Persie Merlin and the Witch Hunters - Bella Forrest Page 0,47
huh?” I leaned against the doorjamb, feeling woozy. It was far too early for me to be awake—I didn’t care that the clock read past noon. This body had Purged a freaking Grendel, and I felt the burn of every Chaos atom I’d put into making that gargantuan beastie. The medics had run a myriad of tests, prodding and poking my tender skin, adding some inky bruises to go with the rest of my aches and pains. Having given the all clear, they’d sent me packing to my room to sleep it off, with Genie acting as my wheelchair chauffeur. She’d been way too enthusiastic about it, whizzing me through the Institute like we were racing in the Grand Prix.
The hunter, whom I vaguely recognized, gave an apologetic laugh. “You gave me a bit of a fright, that’s all. I’ll just wait out here until you’re ready. Please, take your time.”
Charming. I closed the door on him and set to work on making myself presentable. He must’ve thought I was under attack again as I made all manner of gasps and sharp “ouches” as I forced myself into a pair of jeans and a T-shirt and pulled my hair into a messy ponytail. I didn’t even bother to tie my shoes; I just shoved my feet into a pair of sneakers and jammed the laces inside. Dragging my ass to the bathroom, I splashed some cold water on my face and rushed through the fastest tooth brushing of my life before puffing a quick spritz of deodorant under the old pits.
Looking and feeling slightly less like a cavewoman, I headed out. A fleeting expression of relief crossed the hunter’s face as he saw me, prompting part of me to wonder what Victoria would’ve said if I’d rocked up to her office in my PJs, looking as though I’d just been dragged backward through a hedge.
“Lead the way.” I gestured down the hall. I knew where Victoria’s office was, but she’d evidently sent this guy to escort me. Not in a you’re-under-arrest kind of way, but more in a she-might-keel-over-at-any-moment kind of way, which I appreciated. If I got hit with another dizzy spell on the walk, I didn’t fancy faceplanting on the marble.
He nodded and offered me his arm like some kind of Regency gent. “You can hold onto me, if you want. I heard you had a rocky night.”
“Thanks. And yeah, that’s putting it mildly.” I looped my arm through his, leaning on him as we set off. Chivalrous as it seemed, I didn’t feel at all comfortable being this close to someone I didn’t know, and immediately regretted linking arms. After last night, I wasn’t sure I’d ever trust a stranger again. The unsettled feeling from the night before remained, making me shiver even though I wasn’t cold.
“You’re probably still in shock. Here.” The hunter took off his black blazer and draped it over my shoulders, another kindly gesture that had the opposite effect on my addled brain. All I could think about was the blanket that my abductor had draped over me in the same way. But I was too polite to hand the blazer back, so I left it, a reminder of my trauma.
“Did Charlotte and the rapid response squad manage to catch the Grendel?” I asked. After getting checked out in the Infirmary and being Formula One-d back to my room, it’d been lights out the moment my head touched the pillow. Nathan had promised to update me, but I’d left my phone back in my room. I imagined he looked a lot worse than me right now, after pulling an all-nighter to care for the pixies.
I knew it wasn’t right to play favorites, but that mischievous trio were, of my Purges, my pride and joy. If that sneaky bastard had hurt them, I’d be the one wielding the jumper cables next time. And he wouldn’t get a blanket to warm him from my bitter wrath.
The hunter shook his head reluctantly. “Not yet. Last I heard, the Grendel had gone underground.”
“Literally?” The Grendel didn’t look like a ground-dweller, but it certainly had big enough claws to dig out a hiding spot.
He chuckled. “No, I mean the monster has gone off the radar. Charlotte and the RR team, plus two other squads, are still out looking.”
I didn’t bother voicing my wish for the Grendel to be brought in alive—I’d be preaching to the wrong choir. Nathan and I had been vocal about our position, but the