“No problem,” I say, heading straight toward Isaac.
I throw my first punch.
My fist collides with the shield, sending pain shooting up my arm. “Ow, fuck.”
Isaac shakes his head. “Don’t tuck your thumb in, or you’ll break it with your strength.”
I adjust my grip a bit before punching the shield again.
“Better,” Isaac says.
My fists fly, building more strength with each blow. I can feel the force of the impact traveling through me up to my teeth, but I don’t stop. I keep punching. Keep hitting. Now that I’ve started, I can’t stop. My rage consumes me as I think of Isaac. Of Dad.
A scream escapes me as I lash out.
My claws slice through the shield.
Wooden pieces burst apart, clattering to the floor.
Isaac is wide-eyed with surprise. “Damn.”
I look down at my shaking hands. My claws are still out, long and pale and sharp. I lost control and let my anger get the better of me. Again. Something I swore I wouldn’t do. The Unity Dance is eleven days away, and I still have no control. I could’ve seriously injured Isaac. Or worse.
Gunnar joins us, taking in the scene.
Breathing hard, I brace myself, already knowing I failed today’s lesson.
Instead, he grins. “So you do have claws after all. Good. You’ll need them to survive here.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWOAMUND
Edith is late. Dressed in regular clothes instead of my leathers, I grabbed us a booth in one of the far corners of the dining hall, hoping no one will pay us any attention. The tables around me are full, and more students keep streaming in.She’ll be here soon,I tell myself, drumming my fingers on the table.
Did something happen in her class? This too-small booth is uncomfortable, but it’s the most secluded spot I could find. Anxiety is getting the best of me. I’m ready to go searching for her when Edith walks in.
She’s wearing a simple black sweater, skirt, and sneakers. I take a moment to appreciate the sight of her from this distance, noticing how her clothes hug every curve. I catch myself quickly. I can’t be thinking thoughts like that. Especially not about the girl Nils clearly likes.
Edith searches the dining hall until she finds me.
A smile spreads across her face as she hurries over and slides into the opposite side of the booth.
“It was him,” she says.
“Shhh,” I tell her, keeping my voice low and casting a quick glanceto the other students in nearby booths. “No need to shout. We don’t want to draw attention to ourselves.”
“Sorry,” she says quickly, dropping her voice. “But I saw it. Right here.” She rolls up her sleeve before tracing a finger down her forearm. “Right where you said it would be.”
I stare at her arm and how soft her skin looks.
Fighting the urge to feel her myself, I try to concentrate and force myself to nod. “That is consistent with where I attacked him.”
“I tried telling my instructor, but he wouldn’t listen to me.” Edith sags back against the booth with a sigh. “Even though someone else could get hurt.”
My gaze lowers to her lips. Her wound is almost healed now, though a swollen scar traces a delicate line through her upper lip where the other curve should be. It reminds me of a broken recurve bow.
“Maybe I should go to Helga,” Edith adds.
Realizing she’s staring at me impatiently, I clear my throat. “I will.”
