Page 5 of Savage Desire (The Savage Six #2)

5

POLARIS

“ P olaris, I swear, you look exactly the same, as gorgeous as ever. Now, we need to leave before breakfast is over,” Bryony complains, giving me a pointed look from her spot by the door. She folds her arms over her chest for good measure and I sigh.

“Don’t try and give me cute compliments like that just so you can get me out the door. I feel… weird,” I grumble, tugging at the neckline of my oversized black hoodie. I know I’m using it as some ridiculous attempt to shield myself from everyone, but it feels like I’m failing. Massively.

“If I wanted to say something to get you out the door then I would mention the fact that if we don’t hurry up, one of your fawning wolves will be here to do it instead.” There’s a crinkle to her eyes as amusement morphs her face, so I glare at her.

“I don’t have fawning wolves,” I mutter, rolling my eyes at her as I shut the door to my armoire so I can’t keep scrutinizing myself in the mirror.

“Sure thing. It wasn’t like one of them broke into your room last night, had me waiting with a pizza, and?—”

“Okay, okay. I get it. It’s not the fawning, but the threat of one or more of them showing up here is enough to get me out of the door. Happy now?” I ask, returning a pointed look her way as I hurry to where she stands.

Bryony swings my bedroom door open with an accomplished grin on her face and I bite back the urge to roll my eyes at her again. Thankfully, she drops the topic, falling into step with me as we hurry downstairs and outside. The morning air is heavenly, the slight breeze lowering my temperature. Not that I’m hot, more stressed and worried.

Last night ended up going well, chatting with Bryony helped ease a lot of the worries I’d built up in my mind, and I feel focused on the things that matter most again.

My magic.

No bangles means I have abilities that I should be able to tap into, to learn and weave together. If I want to survive, I need to be able to accomplish as much as possible, and I don’t have much time. She repeatedly offered to show me a few things last night, but when I tried, nothing happened. She insisted it was due to my lack of sleep, and I slept as hard as I could last night, not wanting the same issue today.

Who knew I would need to be energized to be able to access my magic? If that’s not the case and nothing happens again today, then I’m going to declare that there’s something wrong with me.

“We stick together, remember?” Bryony murmurs, inching closer to me as we bypass a group of wolves by the entryway to the dining hall, and I nod.

I just need to make it through breakfast, then I can get down to witchy business.

The noise from the dining hall is louder than ever, the grandeur of the space unwavering despite the presence of so many people. If anything, the busyness only makes the sheer size of the room more prominent.

Bryony links her arm through mine, tugging me through the crowd toward the witches’ table. We make our way right up to the top end, hoping to avoid any issues, and the second I take my seat, my skin prickles.

Someone is watching me.

The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end as I lift my gaze, my eyes locking across the room. I gulp. It’s not one set of eyes staring at me.

It’s four.

Five when Minnie realizes what everyone is staring at.

She’s the first to smile, offering me a tiny wave, and I do the same back, blushing at the small interaction as she goes back to eating her food. Asher dips his head first, while Tatum sends me a knowing grin. I can sense his approval from here.

Wylder’s lips purse, his eyes narrowing an inch as he takes me in, and it leaves me confused. I can’t tell what he’s thinking from this distance. Lincoln, however, is far more readable.

Mad. He’s mad.

My gaze drops to the table, desperate to avoid the glaringly obvious irritation at my presence.

Fuck.

I knew Tatum was lying last night when he said they were all worried about me.

Not that it matters now.

Nothing from that night matters, not in the grand scheme of things. I’m here to survive and see past my twenty-second birthday.

If he doesn’t like me now, that’s okay. I’ll get over it, eventually, or die pretending to at least.

With my mind refocused, I load my plate with food, eating in a comfortable silence with Bryony. It’s only when I place my knife and fork down, clearing my plate of the bacon and eggs I piled up high, that she turns to me.

“What are you most excited about today?” she asks, and I tilt my head.

“What do you mean?”

“The magic, of course,” she replies, wiggling her fingers at me like that makes total sense.

“I don’t know what to be excited for,” I admit with a shrug. “Whatever I can learn,” I add. The idea of being supernatural is still weird to me.

I’ve been surrounded by supernaturals since I got here, and without my sigil, there’s nothing stopping me from joining the club, but it still feels odd.

“Let’s get out of here then. The quicker we make our way over there, the quicker you can start tapping into the good stuff,” she insists, rising from her seat, and I follow after her.

I slip my hand into my pocket, feeling the outline of my coin hidden beneath the small pouch of sand in there too. They’re two pieces of the same puzzle, but I have no idea what the image is supposed to be.

Just as we’re about to step out of the dining hall, my head twists almost on auto-pilot toward the wolves’ table, but from this angle, I can’t see them through the crowd. That’s probably a good thing.

Slightly disappointed, despite my earlier thoughts of separating myself from them, I head outside, no longer appreciating the slightly cooler temperature. We follow the loop to where the witches’ classes take place, and I take a moment to try and find my solace, attempting to block out all of the madness so I can give my next class all of my focus.

As we turn the corner, I stumble, knocked back by a force I wasn’t expecting, but I manage to keep myself from falling flat on my face. The moment I lock eyes on the cause of my near-fall experience, my blood runs cold as my body stiffens.

Blaze.

His blue eyes pierce into my soul as he tilts his head, a half sneer on his lips as he takes me in.

“Where have you been?” His nostrils flare as he thankfully keeps his distance, and I spy Terence and Sian behind him, who look just as confused by his interest in me as I am.

Clearing my throat, it takes all of my strength to act unfazed as I stand as straight as I can, glaring at him as I fold my arms over my chest. “That’s none of your business.”

My voice doesn’t waver, and I internally high-five myself as I keep my shoulders back and head high.

Trying to maneuver around him is harder than I expect, especially when he doesn’t move an inch. Bryony reaches for my arm, silently trying to aid me, but just when I think I’ve made it, Blaze grabs my arm, freezing me in place.

“Don’t make me repeat myself,” he snarls, his grip harsh as his fingers dig deep into my skin.

“Back off, Blaze,” Bryony snaps, but he doesn’t even bother to turn her way as his eyes burn into mine.

“Fuck off, Bryony,” he bites back, towering over me so all I can see is him.

I gulp, confused by the fact that I’m not completely drenched in fear, but there’s something leaving me on edge. Before I can open my mouth to give him a piece of my mind, he shuffles me so my back is pressed against the stone wall of the academy.

He’s gentler than I expect, but he shouldn’t have his hands on me regardless.

Taking a deep breath, I purse my lips before I part them, words poised on the edge of my tongue, when he beats me to it.

“Where are your bangles?” He scowls, leaving no room for me to breathe as he seems to stretch himself out around me, consuming me, and I can’t take it anymore.

Remembering the limited information Wylder gave me, I tug down, sharp and fast, the move seeming to startle both of us as his grip on my wrist releases.

“I said that’s also none of your business,” I repeat through clenched teeth, ducking a second later as I rush under his arm, only to find Terence waiting on the other side of him, blocking me between them.

I gape at him with wide eyes, my surprise clear, when I spy Sian blocking Bryony from intervening.

Fuck.

“Just answer him for fuck’s sake, Polaris. You’re causing more drama than necessary,” Terence grunts, shaking his head disapprovingly at me, and I see red.

“Screw you, Terence,” I snap, feeling my face burn bright with rage as I shove at his chest, but he doesn’t move, not even an inch.

“Oh, he wishes, Polaris.” I freeze at the close proximity of Blaze behind me, but it’s no longer his back pressed against mine. It’s his chest that’s firmly against me now, his breath against my ear and his hands at my waist. “But you never did, right?” he adds, leaving me confused for a moment before understanding dawns on me.

My cheeks heat, but the embarrassment is lost to the anger already coloring my skin. Refusing to back down to the monster behind me, I tilt my head and glare at him.

“Are we done here?” I ask, my voice even as I silently plead for this to be over.

My pulse thrums as I wait, the sound echoing in my ears along with each inhale of breath from him. “For now,” he finally says, leaving me shocked when his presence vanishes a moment later.

I sag forward, relief flooding my veins as I press my hand to my chest, glancing over my shoulder for good measure, but he’s gone.

“Your bangles are gone?” Sian asks, her voice cutting through my thoughts, and I turn to glare at her.

“Don’t pretend like you care, Sian. It’s too little, too late for that,” I grumble, noting the hurt in her eyes, but she quickly masks it as she waves her hand at me.

“Whatever,” she mutters before storming off without a backward glance.

Good riddance.

Bryony clears her throat, nodding for me to follow after her, and I smile. She may not have been able to help overpower them, but she was still here. The only obstacle in my way is Terence, and as I side step him, he repeats Blaze’s action, grabbing my arm and halting my steps, but I’m done.

“The next person to grab me against my will is going to get a swift knee to the dick,” I snarl, agitation and anger coiling inside of me, and he scoffs.

“Get over yourself, Polaris. Nobody cares,” he growls, leaning closer than necessary. So close the tip of his nose brushes against mine, and it reminds me of all the times we were this close for different reasons.

“You did,” I breathe, the words slipping past my lips before I can stop them. I regret them instantly, but when he leans back, a snicker on his lips, I regret the admission even more.

“Nah, I just wanted your pussy, but you weren’t willing to put out. I guess that’s never going to change. To think, you’re going to die a virgin,” he leers, looking down at me like I’m a piece of trash, confirming his words in one move.

He’s a pig. He always has been, always will be, but that doesn’t make his comment any easier to take.

I can’t let him win, though. I refuse. But before I can open my mouth, someone else beats me to it.

“She stopped being a virgin when I buried my dick inside her, scumbag. Now, fuck off.” The threat is icy, sending a chill through my bones as I slowly turn to spy Lincoln a step behind me.

His hands are tucked in his pockets, his jaw locked tight, and his gaze narrowed on the vampire before me.

Without a single word in his defense, Terence is gone.

I gape in surprise at Bryony, who is staring in a mixture of disbelief and wonder at the chaos that is my life.

You and me both, girl.

Turning to Lincoln, my mouth parts but no words come out. I don’t want to thank him, not when he just made what we did public knowledge, but I don't think Terence would have left me alone otherwise.

“Not another word out of you,” he grunts, his eyebrows furrowed as he stares at me, and I scoff.

“The same could be said for you,” I retort, referring to the last words to come from his mouth.

He doesn’t back down, though, I shouldn’t have expected him to. “Say it then,” he challenges, but I’m about done with the male population right now.

Instead of giving him the drama he seems to want, I roll my eyes and walk away. My muscles are bunched tight, ready for someone to lay hands on me. But, to my surprise, when Lincoln appears at my side, his hands remain in his pockets.

“Who the fuck was that?” he grunts, and Bryony grins as she falls into step with me on my right.

“Jealous much?” she asks, glancing around me to raise a brow at Lincoln, who scoffs in response.

“No. Never,” he mutters, his eyes still locked on mine.

“Good,” I grumble, finding myself needing to talk despite the distance I want to put between us. These damn wolves leave me torn and confused. “He was just someone I used to know,” I add with a grimace, pinching the bridge of my nose as I will myself to shut the fuck up.

“What the fuck does that mean?” Lincoln blurts, coming to a stop in front of me, blocking the entrance to the academy as the bell rings, confirming the first classes are about to start.

Bryony steps between us before I can speak a word. Again. “Didn’t you hear? It’s someone who wanted to get in her panties before you did. What’s the matter, Lincoln, scared of a little competition?” she goads, and I gape at the back of her head.

She’s just making it worse, but before I can try to calm the rage brewing in his eyes, he storms off.

Well, fuck.

“There is no competition,” I mutter when she turns back to me, shrugging slightly as we head inside.

“He doesn’t need to know that,” she states with a wink, and I roll my eyes.

“He doesn’t need to know anything,” I insist, coming to a stop at Professor Juniper’s door.

“That’s bullshit and we both know it,” she calls out, and I roll my eyes at her.

I’m not doing this right now. I haven’t even officially made it to my first class and the drama has begun. This is why I stayed in my room yesterday. It’s safer there, but I need to learn.

“This drama is complete bullshit,” I retort, and she tilts her head, assessing me for a moment before she nods, exhaling slowly as she rolls her shoulders back.

“Let’s put a pin in that, but we will circle back around to the man drama you have going on. For now, you’re right, let’s shake it off because it’s time to get your witch on.”