"Aah!" Fiona cried as she grabbed my hand and stumbled back toward me.
I tightened my grip, staring at the fear on her face.
"Fiona… could you answer a question for me?" I said coldly, a faint smirk on my lips.
Fiona nodded frantically.
"Lex—" Catherine started.
Jadon elbowed her in the stomach, cutting her off.
"If you don't want to be a casualty of war, you better shut your trap," Jadon whispered as she stepped back.
Catherine looked between me and Fiona, then quietly followed Jadon.
"So tell me, Fiona… have I lost my edge?" I asked.
"Edge? No—you haven't lost anything, Lexy," Fiona said quickly, shaking her head like a rattle drum.
I nodded slowly—then yanked her hair again, pulling out a few strands.
"Then how come, ever since I got here, I've been receiving a lot of disrespect lately?" I said.
My eyes flicked toward Eliza.
She froze instantly.
I scoffed and turned back to Fiona.
"First, that bastard Eliza thinking she can walk over me…"
I leaned slightly closer.
"And then some piece of trash dares to call me a whore."
My grip tightened.
"Why have I told you about being prepared before inviting me out?"
I slammed her forehead lightly against the wall beside us.
"Fiona!" Catherine shouted, trying to rush forward, but Jadon held her back.
"Damn—" Fiona groaned, clutching her forehead.
I let go and walked to a nearby couch, sitting down calmly.
"Over here, Fiona," I said coldly, picking up a tissue and wiping my hands.
Fiona groaned softly as she walked toward me, her hand still covering her forehead.
"Hands down," I said once she stopped in front of me.
She slowly lowered her hands.
A thin line of blood trailed down her forehead, stopping between her brows.
I tilted my head, observing it with a faint smirk.
Fiona clenched her fists, staring at the floor.
"Lexy… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you go through that. I didn't know that—" she said nervously.
"I know," I cut in calmly.
"That's why you only got that much."
I leaned forward slightly.
"If I wasn't satisfied with how you handled it, you'd have gotten worse."
Fiona nodded quickly and wiped the blood away.
I leaned back and glanced toward the door.
"Eliza," I called.
She stiffened immediately.
"What you tried today… don't ever try it again."
My voice dropped slightly.
"Or next time… it won't end like this."
I gestured toward Fiona.
"You should actually be grateful we were outside earlier."
Eliza nodded quickly, fear clear in her eyes.
I shifted my gaze to Catherine.
She looked shaken.
"Catherine, sit down and stop looking like you just witnessed a murder," I said coldly.
"You're not new to this group, and it's not your first time seeing something like this."
I sighed lightly.
"So fix that expression… and you too, Jadon."
They both sat down quietly.
Fiona wiped her hands with a tissue and sat beside me.
I glanced at her and smirked.
"You're still not used to this? Even after I deal with you every time?"
"Oh well…" Fiona said with a small smile—
knock knock
A sound interrupted her.
"Come in," Jadon said, settling into her seat beside Catherine and Eliza.