Chapter 284 – Self-defense

• I turn towards Jackson in the quiet of the magic classroom, wrapping my arms around his waist, leaning my head against his chest, exhausted and spent and desperately shaken by everything that happened.
• We stand there, quite quiet, for a long time with Jackson quietly stroking my hair, resting his cheek on the top of my head. “I love you so much, Ariel,” he murmurs. “I’m sorry this was so stressful for you.”
• I sigh, knowing that it’s more stressful than he realizes but…also knowing that I have to give our situation some deep thought before I go spilling out the details to one mate and not the other. So I put it aside for the moment, making a solemn promise to myself to think it through tonight before I fall asleep.