Chapter 43 UNEXPECTED GRIEVANCES
MERRIELYNN.
Finishing my first class of the day was supposed to feel like a small victory, but it didn’t.
Hugging my books to my chest, I walked through the crowded hallway, trying to ignore the stares. For the past three days, I’d been sitting at the elites’ table during lunch, and it felt like the whole school had something to say about it.
This wasn’t new to me.
Gossip always found its way to me, and Cormac’s deal only made it worse.
In exchange for the original moonstone from the palace, all I had to do was sit at his table for five days.
Just two more to go, I reminded myself. Then this chapter of my life could finally end.
I thought I could handle the attention. I’d expected the stares and whispers.
But even now, it felt like I was under a microscope, and I hated it. Funny, considering how often I was the center of conversation around here. You’d think I’d be used to it by now, but I wasn’t.
I slowed my steps, idling in the hallway before my next class.
I didn’t want to rush. The thought of being in a crowded classroom made me uneasy. But as I turned a corner, I bumped into someone—hard.
Looking up, I froze. Juniper.
Her piercing glare made my stomach drop. I swallowed, but my heart was racing. I knew this confrontation was coming. After all, I’d made her ex-boyfriend's lap my new home for the past three days.
Juniper had warned me weeks ago to stay away from him. Even made it physical.
And now? I could see it in her eyes. She wasn’t here to talk.
“Merrielynn,” she said, her voice sharp.
I didn’t respond. My throat felt tight, but I wasn’t afraid.
Before I could say anything, Juniper grabbed my arm and shoved me toward the nearest door. I stumbled into a cleaning closet, slamming against the wall as she followed me inside and kicked the door shut.
“I gave you a warning,” Juniper hissed, her face inches from mine.
I didn’t flinch. My voice was steady as I replied, “Boo." I muttered, bored. "Guess I didn't listen.”
Her smirk was quick, almost amused, before her expression hardened again.
Without another word, she raised her hand and slapped me. The sting spread across my cheek, and for a moment, I stood there, stunned.
Then, anger took over.
I turned back to her and swung my own hand, aiming for her face. But Juniper was faster. She caught my wrist mid-swing, twisted it, and with one sudden motion, dislocated my elbow.
A scream tore from my throat as I dropped to the floor, clutching my arm. The pain was blinding, white-hot, and I could barely think.
Juniper leaned over me, her voice cold. “Stay down,” she snarled, then stood up and left, slamming the door behind her.
I gasped for air, tears streaming down my face as I shuffled back against the wall. My elbow throbbed horribly, and when I looked down, I almost vomited. The bone was sticking out, jagged and wrong, and blood was pooling on the floor around me.
Bile rose in my throat, but I forced myself to focus on breathing. In and out. In and out. I couldn’t pass out. I had to stay awake, even as the pain threatened to drag me under.
Then I heard a voice.
“Where’s all this blood coming from?”
The doorknob turned, and light flooded the closet as the door swung open. Tobias stood there, his expression shifting from confusion to horror as his eyes landed on me.
“Mere!” he exclaimed, rushing to kneel beside me. “What the hell happened?”
I couldn’t answer. My voice was trapped somewhere between a sob and a gasp.
Tobias crouched closer, his hands hovering as he assessed the situation. “Okay, okay. It’s bad, but I’ve got you,” he said, more to himself than to me.
His gaze landed on my arm, and he winced. “Your elbow’s dislocated. I need to fix it before we move you.”
“No,” I croaked, shaking my head. The idea of him touching it made my stomach churn.
“Mere, listen to me,” Tobias said firmly, his voice steady. “If I don’t do this now, it’ll hurt even worse later. Take a deep breath. This is going to suck, but you’ll get through it.”
I didn’t want to trust him, but what choice did I have? I nodded, squeezing my eyes shut as I braced myself.
“On three,” Tobias said. “One… two—”
He didn’t wait for three. His hands gripped my arm, and with a sharp tug, he popped my elbow back into place.
A scream tore from my throat as fiery pain shot through me, but it was over in seconds. The relief was immediate, even if the ache remained.
“Good job,” Tobias said, his tone softer now. “You’re okay. Just breathe.”
I let out a shaky breath, leaning my head back against the wall. “It hurts,” I whispered.
“I know,” he said, gently helping me to my feet. His arms were strong and steady as he lifted me, careful not to jostle my injured arm. “But we need to get you to the infirmary. You’ve lost a lot of blood.”
I clung to him, too weak to protest as he carried me out of the closet and into the hallway. My vision blurred, the edges darkening with every step he took.
“Tobias,” I murmured, my voice barely audible. “Thank you.”
“You’re going to be fine,” he said, his tone full of determination. “Just stay with me.”
I wanted to.
I wanted to stay awake, to tell him everything, but the pain and exhaustion were too much.
As the world tilted and went black, I let myself trust that Tobias would get me where I needed to go.