satisfaction spread across Sean’s face. I glanced at Ash, wondering if he’d understood the hidden meaning in Sean’s words, but he was still staring at Rekha. Tim was standing behind Sean, but the blank hostility on his face made me think the reference went over his head, too.

“Still, your little friend here has a point,” Sean continued. “You haven’t been here long. So let me reiterate my previous offer. I’m happy to help you out with whateverneedsyou might have. But I’ll wait until you beg me for it. I’m sure it won’t be long.”

With a nod, he continued up the stairs, Tim glued to his back like a shadow. Rekha gave Ash a final glare before turning to follow.

I sank back against the bannister as the trio disappeared around a corner at the top of the stairs. Christ, I really hadn’t been thinking when it came to Sean. It was pathetic enough that I’d hooked up with him, but I hadn’t realized I’d signed up to be humiliated by him every time I saw him afterwards.

“What were weactuallylaughing about?” I asked, trying to change the subject. “I can’t remember now.”

“Hmm?” Ash was still staring at the space on the stairs where Rekha had stood, his brow furrowed.

“Nevermind,” I said. “I just want to go collapse on my bed.”

“Fair enough,” Ash said. “Encounters with those three always make me want to punch a wall, but sleeping sounds like a good second option.”

We climbed the rest of the stairs in silence.

“I can’t believe I’m saying this,” Ash said as we turned down my hallway, “and I’ll deny it if you ever tell Felix, but people like them really are in the minority here. Most of the paranormal students are great, and even a good chunk of the Hexers and Hunters. Min and Keelan, for instance. Just promise you won’t leave or anything because of Sean’s little posse, okay?”

“Leave? Oh, don’t worry. I wasn’t thinking anything like that.”

According to the dean, I couldn’t leave even if I wanted to.

“Good. You just looked a little…wobbly…when Sean was spouting his usual idiocy.”

“Just worried I might have to listen to him even longer,” I said ruefully. “You’ve seen one bully, you’ve seen them all. It’s like, get a new routine, change it up a little. Shouldn’t they be concerned about their act getting stale?”

“Clearly they’re not dedicated enough to their craft,” Ash snorted. But when we reached my door, he asked soberly, “What did Sean mean, about his previous offer?

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