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Jake Lyra was the son of one of Henry’s uncles, though she wasn’t sure which one, or how closely related. All she knew was that she didn’t like his derisive tone and the underlying hunger in it.
“What if I am?”
“Come with me.”
Clearly drunk, he reached for her hand. She sidestepped him, then let out a hiss when his energy zapped to trap her in place. Before it could fully lock in, her energy smacked back and sent him flying to her right. She winced, not anticipating how hard her magic would retaliate.
“I’m sorry about that, but it’s a no for me. You’re wasted and you don’t seem that much fun.”
Jake was stupefied. Then his face crumbled into a thunderous expression.
“You bitch! No wonder Gunther said all those things about you. He was right!”
“Okay.”
“You’re a good-for-nothing Sutton and not even worth the fuck.”
Now she wasn’t sorry anymore and wished him suffering in her mind. Every shouted word felt like an ugly punch, but she clung on to calmness like a lifeline, refusing to let him see how much his words hurt.
“Okay.”
“You’re the worst of them all. In the end, you will be nothing but a used-up doll begging us to give you a chance—and guess what? I will toss you in the trash.”
“Awesome!” she shot back, then couldn’t help zapping some more energy into his butt. He yelped. “By the way, you’re the trash.”
Pearl turned around and hurried away before he could retaliate.
Just as she reached her yard, a deliberate surge of magic stopped her in her tracks and had her pulling out her energy in preparation. She whirled around, ready to block the first strike. Pearl ended up gawking when she found not Jake, but Henry treading toward her—not as calm as he commonly was, which was why she had mistaken him for someone else.
“Pearl.” Even his voice didn’t sound calm. It sounded riddled with energy and tightness.
“What? How did you follow me without me noticing?” she exclaimed, then shook her head and turned to march to her cottage.
“Wait up.”
“No. Go away. I don’t need to deal with another Lyra—”
“Jake was out of line, and I made sure to let him know. You’re right. He’s trash. I didn’t know because they behave around me, but now I do—and I’m not going to let it fly.”
That stopped her in her tracks completely as she turned around once more. Not anticipating how closely he followed her, she backed a step to put some distance between them, her hand on the doorknob. But she didn’t open the door. For the first time, she peered at him closely, taking in the hardened expression that couldn’t quite hide the rage underneath. Then she took in his fisted hand and the clear bruises on his knuckles and felt her heart drop.
“Please tell me you didn’t just punch your…oh, hell. You did.”
“I did,” he agreed, much to her astonishment.
“Henry, that’s stupid.”
“No, it’s not.” His nostrils flared, another unHenry-like action. “He deserved it.”
“He was drunk and he’s a goddamn Lyra. His family will—”
“Myfamily,” he corrected. “And they won’t touch you. Not anymore. I’m the family head and I won’t let it happen.”
Oh, the way he said it and his overflowing sincerity—and fire—did something to her insides that was fast becoming scary for her. Pearl held her head high.
“Okay. Thank you. Now that we’re done, there’s nothing to talk about—”
“We’re not done.”
