Page 23 of Savage Sacrifice (The Savage Six #4)

BLAZE

“ T ell me again why this is a good idea?” I grunt, watching as the four furry assholes rush around Lincoln’s office.

“We’re acting normal, remember?” Wylder states, like it’s really as simple as that, and I have to pinch my nose while taking a deep breath to let my new reality settle.

“But a wolf party? Really? Now doesn’t seem like the time to party.” I’m pretty sure that fact is obvious, but none of them pay me any mind as they continue to do… whatever it is they’re doing.

“You’re one of us now, get used to it,” Asher states as he pauses, pulling his cell phone out to tap a message before tucking it back into his pocket. He barely makes it two steps before he repeats the motion, the agitation on his face growing more apparent.

“Like hell am I a furry asshole like you lot,” I snap, but there’s no real anger in my voice. It does, however, pull Asher from the spiral. I can sense he’s falling as he secures his cell phone in his pocket again before turning to me with a playful pout.

“Don’t hurt my feelings.”

I roll my eyes, but seeing the shift in him makes me feel like I’ve done my part.

What that actually means, I don’t quite know.

Everything is a mess, but I find myself drawn to managing everyone’s emotions, just like I would do at home with my family.

I internally scoff at the reference and quickly put the fact down to Polaris—my Amica Mea.

“I’m out,” I grunt, turning for the door.

I’ve enjoyed my fair share of wolf parties, but tonight isn’t the night.

Wrapping my hand around the door handle, I’m ready to leave when Tatum calls my name.

I glance over my shoulder to see him staring at me with a hint of amusement in his eyes.

It’s the kind of look I would expect from Wylder, not him, but when he speaks a moment later, it all makes sense.

“You can be the one to go and get Polaris.”

My next breath rushes out of me as I stand frozen, all but gaping at him as a grin spreads across his face.

“What did you say?”

Before he can speak, Wylder steps between us, wiggling his eyebrows as he nods. “She’s coming, obviously.”

I consider dropping onto the sofa to my left. I need a minute to bury my head in my hands to catch up on their insanity, but unfortunately, there’s no time for that.

“That goes completely against what you just said about acting as normal as possible,” I say with a frown, and Lincoln shrugs, not lifting his head from the stack of papers on his desk.

“It’s not on-site.”

I blink at him. Does he actually think that’s enough?

“You do realize she’s got the most memorable silver hair and?—”

“For now,” Wylder interjects, garnering my attention, and I turn to him with an even deeper frown.

“For now?” I repeat, and he shrugs. My hands ball into fists at my sides, ready to beat the hell out of these fools, until Tatum offers a little more explanation.

“Bryony is going to help her dye it.”

“With magic?” I clarify, making him cock a brow in question, but I need to be sure I’m actually hearing this right.

“Yeah,” Wylder says with a nod, and I scrub a hand down my face.

“Like she’s done before?”

“Yes,” he repeats, brows furrowing at me like I’m the insane one.

Clearing my throat, I crack my neck from side to side. “Has anyone considered the fact that she can’t use her own magic to do it, and it might leave her in a dark headspace?”

Four sets of wide eyes turn my way, horror glistening in each pair.

“Fuck,” Wylder grunts, and I shake my head.

“It’s a good thing I’m the one going,” I state. The idea might be insane, but I’m more than willing to spend some alone time with her if it means I don’t have to take any credit for it. I’m more than happy to take the opportunity to see my devoted.

“I appreciate it,” Lincoln hollers as I turn for the door again, and I scoff.

“I don’t give a fuck.”

“You don’t have to be so dramatic all the time,” he retorts, and I glance back to glare at him.

“And you don’t have to be so… you.”

Irritated at my poor response, I leave before I get any more worked up. Once I’m outside, I take a few deep breaths of the crisp air, hoping to calm the emotion building inside of me, but it only works to a certain degree.

I understand why the wolf party is important to them, especially Lincoln.

He hasn’t been able to figure out if his wolf is still there, and nothing draws a wolf to the surface quite like a moon party.

Especially a blood moon. That’s what I’m assuming it is, anyway.

It’s the only time I’m aware of that they go through the trouble of planning the party off campus.

Glancing down at my clothes, I quickly decide that an alternative outfit is going to be better suited for a party. Worn combat pants and a t-shirt so old the neck is loose don’t quite give party vibes. Turning toward the vampire dorms, I hurry back to my room to change.

It’s quiet as I head upstairs, but even quieter when I step into my room.

Without Ben’s presence, it’s almost… depressing in here.

Shaking my head, I try to see past it and focus on the task at hand.

I opt for a pair of dark denim jeans and a fitted black button down.

Rolling the sleeves up to my elbows, I choose a pair of white sneakers before eagerly heading for the door.

The second I close it behind me, a hand wraps around my throat and my back is slammed against the wall. I grunt, snarling at the man in question who tries to loom over me; not the easiest feat when I’m an inch taller.

I’m not stupid, though. His power and strength go beyond mine, which is why I have to play my part and reluctantly do as I’m told.

“Finch,” I bite, and he sneers at me, his elongated canines on full display as he tries to scare me.

“Where are you going?”

I hold back the eye roll as I raise an eyebrow at him. “Wolf party,” I bite, and his glare darkens as he flexes his hand at my throat.

“Why?”

“Why?” I repeat, completely bewildered by the fact that we’re even having this conversation, and the tips of his nails press into my flesh, threatening to draw blood.

“Why are you going?”

“Why does it matter to you?” I retort, and I feel the nick of blood beneath his touch as his hold tightens.

Motherfucker.

Balling my right hand into a fist, I slam it into his gut, catching him off guard, and his hold on me slackens enough for me to step out of his grasp.

I want to hit him again and again, to release all of this pent-up energy inside of me, but I don’t.

Instead, I head for the stairs, hearing him snarl behind me.

“You’re time is running out!” he growls, and I pause, unable to completely leave without trying to have the last word on the situation.

“I’m free of the blood kin curse, or are you forgetting?”

He sneers, pure rage burning in his eyes, and I manage to keep my cool as I leave him upstairs and make my way outside.

I truly thought it would be euphoric to survive the blood kin curse, yet it’s shaping up to be anything but.

The drama and despair that came with Polaris dying left us all in too much pain to remember anything else that happened that day, but in reality, there’s no big song and dance at the end of it.

There wasn’t even a pat on the back. I’m just supposed to carry on as normal, which feels even more insane than the curse itself.

Relieved to be outside, I roll my shoulders back, trying to shake off the stress of Finch before I wipe away the droplet of blood trickling down my throat.

None of this shit matters if I’m on my way to Polaris. Everything else in the whole entire world pales in comparison.

As I near the main academy building, I can feel the excitement of seeing my Amica Mea churn in my gut, but as I approach the double doors, ready to head to the portal room, Sian appears before me. Her hands are planted on her hips as she stares me down, nostrils flaring with uncontained anger.

“I want to know where Terence is,” she insists, and I shrug.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I murmur, moving to side step her, but she follows after me, continuing to block my path.

“I know he’s in the medical center,” she pushes, and I purse my lips as I nod.

“Go find him then,” I say with a sigh, and she blocks my move to bypass her again. My hands ball at my sides as she wags a finger at me.

“They won’t give me access.”

“Not my problem,” I grunt, planting my hands on her shoulders as I move her out of my way. I don’t wait around, continuing down the corridor without a backward glance, but she rushes to block my path again.

“I’m going to make it your problem.”

I’m done. I crowd her, eyes zeroed on hers as she seems to suddenly realize who she’s dealing with. Every step I take in her direction has her taking one back until her back hits the wall. Her mouth moves, but no words come out.

“I promise you, when I have more time, I’m going to kill you. Slowly. Now, enjoy your merry little life until then,” I snarl before turning for the portal room again.

This time, she doesn’t follow and I sag in relief.

I have one simple task: go and get Polaris. Yet I can’t even get changed and make it to the portal room without being accosted by assholes.

Thankfully, I make it without further incident. There’s only one guard on duty right now, and he turns to me with a raised brow as he rakes his eyes over me. “Wolf party?” he asks, and I shake my head.

Why would I leave for the wolf party at this time? They haven’t even finished planning it yet, and it certainly won’t be in Florida, which is where I need to go.

“I’m meeting my mother,” I explain, pulling my cell phone out to reveal a message confirming dinner reservations with the woman in question, and he nods.

I’ll have to apologize to my mother later, which will have to come with some grand offering, I’m sure, because rain-checking on her never ends well.

However, there are more important matters at hand.

The guard nods toward the portal and I grunt my thanks before stepping through.

Glancing around my new surroundings a moment later, I sigh at how far I need to travel now.

I had to play it safe, making sure I didn’t select a location too close to Polaris, but thankfully, my vampire speed will help cut the distance.

With a quick glance at the time, I set myself a goal of how soon I need to get there before taking off.

With every rushed step I take, a smile creeps across my face, claiming me as joy blossoms in my chest. No wonder the wolves love the full moons if it means they get to run freely.

It’s not often I get to partake, but now that I am, it quickly becomes addictive.

If I weren’t heading to my Amica Mea, I would add some time to my journey, maybe do an extra lap or two around the state, but I save that thought for another time.

I slow to a stroll as I find myself at the end of Polaris’s street, glancing at the time to confirm I’m two minutes earlier than I aimed for before I turn toward her door. As I near the front porch, the excitement inside of me diminishes as I stare at what’s idly waiting.

There is a folded card accompanied by a single black feather, making my gut twist as I stop dead in my tracks.

He knows.

The Crow fucking knows.