The other women called me back in, and as the morning wore on, Angel’s offer for a fey massage started to sound better and better. My legs and arms burned by the time the women signaled that we were done.
Winded and tired, I limped off to the side and sat on one of the tree stumps someone had set nearby.
“Are you okay, June?” Tor asked.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine in a minute. Are you okay with going to Emily’s house after this?”
“Yes.”
I watched the other women walk off with their fey. They didn’t look nearly as exhausted as I was.
“How are they not tired?” I asked.
“They have been practicing for many days. You haven’t. You will get better.”
“I don’t see how. Hannah’s wicked good. Eden, too.”
Brenna was the only one who hadn’t flipped me over repeatedly. That didn’t mean she wasn’t good, too. Only that she was being nicer about sparring with me.
“Hannah’s good because Merdon spanks her hard at home.”
My tiredness evaporated.
“What?”
Tor repeated himself.
“Yeah, I heard you the first time. I meant what do you mean by ‘he spanks her hard?’ Is he abusive?”
“He hurts her only enough to keep her from hurting herself. He does not like it, but he knows it will help her live.”
I knew I’d need to ask Angel what the story was behind those comments the next time I saw her. My mind returned to her offer for a massage. I could get the scoop on Merdon and Hannah, plus relax at the same time.
My legs felt weak when I stood, affirming the idea.
“I hope Emily’s place isn’t too far away,” I said.
“Do you want me to carry you?”
“No. Walking will be good for me. It’ll help loosen everything up.”
Emily answered the door when Tor knocked the second time.
“Hey, this probably isn’t a good time,” she said, the headphones on her head pushed back so one ear was exposed.
“Mya sent me to talk to you.”
“Oh. Um.”
In the background, I heard a rhythmic sound. Like something being hit.
“Is everything okay?” I asked.
“Yeah. It’s just Merdon and Hannah.”
My eyes went wide.
“Is he hitting her?”