Page 132 of Stormbreaker

Her question could be about two things.

Technically, the school should punish my attackers, but I can’t complain to anyone about this. Scion Beaufort gave the go-ahead to anyone wishing to take matters into their own hands, and Fiama won’t do anything to protect me.

As for the other thing, no one will stop my father from doing what he wants.

“No,” I say.

She presses her mouth together, clearly displeased with my answer. “You’re sure?”

“Yes,” I say. “Please just leave it alone.”

A pause. “Then you’re free to go,” she says, though she obviously isn’t happy about it. “See me in a few days so I can check on how things are progressing.”

“Thank you,” I say, sitting up with a wince. She walks away, and I take a moment to settle my nerves. Slowly, I place my feet on the floor and stare between them before looking up.

“You carried me here,” I say to Rook.

He nods as he pushes the needle through Teddy’s fur and pulls it out the other side.

“Thank you.”

He says nothing as he deftly knots the string, using his teeth to cut the remaining thread. Then he tests his handiwork, tugging on Teddy’s limbs before he presents me with the repaired toy. Teddy’s left arm is a little shorter, and a line of stitches curves up his belly like he’s had his appendix removed.

But he’s whole.

“And you fixed him,” I whisper as Rook stands up. I crush Teddy to my chest and smell his head, inhaling the scent of my childhood and simpler times.

“C’mon,” he says. “Let’s get out of here.”

It’s obvious Dr. Perez still doesn’t like or trust him, but she doesn’t object as he takes my arm and leads me out of the med wing. “I can’t go back to my room,” I say. “They’ll . . . I don’t know what they’ll do, but I can’t sleep there anymore.”

“I’m taking you to mine,” he answers as my brows pinch together.

He shrugs. “I found an empty room downstairs. I hated sleeping near them, and I have three extra beds. You’re welcome to one.”

I open my mouth, weighing his proposal. “Well, you hardly ever talk,” I say with no small amount of wonder. “So that sounds amazing.”

He snorts a small laugh and shakes his head. “I wasn’t complaining about the space.”

“Do you live up to your name, Rook Athira? Do you prefer solitude?”

He seems to consider that and then answers, “It depends on the company, I guess.”

A beat passes. “Fair enough.”

We continue walking toward Aria’s wing, and instead of taking the stairs up, we head for a different set. Rook holds out his hand, and I hesitate before slipping my fingers into his. They’re warm and dry and close around mine, inexplicably offering a safety net. He guides me down the winding steps while I clutch Teddy under my injured arm.

We reach the bottom, and he opens the door to reveal a cozy dorm room, much like the one I just vacated, with a stone floor covered in plush rugs.

“I had no idea there were more rooms down here,” I say. Soft evening light filters in through round windows set high into the walls. He even has a fireplace where a few glowing embers smolder in a pile of ash.

“It was a bit dusty,” he says. “But I got it cleaned up, and no one has objected to me using it. I think they’re just as happy to not have me near them.”

He’s claimed the bed in the far corner, and suddenly, I wonder if this is such a good idea.

I can’t sleep in some strange guy’s room. What will people say—

I stop, cutting off that pointless thought.