“Is it true? Or is it one of your many lies?”
I look at him, dumbfounded. “When did I ever lie to you, Stanley? I think you’re the one who lied to me. You made me all sorts of promises that you didn’t keep.”
He snorts. “What promises?”
I swallow hard. “You said you’d never hurt me.”
“I guess you just have one of those faces, Briony.”
Once upon a time, I was scared of him, scared to provoke him. I’d have kept my words neutral, my face too, hoping he’d get bored and move on. I’m not that girl anymore. I have ways of defending myself. I have people who would do it for me.
“You really are a little shit. An evil, twisted one,” I say. “And a coward, Stanley.”
“Why am I a coward?”
“Why don’t you try picking on someone your own size?” I tell him.
“Those men won’t always be there to protect you, Briony,” he says. “One day you’ll be back in Slate with nobody and nothing.”
“I’m not going back to Slate,” I tell him. “Unlike you, Stanley. And I don’t need any man to protect me.”
“Because you have a dragon,” he says, snorting with laughter.
I’m severely tempted to blast him with my magic and show him just how powerful I am now – to teach him a lesson, to hurt him like he hurt me so many times. But he’s not worth it. He’s not worth my time or my attention. And besides, I did promise Dray I wouldn’t get into any trouble.
“Leave me alone, Stanley. I’ve got nothing more to say to you.”
And then I push past him, half expecting him to hit me for it. He would have, in days gone by. But I’m right about him, he is a coward. He knows if he lays one little finger on me, the Princes will skin him alive and serve his guts to the crows out on the academy field. He dare not risk that.
Instead, he just steps back and whispers as I pass him by, “Slut.”
I ignore him. His words can no longer hurt me.
But then he adds, under his breath, in a whisper, “I know about you and the professor.”
I freeze. I can’t help myself. And it’s enough. He steps closer, right up behind me, lowering his mouth to my ear.
“I know you’re fucking him.”
“You don’t know anything,” I say. “You’re deluded.”
“Briony,” he says, his hand coming to rest on my hip. “I saw you together in the Great Hall. I heard you.”
“You’re deluded, Stanley – making up sexual fantasies to feed your sick brain.”
He digs his fingers into my skin so hard it hurts, and I know it’ll bruise.
“What would happen if I told them?” he says.
“Who exactly would you tell? The deputy headmistress? She’s gone.”
“Yeah,” he says, “but there’s someone new coming. Someone new has been appointed in charge. Haven’t you heard? They’re arriving tomorrow. I wonder what would happen if they knew about you and the professor.”
“Nothing,” I say. “Nothing would happen, because nothing is happening.”
“Maybe you should start being a bit nicer to me, Briony,” he says, “or maybe I’ll be tempted to spill your secret.”
“Don’t mess with me, Stanley,” I hiss. “I’m not a scared little girl anymore, and I could hurt you. I could hurt you real bad.”
