Page 4 of Blood & Claw

“Aye, there’s always been something uncanny about you.” Una’s friend flashed her a patronizing smile. “Everyone knows it.”

Ailsa fought a flinch and backed up a step. She knew she was different. Years earlier, when the whispers about her had started, Kayla had withdrawn Ailsa from the cruelty of others. Nonetheless, her self-consciousness had lingered.

“You’re barking up the wrong tree, lass,” Rabbie, a carpenter’s apprentice, called out. “Lewis isn’t desperate.”

“No one likes you, Ailsa … with your vulgar red lips, creepy eyes, and sneaking ways,” Una added, her gaze hardening. “Why don’t you just piss off?”

Unpleasant laughter followed, but Ailsa barely noticed.

Instead, the world narrowed.

The fire, the music and voices all faded.

Anger rolled over her in a scalding tide, twisting her up inside.

Her breathing seized. Where had this rage come from?

She tried to throttle it, but she couldn’t. It consumed her, setting her veins alight.

Suddenly, she was fearless. Reckless. She wouldn’t let these shit-eaters get away with humiliating her. No, she’d make them sorry.

Raising a shaking hand, she swept her finger from left to right, encompassing them all.

The group stared back. Some smirked. Others shook their heads. Lewis’s face had gone red now, but she ignored him.

“You think there’s something wrong with me,” she bit out the words, loud enough to cut through the surrounding din. “Maybe there is.” She hesitated as the fire sent up a spray of sparks next to her. “Maybe I could curse you all. Maybe I will.”

Their amusement vanished.

Heartbeats slid by. Faces paled and eyes widened.

The folk of Braewall were a superstitious lot.

For a brief instant, victory surged through her. They feared her, and it made her feel powerful.

The elation only lasted a few moments before the righteous anger gave way—a hollow chill rushed in to fill the void.

A shudder rippled through her body, bile stinging the back of her throat.

What had come over her?

Since when did she go around threatening to curse people? Since when did she let venom spew from her mouth?

All her life, she’d been an outsider. She’d never quite fit in. Kayla had told her it didn’t matter, that she didn’t need other people anyway, but she’d still longed to feel like she belonged.

Tonight had revealed the truth of things though.

She’d never be accepted here.

Blood roaring in her ears, she took a step back.

Lewis was staring at her now, eyes wide as moons. He looked as if he’d just shat his breeches.

Fucking coward.

She’d been wrong about his interest in her—she’d been wrong about everything—but he was a turd anyway. To think she’d wasted moons pining for him. What a fool she was.

Something hot and violent surged through her chest.