Malice

And Dylan. He’s doing absolutely nothing to stop her. Nobody’s even paying attention to his lesson anymore, but he’s continuing to teach like nothing’s wrong. What a complete and total asshole. I wish Headmaster Aldridge would walk by right now to see this. I know he’s no fan of mine right now—and he’s warned me what will happen if I step one foot out of line—but he wouldn’t let this shit slide.

Dylan would be out on his ass before the class ends.

I sink lower and lower into my seat, biting my tongue so I won’t get expelled and wishing I could just disappear. Class is supposed to be a safe place, like Loni said at breakfast earlier. I’m not supposed to have to put up with bullshit here. I’m supposed to be protected by the teacher’s presence.

Except the teacher in question hates me and wants to see me suffer.

“Is it hot in here?” Laurel chuckles. “Did someone give the baby-killing skank a match?”

Laughter echoes around the room, and Dylan keeps his back to us. Fucking coward.

This is the worst humiliation I’ve ever experienced. Worse than the auditorium. It’s not Laurel’s taunting that’s the most degrading part, however. She’s only doing what she always does. It’s the fact that Dylan’s letting her get away with it. The adult in the room is making it crystal clear that I’m free game in his class.

He’s not going to lift a finger to defend me.

Tears sting my eyes, but I fight to keep them from falling. If this is what this semester is going to be like—having to let these people harass me because Aldridge will expel me the moment I fight back—I don’t think I can do it. I don’t think I can make it until the end. Not when I can’t escape this shit.

“Hey, Porter! Why the fuck is my tuition payment going to someone who doesn’t do his goddamn job?”

The class goes completely silent. I turn, mouth ajar, and gawk at Liam, who’s tapping his pen on the edge of his desk and glaring pure venom at Dylan. Laurel’s eyes are wide with shock, and Gabe is shaking his red head with an amused smirk.

Saint’s features are stone cold, and he’s watching Liam through tight eyes.

I peek toward Dylan, who’s gone completely stiff. After a long pause where I can barely breathe, he gradually turns to face us for the first time since class started.

His eyes lock on Liam, and he speaks in a steely voice.

“Excuse me?”