Chapter 192 Part 4
**Avery**
A cold dread settled in my stomach, but it was quickly eclipsed by a surge of pure, unadulterated fury. They thought they could corner me, insult me, threaten me? Not anymore. Not this Avery. I dropped my books with a resounding thud, the noise echoing in the quiet quad. My hands balled into fists at my sides. "You think you're clever, don't you? Four pathetic excuses for shifters trying to intimidate one female. How brave." My voice dripped with contempt. "Your mothers must be so proud of their little bullies."
The bull’s face reddened. "Watch your mouth, bitch."
"Or what?" I challenged, taking a step forward. "You'll tell your mommy? Or maybe you'll try to actually do something, rather than just stand there flapping your gums?"
His eyes narrowed. "You're a feisty one, aren't you? We like that." He lunged, his hand reaching for my arm.
My training kicked in, a blur of instinct and honed reflexes. I pivoted, my body a whipcord of motion, slipping past his outstretched hand. As he stumbled forward, off balance, I drove my knee hard into his groin. A strangled gasp, a choked sound of pain, tore from his lips as he doubled over, clutching himself. "Pathetic," I spat, watching him crumple. “I killed Corra and countless others. They put up a far better fight than you, you poor excuse for a dragon shifter!”
The other three exchanged startled glances. The thin one, spurred by his friend’s pain, snarled and charged. I met him head-on, my fists flying. He was faster than the first, but sloppy. I ducked under his wild swing, delivering a sharp elbow to his jaw. A sickening crunch echoed, and he staggered back, his eyes rolling back in his head before he collapsed in a heap, unconscious. Two down. Two to go. My heart pounded, a furious drum against my ribs, but a cold, clear focus had settled over me. The eggs were a vulnerability, but also a fierce source of protection. I would not let these worms harm me or them.
The remaining two, their bravado evaporating, looked at each other, then at their downed comrades. Fear flickered in their eyes. "You bitches!" one of them yelled, attempting a clumsy kick.
I sidestepped, grabbing his ankle as it passed, and twisted with all my might. He cried out as his leg buckled, sending him sprawling to the ground. Before he could recover, I dropped onto him, my knee pressing into his chest, my hand gripping his hair, yanking his head back. "Are you going to beg?" I hissed, my voice low and dangerous. “I do enjoy a man on his knees. Or do you want to join your friends in dreamland?"
His eyes, wide with terror, stared up at me. "P-please! Don't! I didn't mean anything! I swear!"
"That's what I thought," I snarled, releasing him with a shove. He scrambled away, whimpering, abandoning his fallen comrades.
The last one, seeing the fate of his friends, wisely decided retreat was the best option. He turned and fled, a pathetic figure disappearing into the trees. I stood there, breathing heavily, my knuckles aching, my body thrumming with adrenaline. The silence of the quad was broken only by the groans of the two conscious bullies and the faint rustle of leaves. I looked down at the unconscious one, then at the one still clutching his crotch, whimpering. They certainly wouldn't be bothering anyone again for a while.
"Avery!" A furious shout ripped through the air. I spun around. Donn stood at the edge of the quad, his eyes blazing, his fists clenched. Alden was right behind him, his ancient face etched with concern, his small frame radiating a surprisingly potent aura of protective fury.
Donn rushed towards me, his gaze sweeping over the scene, taking in the crumpled forms on the ground. "What happened? Are you hurt?" His hands moved over me, checking for injuries, his touch surprisingly gentle amidst his rage.
"I'm fine," I said, a little breathless. "They tried to… corner me. I handled it."
Alden knelt beside the unconscious one, his eyes narrowing. "These fools. They dare touch you?" His voice was a low growl, a sound I hadn't heard from him before, laced with an ancient wrath. Suddenly, a cold, dark presence descended, an almost palpable chill that made the air crackle. Vincent appeared as if from the very shadows of the trees, his eyes, usually stoic, burning with an infernal light. He took in the scene, his gaze lingering on the whimpering bully, then on the two unconscious ones. His lip curled, a flash of fangs briefly visible.
"Who did this?" His voice was a low, dangerous whisper, more terrifying than any shout. It was the sound of ancient power, unleashed.
The whimpering bully on the ground whimpered louder, trying to crawl away. "It was her! She attacked us!"
Vincent’s gaze, colder than ice, fixed on him. "You lie." He took a step, and the bully scrambled away, his eyes wide with primal fear.
"They cornered her, Vincent," Donn explained, his voice tight with suppressed fury. "Tried to… get physical."
Vincent’s jaw tightened, a muscle jumping in his cheek. He looked at me, his eyes softening slightly. "Are you truly unharmed, Avery?"
I nodded, meeting his gaze. "I'm fine. They weren't much of a challenge."
A flicker of something akin to pride crossed his face, quickly replaced by a chilling anger as he looked back at the bullies. He raised a hand, and the air around the whimpering one shimmered, a dark energy gathering around him. The bully screamed, a high-pitched, terrified sound, his body spasming. "Vincent, no!" I cried, grabbing his arm. "They're not worth it. Let them go. They've learned their lesson."
He looked at me, his eyes still blazing, but the dark energy dissipated. He took a deep, shuddering breath, his body visibly relaxing, though his rage still simmered beneath the surface. "Very well," he said, his voice clipped. "But if I ever see them near you again, I will ensure they regret their very existence." His gaze swept over the prone figures, a silent, deadly promise. Donn, still fuming, kicked lightly at the unconscious bully’s side. "Next time, they'll think twice before messing with a queen."
Alden, having finished his assessment, stood up, his gaze meeting mine. There was a depth in his eyes I hadn't noticed before, a knowing quality that hinted at secrets yet untold. He simply nodded, a silent acknowledgment of my strength, and perhaps, something more. I looked at my battered attackers, then at my furious, protective mates. A strange mix of relief, exhaustion, and a fierce, burgeoning power settled within me. I was no longer the helpless girl from the orphanage. I was a queen, with powerful mates, and a growing strength that even I was only just beginning to understand. The path ahead was uncertain, filled with weddings and eggs and unknown dangers, but for the first time, I felt ready to face it all. I finally feel at home in my own skin.
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