Frayer practically had to steer me by the elbow through the winding stone corridors toward the annex, keeping a steadying hand on my shoulder every time my knees buckled.
All the way there, he bombarded me with an endless stream of advice and lectures.
"You need to ice those bruises before the inflammation sets in, Kelsie. And don't even think about skipping meals tomorrow because of the bullying. Ryan will literally make you run laps until you throw up if he sees your energy levels dipping..."
I barely registered a single word. Exhaustion dragged at my limbs like heavy iron chains, and my jaw ached from how hard I was yawning. The pain from the cuts and contusions had dulled into a distant, numbing throbbing, completely overridden by the sheer, desperate urge to collapse onto a mattre
