I blink, and Mom is lying there instead of Emilía. Grass becomes bedroom carpet. I’m a child again. Terrified. Alone. I squeeze my eyes shut. When I open them, Mom is gone, replaced by Emilía.
“Something attacked her,” I finally get out.
The words sound as weak as I feel.
I manage to tear my gaze away and look at the hunter, atAmund. He’s dressed head to toe in leather. Tall leather boots, leather pants, and leather armor covering his broad chest. Weapons hang from his hip, and a bow is slung around his back. He glares down at me with a severe expression.
“Someonedid,” he says.
The accusation in his voice is cutting.
How did I ever think he waskind?
“I can’t even go berserk,” I tell him.
Amund looks me over. “You don’t have to fully transform to be dangerous.”
I stare at my shaking hands. They’re covered in something dark and sticky. My nails are still round though. But claws can come out at any time. I didn’t mean to actually hurt Jason either. Helly’s words come back to me:And then, someday, it will happen again.
I came to Skallagrim because of a violent outburst.
Now I might’ve killed someone.
“I didn’t do this,” I say, still struggling to speak.
“Why else would you be covered in her blood?” Amund demands.
Shaking, I glance down at myself. Blood soaks my clothes, my hands. My eyes dart toward Emilía. I would never be capable of that… would I? I think of Jason’s bloody cheek. The chair in the principal’s office that I snapped with a strength that wasn’t my own.
Suddenly, I’m not so sure.
“I-I must have been checking her pulse,” I say, trying to convince us both.
He makes a small, disbelieving noise. “No one could survive an attack like this.”
I swallow hard. I know that firsthand.
Amund gives me a long look. Clearly, he doesn’t believe a word I’m saying. He’s already made up his mind that I did this. Even if I can’t remember what happened. Or what didn’t. My legs wobble, and I nearly collapse.
Before I can, he catches me around my waist.
My skin feels hot under his grip. Amund is ahunter.Am I going to end up like that dead wolf draped across his horse? He said they hunt berserkir who lose control… Would that apply to me if he thinksIkilled Emilía?
“Let go of me,” I say, trying to pull free.
His grip only tightens as he scowls at me. “I can’t do that.”
A low growl climbs my throat. There’s something animal inside me, whether I want to admit it or not. Showing that now will only endanger me. I can’t let what happened with Jason happen again. I don’t want to hurt anyone else.
If I haven’t already.
My chest rises and falls rapidly. Assault with a deadly weapon was bad enough. But murder? If Ikilledsomeone… maybe I really am just like my dad. Maybe it’s already too late for me. With a burst of strength, I rip out of Amund’s grip.
His eyes widen. He didn’t expect that, I guess.
Neither did I.
I shake my head so hard my hair sways. No, I can’t even let myself consider it. “I have to go back to my dorm.”
