Page 98 of Burning Embers

Who’s going to be okay?

Me?

I want to scream to the world that I feel fine, but my lips don’t part. My tongue resembles a lead weight in my mouth.

Blink.

Blink.

Blink.

Blink.

I see Emery being restrained by four football players as he attempts to attack the Viper who tackled me. The blond twin’s helmet has been discarded, allowing me to see the red splotches on his cheeks and the scowl distorting his mouth.

Has his mouth always been that…strange-looking?

Blink.

I swear I see razor-sharp teeth for a fraction of a second as his jawline elongates. And is thathairon his neck? What the hell?

Blink.

Blink.

Blink.

I notice Ashton in the distance, talking to a frantic-looking Mr. Montgomery. Mr. Remington creeps up behind the pair and sticks something into Ashton’s neck. The boy immediately droops, but Mr. Montgomery catches him before he can hit the ground. The three hurry away before anyone can see them—not that anyone is paying attention. All eyes are on me.

Blink.

Jake’s there, squeezing my hand, promising me that I’ll be okay. Telling me that I scared the shit out of him. Warning me not to do that ever again because he felt his balls shrivel into raisins when he saw me get tackled.

Blink.

Hale and Lissa join him on my other side. Hale argues with the pale-faced woman—the school nurse, I believe—but I can’t hear what they’re saying.

Blink.

Blink.

Blink.

I’m being lifted on a stretcher. Something hard wraps around my neck. A brace? I want to tell them that I’m fine, that I don’t feel any pain, but words fail me.

Blink.

Ansel’s there, on the sidelines, his eyes shadowed, his lips curled downwards, his hands balled into fists at his sides. As if he feels my gaze on him, he turns in my direction. His frown deepens, and he immediately focuses on his feet.

Blink.

Blink.

I swear I see Grayson in the stands, watching me. A heady combination of terror and anger radiates from his eyes. The girlnext to him places a hand on his knee and says something to him that has his jaw clenching even tighter. He shifts slightly so her hand falls off of him.

Blink.

I allow myself to surrender to sleep.