Chapter 229

Stella Every inch of my skin was burning. Not the good kind. This was sharp. Deep. Like my body was at war with itself. Every nerve felt raw. Like I had been sanded down from the inside out. My phone buzzed on the nightstand, dragging me out of a fever-soaked half-sleep. I groaned and grabbed it, not even bothering to check the screen. "What ?" I rasped. My voice sounded like I'd swallowed sandpaper. "Stella ? This is Professor Jason." His tone was calm, but the kind of calm adults use when they're barely holding it together. Cold. Controlled. One step away from snapping. "Your aunt asked me to monitor your academic progress this semester. I'm calling because you missed your psychology lecture this morning. And most of yesterday's classes as well." I blinked at the digital clock. Eleven. Seriously ? The numbers blurred for a second before snapping into focus. No wonder my mouth felt like dust and my skull like it had been used for batting practice. Like someone had taken a metal bat to