CRESCENT BOUND

ra'

ademy. I kept my head down, my shoulders hunched, the silver medallion pressed flat against my chest ben

iled at every si

h on me as I passed, the whispering starting almost immediately. That's the new girl. The one who passed out. The one Kae

ment I touched the combination lock, a familiar

decided to

e same girls from yesterday, her eyes sharp and cruel. Lila's lips curved into a smile that didn't

ly, my voice barely

ll you have to say? After causing such a scene yesterday?

d I forced myself to s

you know what that looks like? D

head, my

't know what you'

one with the red nails-snorted. "Right. You w

, I

ing venom. "I don't care what your game is

I could smell her perfume, r

ere kids. And I won't let some pathetic li

I gasped, more out of surprise than pain-I had seen worse, much worse

e hurt

time you think about batting your eyelashes at him. Stay

dened, preda

regret ever setting

way her hand had twitched. She wanted to humiliate me, to break me, to prove to everyone that s

trouble. I'll stay away from him. I promis

e for pr

ain bit into my neck. I let out a cry, re

e, don

tle necklace? What's inside it, Elara? A pictu

, and I felt the

see, sh

e snapped. I had e

d, my voice steadier

she had caught a glimpse of something dangerous beneath the surface. But her

"Talking to me in that tone? You're not

ght overhead flick

n it ex

scream, stumbling backward, her hands flying to her face. Her friends shrie

pounding, my hand press

rified of

pale, a thin trickle of blood running down her cheek where a shard had cut her

ing finger at me. "This is y

cally, letting my face twist with fear. "I did

, lunging at me. "You

abbed her, hol

p! You're

against them, her eyes wil

oice cut thro

n here? Everyon

her away, still hurling accusations. The teacher-a tall, grayi

?" he asked,

head, still

ir. I'

ass. The bell

my bag and hurried down the hall, my hea

he, not hyperventilate. Calm down. Everyth

ng that someone was watc

ps quick and determined. I needed to disappear into

dead in

standing in front of his locker, his broad shoulders tense, his head bent

g, kept my head down, acted like I hadn't seen him. Th

me hesitate. Some

he turn

t in the em

frantic beating of my own heart. He looked at me with an intensity that turned

paper he was holding, crushing the edges. There was a stra

lowered to the floor, my

the whole way, burni

ng. Don't

ere, him who had carried me home when he had swor

class and pushed it open, slippin

r of chatter. I found an empty seat near the back and sli

ook up. I

his gaze on me, even

rtainty, that this was only