Page 41 of A Drop of Anguish
Istand in front of the mirror in my bedroom in Minor Hall, trying to figure out how to hide the bite marks.
I slept in too late to make it to my first class unless I skipped a bath, which considering the dried blood all over my skin, seemed like an unwise choice. The healers bathed me in the infirmary, which was awkward but probably necessary. The bite on my neck is still a gaping open wound they’d covered in white gauze. The bite on my forearm isn’t much better but stings considerably less.
Now, I have about fifteen minutes to get dressed and make it to my second class.
The ache and burning from the stunning potion are completely gone now, though, so that’s a bonus. I’m still a little sluggish, but otherwise, it’s only the bites that bother me.
My left arm is basically useless since the worst of the two bites is right at the intersection of my shoulder and neck. I can’t move my arm without shooting pain. I shift my collar, trying to hide the gauze on my neck. I pop the collar up a little. I look like an idiot, but maybe it’s better than showcasing the bandage.
I’m supposed to pretend like this wasn’t a big deal. Supposed to let the rumors run their course and then fade away. But I’m not a shifter, and my wounds will take weeks to heal completely. And even then, I’m terrified the bite mark will remain for months or even years.If he was trying to claim me…
I swallow. If he was trying to claim me, then it was more than puncture wounds. There was magic in the bite, and it won’t fade for a very long time.
My stomach aches terribly. I suck in a deep breath and release it slowly, eyes closed. Maybe I should invest in some turtlenecks.
I run my fingers through my still-wet hair. I probably should have asked the healers to put it in a ponytail before I left the infirmary, but it’s too late for that now. Luckily my shoulder-length hair is generally easy-going. It’ll dry okay within an hour or so. Until then, it’ll just be stringy.
It is what it is.
I grab my backpack and sling it over my right shoulder. My left arm hangs limp, but with no pockets in the stupid uniform skirt, there isn’t much else for me to do with it. I can’t hold books or anything.
This is going to be awkward as hell, but here it goes.
#
I’d enjoyed the lack of attention on me for the last week, but of course, it’s now come back in full force. I do my best to ignore it today.
People eye me in each class, and the teachers do their best to pretend like every whisper isn’t about me.
By lunch, I’m already exhausted. Doing everything one-handed, and hiding the pain in every movement, takes a considerable amount of effort.
I’m in a bit of a daze when Janet stops me in the lobby outside of the lunchroom. I frown at her concerned expression. I saw her in the hall an hour ago and she seemed fine then, so what changed?
“Jarron is waiting for you.”
My breath hitches. “What do you mean?”
“I mean…” She looks over her shoulder. From here, we can only see the first couple tables through the open entrance and people are staring at us. “He’s apparently been looking for you between classes, and now he seems… agitated.”
My stomach sinks. Is Jarron concerned? Or angry with me?
“The whole school is on edge.”
That’s when I notice the girls watching us from the back table are shivering. That can’t be good.
I swallow and squeeze Janet’s arm. “You don’t have to walk in with me.”
“You sure?”
I nod. “If I make it to my seat without incident, come sit with me. It’s better if I talk to him alone anyway.” I don’t know what to expect, and she’s clearly nervous, so this makes the most sense.
“Good luck,” she whispers.
I adjust my collar, trying my best to cover the bandage, and then I stride into the lunchroom.
The whispering stops when I enter. All eyes turn to me, but I see only Jarron.
He’s leaning against the side of his usual table, hands in his pockets, head drooped down. He looks up at me through long lashes.
