The streets were alive with the sound of cheerful music and drunken laughter spilling out from the pubs and houses celebrating the new year like they didn’t have a care in the world.
Maybe they didn’t.
I wasn’t in the mood for crowds, so I kept to the quieter paths, letting the hum of the city buzz around me without getting too close.
Then I turned a corner and saw them.
A group of guys and girls, their energy sharp with cruelty, had backed a small woman into the alley. Her wild, curly hair framed a face filled with fear as they closed in, voices low but dripping with threat.
My blood ran hot.
I hated bullies. Didn’t matter who they were, didn’t matter what their excuse was—I despised cowards who thrived on making others feel powerless.
And tonight? I was in no mood to let them get away with it. I hadn’t brought my daggers stupidly, and no matter how pissed I was, I couldn’t use my enchanted one.
If it comes down to it and they don’t leave, I’ll have to use magic, which is going to hurt like a bitch.
I stormed over, catching the tail end of their taunts just before one of them pushed her.
“Fucking mute,” the guy sneered, standing too close, his lips curling in amusement. Then he licked his lips, “Would you scream if I fucked you? Or would you be mute then, too?”
Absolute scumbag.
He reached over, fingers aiming for her wild curls; her face was wet from her tears. I barely flicked my head before he was gone.
Lifting him clean off his feet, his body slamming into the brick wall behind us with a sickening crack before he crumpled to the ground, groaning.
The rest of them spun around, gazes snapping to me, but I was already pushing my way through them, stepping in front of her.
I could feel my anger swirling inside me, and in this moment, I didn’t care how much I was hurting, or how exhausted I was—these idiots weren’t going to lay another hand on her.
“You have ten seconds to leave, or you’ll end up with a concussion like your friend over there. “
Some of them hesitated, eyes darting to the guy on the ground. A few had the sense to run, bolting into the night. But not all of them. Two girls stayed in their spot, along with two other guys.
“One against four?” one laughed, rolling his shoulders, clearly thinking he had the upper hand. Then the others joined in with their mock laughter.
“She won’t help you, she’s a mute and useless.”
Ah. So that was it. They were bullying her because she either didn’t speak or didn't have magic. Pathetic.
“Wow,” I said flatly, stepping forward. “Real tough, A group of you ganging up on someone who can’t even defend herself.”
The idiot with the bright, bleach-blonde hair swaggered forward like he thought he was some divine gift wrapped in arrogance and very bad cologne. Classic pretty boy with zero brains, all ego.
“Keep your mouth shut and run along, unless you want a beating too.”
I smiled sweetly, but it was anything but.
“Oh, please, go ahead. Let’s see if you can back that threat up.”
I could feel the thrum of their magic around me. One of them held illusion magic, but it was weak. The blonde in front of me had pain magic.
Fan-fucking-tastic.
But instead of actually using it, he cocked his arm back and aimed a punch at my face.
Rookie mistake.
