15
The surge of my pulse slowed enough for me to function, but didn’t stay that way with the leap to my feet. I paced to the back corner of my cage, pressed my forehead to the wall. The rough stone scratched at my healing head wound until the scent of my blood announced its reopening. I closed my eyes, pushed harder against the surface, like something else to focus on would help me deal with the pounding inside my chest.
“He might be okay,” Lauren said behind me.
I whirled to face her, swallowed the snarl attempting to break free. “No offense, but you wouldn’t understand.”
I strode back to the front of the cage, skidding when my left sole hit gunk that had spilled from my bowl. I kicked out at the steel as I righted myself with a growl, and the clash of metals, when the booted bowl hit
