Chapter 17: Briar

brIAR

Iopen my mouth to protest that there's anything going on with me. Then I snap it closed. Sebastian's honesty doesn't deserve lies in response. Closing my eyes, I know I have to show him—not because I think he expects it as payment for sharing his pain but because I need to show him that he's not alone.

"I'll show you," I croak. "You need to let go of my arms for me to do that, Malachi." I try to tilt my head back to see Malachi, but he tightens his hand on my throat, preventing my movement.

"Not a chance." Malachi also grips my wrists tighter in response.

I roll my eyes at him. What does he think? That I'm just agreeing to participate in this fucked-up show-and-tell as a ploy?

Unfortunately for me, I'm not heartless enough to do something like that to Sebastian, especially not after the raw vulnerability he showed me. Sighing, I focus on Sebastian again. "You'll have to unbutton my shirt and push up my tank, then."

He showed me his scars, so it's only fair I show him how Patrick's marred my body, instead of just telling them what happened like Malachi originally demanded.

"You sure?" he asks, hesitant. "You don't have to."

"I know. I want to," I echo his earlier words.

He nods in acknowledgment before moving closer to me. Sebastian gently untucks my uniform shirt from my skirt before working the buttons undone. My shirt falls open, getting stuck at my shoulders.

Sebastian glances up at me again, making sure I'm still okay with him undressing me. Satisfied with what he sees, he slowly inches my white tank top up, not breaking eye contact. His warm fingers feather across my skin, sending zings of heat where we connect.

Once he tucks my tank above the swell of my chest, he looks back down at my bruised skin. Sebastian makes a pained noise at what he sees. "Pretty girl…." His hands hover over my abdomen, like he's trying to find somewhere unmarked to touch me comfortingly. Not finding anywhere, he settles for brushing a strand of hair off my forehead. After swallowing, Sebastian asks roughly, "When did this happen?"

"Sunday night."

"Fuck!" Malachi shouts, startling me. His voice is thick with self-loathing. "I shouldn't have let you go home."

"This isn't on you, Malachi," I tell him simply. It isn't anyone else's fault other than Patrick's. My statement doesn't seem to do anything to alleviate the tension thrumming through his frame.

"What's under that?" Sebastian questions, pointing to the bloody gauze. I've already bled through the bandage I put on when I got to WHU. I'm not looking forward to restitching the wound later.

"A hole." After thinking for a few seconds, I add, "And a few broken ribs."

Sebastian turns a little green at that. Looking like he doesn't want to know, he asks, "Are any of your ribs sticking out of the hole?"

I laugh softly at his question. My ribs scream in response, but I don't let it show. "Nope. There's nothing sticking out. Just a hole."

"That's good. It's always nice not to have bones protruding out of your body." Sebastian rambles a little. He's always seemed so smooth and collected, so I find his wordiness endearing. Rubbing his lips together, Sebastian takes a moment to figure out what he wants to know next. He gestures at the bloody bandage. "How'd it happen?"

"I was kicked into a staircase. The bottom stair tread got lodged into my side. After a few kicks, it went partially through me." I attempt to shrug, forgetting Malachi's iron grip on my wrists.

"Fucking hell, sweet girl," Sebastian responds, looking stricken.

I briefly look at Xander. His mouth is downturned, and one of his hands is in his hair. Xander's creased moss green eyes shine with anger. Not at me but for me. I didn't think he cared enough to feel anything toward me other than mild annoyance.

I don't want any of the Grimm brothers to worry. Trying to reassure them, I state softly, "I'm okay."

Sebastian lets out a humorless laugh. "You're so far from being okay, it's not remotely funny." He scrubs both of his hands over his face before clasping them behind his head. Sebastian closes his eyes and tilts his head up, seeming to search for something.

Peace? Answers? A higher power?

I don't know. I hope he finds it, though.

I let my own lids slide shut as I wait for him to continue. My eyes pop open a few long moments later when Sebastian asks me, "Are your injuries mostly on the front?"

"Based on how I woke up after, I don't think so," I share.

"What do you mean ‘woke up'?" Malachi grinds out behind me.

"I passed out after the whole rib-breaking fiasco." I try to keep my tone light. I can sense it won't take much to snap his tenuous hold on his control.

"Please tell me you didn't just refer to having your bones broken as a ‘fiasco.'" Malachi sounds like he can't decide whether he wants to strangle me or comfort me. I personally vote for the not strangling me option.

"I thought you didn't like me lying to you." My cheekiness isn't helping the situation, but I can't seem to help it around Malachi.

"Okay, you two," Sebastian interjects before Malachi can continue. His mouth is kicked up on one side. "Can I look at your back, Briar?"

I was hoping he wouldn't ask. If they're shocked by my front, they're going to be appalled by my back. However, I told Sebastian I'd show him, and I always keep my word. "Yes," I whisper, voice breaking.

I thought keeping what Patrick does to me secret would be the hardest part. It's not. Showing other people what goes on at home is far scarier.

"You need to let go for her to turn around, bro," Sebastian tells Malachi. When he only gets a growl in response, he adds, "You can hold on to her when she's facing you." That seems to appease Malachi as he reluctantly releases my throat and wrists.

When I'm free, I meet Sebastian's eyes once more before turning to face Malachi. Threading his fingers through my hair, Malachi tugs me until my face is buried in his chest. His gentle tugging on my hair sends jolts of pleasure pain through me, causing me to groan.

"Did I hurt you?" Malachi questions.

"No," I murmur, voice muffled by his chest.

"My control is in shreds, baby girl. Now is not the time to lie to me."

"I'm not lying," I insist. He makes a humming noise of disagreement, and I sigh. I don't particularly want to tell him that I discovered I enjoy hair pulling. I also don't know that I'm ready to deal with an out-of-control Malachi. "I liked it, okay?"

"You liked what?" He sounds genuinely confused, and I groan for a different reason this time.

I'm going to have to spell it out for him, aren't I?

Fantastic.

"You pulling my hair. I liked it," I repeat. Surprising me, Malachi tugs on my hair again. He angles my head up so he can see my face, gripping a little harder as he does so. My eyes fall closed of their own accord. A breathy moan slips past my lips at the sensation.

"Goddammit." He groans at whatever he sees on my face. "I take it back. Lying would've been better for my self-control." I open my eyes at that, a small grin pulling at my mouth.

With one last heated look, Malachi uses my hair to tilt my face back down. I'm pressed against his chest again when Sebastian asks me, "Can you take off your shirt? Or do you need help?"

"I think I need help. Moving my arms isn't the easiest today," I reluctantly admit, hating that I need assistance. I've had to do everything for myself for so long. It's hard to accept help now.

"I've got you," Sebastian tells me before I feel his warm hands at my neck. With gentleness that surprises me, given how gigantic he is, Sebastian removes my shirt. I hear it softly thud on the ground, followed by Sebastian backing up a step.

"Fuck," he exhales raggedly.

"Is it worse?" I ask, even though I can already guess the answer.

"Yeah, pretty girl, it is."

"Lovely," I mutter into Malachi's shirt. Sebastian chuckles at my sarcasm.

"Is there blood in your urine, Briar?" Xander asks, seemingly out of nowhere.

"Um, yes." I feel awkward discussing bodily functions with Xander, which is ridiculous. We all pee. It's still weird to discuss it with a hot guy who also happens to be my professor. Because my life isn't complicated enough. "Why?"

"The worst bruising on what we can see of your back is concentrated on your kidneys. With that type of damage, I'd be surprised if you didn't have internal bleeding."

"Does she need a doctor?" Malachi questions, panicked.

"No. She is standing right here. And she doesn't need a doctor. I'm fine. This isn't my first rodeo," I snip. He doesn't get to decide what happens to my body. I've had enough of someone else making decisions for me.

"Briar's right. There isn't much a doctor can do for it other than observation and fluids. As long as she takes it easy and drinks enough, she'll be fine." I'm surprised Xander agreed with me. I figured he'd be on Malachi's side.

"Have you been taking it easy?" Malachi demands.

"Not really. Some jackhole threatened to go to the dean if I didn't come to school today. Instead of resting, I had to walk six miles to WHU and go to class." I look up at Malachi when I finish. His eyes are closed, and his mouth is twisted in a grimace.

"I'm an ass. I'm sorry, Briar." Malachi leans his forehead gently on mine.

At his apology, my earlier annoyance drains away. "It's okay, Malachi. I'll be fine. Just trust me?"

"I'll try," he whispers, voice scratchy. "You two have looked long enough. It's my turn. Hold her, Bastian."

Malachi releases me and gently shoves me into Sebastian's waiting arms. Sebastian also wraps his large hand around my throat, since there's nowhere else unbruised to hold me. My back comes into contact with his bare chest and abs. Everything in me lights up at the contact. I'm hyperaware of every place our naked skin touches. Warmth pours off him like he's a massive space heater.

When Malachi gets a good look at my torso, all emotion drains from his face. He's scarily blank. The emotions that were crashing in his eyes a minute ago are gone, replaced with cold emptiness. "Who did this to you?" Malachi asks, voice barely above a whisper, yet it cracks across the room like he shouted.

At his question, I briefly close my eyes, regret flashing through me. As much as I want to, I can't answer his question. My life isn't the only one on the line if I share. "I can't tell you," I respond with the same quiet volume, only my whisper sounds meek and afraid.

"Who fucking beat you?" Malachi roars. I flinch back into Sebastian, hunching my shoulders and lowering my head. Even though I know Malachi won't hurt me, my body still curls in on itself, anticipating a hit.

"You need to calm down," Xander says evenly, putting his large body between Malachi and me. "You're scaring her. She doesn't need to be yelled at right now."

I can still glimpse Malachi's face over Xander's shoulder, and I see the moment Xander's words register. Malachi's face crumples. He seems to snap out of his haze from seeing my bruising. Now, he just looks devastated.

My heart squeezes at how destroyed he looks. I want to go to him and reassure him, but I'm shaking like a leaf, unable to turn off my fight-or-flight response.

"You need to take a walk, Kai. Come back when you're in control." Xander claps his older brother on the back in silent support.

Nodding, Malachi steps around Xander to head to the door. When he reaches the door, he turns back to me, eyes drawn and sad. "I'm sorry, Briar," he rasps.