Free Guardian by Cyndi Goodgame Page B

cheeks, then turned back around to hide under the blanket of hair.  I couldn’t think of a fast enough response to excuse me from staring at the back of her in turn because she made the air stir and it did things to me it shouldn’t. 
    “Time.”  Coach took up the papers and passed out yesterday’s quiz.   Startled by the C on the top of her paper I blamed myself as the cause of her failure.  When she crossed her arms in defeat all I wanted to do is hold her, but that couldn’t happen.
    Kinsler offered his take on it, “Harvard won’t take you now, not that you’d ever make it there.  You’re doomed to a life of servitude, princess.”
    When Grace wished for his death in what she thought was her own secret thoughts, I pained as I knew he’d not stop there. “Good girl status lowered to bad girl status, I like that!”
    Yeah, he would.  His belief that she is of his court always plays with his thoughts.  He is determined she is ruthless in spirit.  He doesn’t see that it’s only towards him.
    Several people laughed at us as Kinsler attempted sexy in front of Grace.  When she looked disgusted, he huffed like the animal he is.  I wanted to surgically remove his tongue.  Grace cut her eyes to see my own reaction.  My sorrow bled through my look at not being able save her from this.  She thought it too.
    Coach had a one sided discussion about the thirteen colonies versus how the idea came about expanding to the states. No one listened. 
    Want a study session after school?  We can make our own history.  I heard Grace say to herself.  I darted my eyes in her direction to see her folding up a piece of paper.  It had to be from Kinsler.
    Like slow motion, the next few minutes were a reality nightmare.
    Riiiing!   Kinsler was already too close to her and touching her underneath her elbow.   Coach held me, moving quick enough she never saw the act.  He sunk his claws into my hand and held me there under the glamour.  He was stronger than me and I couldn’t break free being forced to watch.  Dogface Pike was missing in action.
    “Well, want to make history with me?”
    “Kin, it’s not that kind of history class.  Geography, jock strap.”  She smiled in pride to her own insult.  I hurled all manner of curses at the man holding me down.
    “Chekov dies.  End of story,” he told over his shoulder to his cronies hoping for a quick laugh. 
    The other two foul gits were laughing heartily.
    “Still the wrong history class. And I don’t recall who Chekov is anyway.” Grace said trying to break free of him. 
    One dude snorted at her inching closer than I liked, “I’ll give you a lesson in it.  It’ll be good for you.  I promise.  Will be for me.”  He laughed.
    “She’s mine.”  Kinsler barked sending the dude back in defeat.
    My own eyes flashed bright.  My head dizzied with the kill ratios going through my skull that named each slow death I’d put him through. When I found the release from Sane’s temporary brain release (sometimes it happens when caught off guard) who doubled as coach at the second, I jumped three feet through the air and sent my own growl in Kinsler’s direction and landed in the same face off place where we’d stood in class. 
    If she wondered about the sudden appearance, she wasn’t acting upset by it though Grace did find the inclination to speak her mind.   “Whoa!  This is unnecessary boys.  I can handle myself, Ian.”  I knew that look.  She wanted me to save her, but back off in the same instant.  Couldn’t happen today.
    “Yeah, let her handle herself guardian boy.”
    I ached to kill him with my bare hands for doing this to her.  If she’d not been watching, I’d have taken my closest fist and pounded the wall just to release the anger welling up inside me with his face attached.  No, anger didn’t describe well enough.  But her seeing that would not make her rush to follow me anywhere.  It would repel her to the other side of