Page 15 of Sloth
Pain in her face, so sharp, she could barely draw breath.
Every muscle locked rigid. Suffering became her world and all she could think was,That’s not right. Why am I hurting when he was kicked? Then the pain became so intense, she couldn’t think.
Max didn’t get the memo.
He reset and came at her again. He grappled. Without control of her body, she went down hard, screaming from the blinding torment emanating from her nose to hammer behind her eyes and temples.
This isn’t right.
Something is wrong.
Max wrestled her down with a joked, “Looks like I’m on top.”
She curled into a ball, clutching her head. “Hurts.”
“Sloan?”
Hurts so bad.Like someone reached into her brain and squeezed with an iron fist. Even her nose screamed in pain. “Oh my God, it hurts.”
The weight on top of her suddenly disappeared, and a crash shook the room.
“What the fuck did you do to her?” Wyatt bellowed.
Sounds. Fists. Crashes. All in her periphery, beyond the veil of pain blinding her.
Wyatt was hurting Max.
“Stop,” she tried to say. “It’s not his fault.”
Her pain had come before Max had hit her.
It came… when she touched him for the first time. Whenshehithim.
She gasped. What could that mean? What…
Whimpering, she peeled her eyes open. Wyatt had Max checked against the wall, fists at his collar… and Max, he was horrified. Wide brown eyes full of regret and hurt and worry speared her way.
“I didn’t…” he said, blood dripping from his nose. Had she made him bleed?
“Not his fault,” she grit out. The pain was subsiding. “It’s not his hit that caused my pain.”
How could it be?
Wyatt shoved away from Max and came to Sloan. “Then why is your nose bleeding?”
“I’m what?” A nose wipe came away wet. Red liquid stained her fingers. “I’m bleeding.”
Why was she bleeding?
Max stepped toward Sloan. Wyatt gave a warning growl.
“Pipe down, Wyatt. It’s not his—” she hissed as pain stabbed her brain again and she clutched her head. “I’ve got a headache. That’s all.” Headache, and nose ache. Weird.
The sound of feet pounding down the hall got louder. It reverberated in her head. She winced. Mary rushed inside, Flint not far behind her. Now everyone knew. Everyone knew she couldn’t handle herself against an ordinary human.
“What happened?”
“Jeez, you’re all acting like I’m a baby. I’m fine.” Fuck, this was embarrassing.
