Page 31 of Savage Sacrifice (The Savage Six #4)

POLARIS

W armth ghosts over my face, luring me back into reality. I groan, stretching out my limbs before I manage to pry my eyes open. Sun rays dance through the window, lighting the room, while also working to make me feel weightless all at once.

I sigh, content, then roll onto my side as I stuff my hands under my pillow, noting that I’m alone. A soft smile curls at the corner of my mouth. Last night was a mess, well and truly a disaster, but ending it beneath Tatum, then falling asleep in his arms, was just what I needed.

From there, sleep claimed me almost as hard as my men.

My men.

It’s weird to say, but feels oh-so right.

My smile grows at the thought of them and I turn my face into the pillow, failing to stop the pink hue from heating my cheeks.

As much as I want to relax here forever, caught up in the bliss, I know I need to move. The weight of yesterday, and every day since I sacrificed myself for my friend, continues to weigh heavily around us, and it’s not going to ease until we do something about it.

Flopping onto my back, I stretch my arms above my head as I starfish my legs, attempting to ease the tension already bundling in my muscles before I throw the covers to the side and swing my legs over the edge of the bed.

I give myself a moment to gather myself in an upright position, tucking a loose tendril of hair back off my face as I spy a pile of fresh clothes on the desk. With one big deep breath, I’m on my feet, running my hands over the clothes a moment later.

There’s everything I need here, and I know it likely has something to do with Minnie. I send her a silent thanks as I tug the oversized t-shirt off, but I pause, catching sight of myself in the mirror before I reach for the fresh clothes.

My feet carry me toward my reflection as my hand lifts to my neck, sweeping over the mark that sits proudly there.

Lincoln.

I sink my teeth into my bottom lip as I let my gaze travel lower to where a similar mark is nestled against my breast.

Tatum.

Spinning on the spot, a flash of the same distinguished mark sits on my butt cheek.

Asher.

I turn back to face the mirror, twisting my ankle just right to see the final wolf mark.

Wylder.

Mindlessly, I run my hand over my chest, knowing there’s a soft glow under there for my vampire too, it just doesn’t appear all the time like the others.

Blaze.

My face tingles at the sight of the connection and bond I now have with five men.

Five.

It’s bewildering when I barely even cared for the attention from one man at Florentine’s.

Trinity Falls changed my life in more ways than one. It has defined who I am, my purpose, and my morals. More than that, it revealed that I am a witch.

Or was? My marks are there, but is my magic?

The reminder of Bryony’s pouch of sand from last night flashes in my mind as my lips twist in wonder. I take a deep breath, standing tall as I continue to look at my reflection, noting the flash of defiance in my eyes.

There’s only one way to find out; all I have to do is ask my friend.

With my mind made up, I turn my attention back to the clothes.

As quickly as I can, I slip into the simple pale pink bra and panties set before stepping into a pair of loose-fitting jeans, a white tank top, and a lilac sweater.

Running my fingers through my hair, I pull the silver locks back and create a messy bun on top of my head.

Satisfied, I head for the door before hurrying downstairs. I’ve barely made it to the kitchen when a grumble meets my ears.

“Finally, we can get this conversation started,” Lincoln grumbles, giving me a pointed look, and I raise my eyebrows at him in question.

“Sorry?” I breathe, glancing at the kitchen table that Tatum was bleeding all over last night to find him seated between Wylder and Minnie on one side, while Lincoln, Asher, and Blaze line the other.

Asher waves off his friend as he turns to me with an apologetic smile. “We wouldn’t let him wake you.”

“It’s been hours ,” Lincoln mumbles, pushing a hand through his hair, and Tatum shakes his head.

“You’re being dramatic,” he insists, and Minnie nods in agreement.

“You’re right, and I feel like it’s been too long since I’ve threatened to castrate you,” she adds, wagging a finger at her brother.

“Just because you earned yourself some brownie points for sacrificing yourself for my bestie doesn’t mean I won’t,” she adds, and I watch as Lincoln’s Adam’s apple bobs nervously.

Minnie is a force to be reckoned with, even to him.

I grin, despite the tension threatening to fill the room, as I shake my head. “I’ve missed you and your madness,” I admit, eyes settling on Lincoln, who blinks twice in surprise before he smirks.

“Of course you have,” he mutters in response.

“Would you miss his left nut if I chopped it off, though?” Minnie sings, and I fake gag as she cringes at herself too.

“Hey now,” Lincoln hollers, lifting his hands in surrender as his chair scrapes across the floor, but before he can rise to his feet, Wylder whacks the back of his head and prowls toward me.

“Stop being a whiny bitch,” he grunts as he stops at my side, arm flung around my shoulder before I can catch my next breath.

He winks at me before wordlessly guiding me toward the table. There’s a spare seat at the head, but I’m pulled into his lap as he takes a seat. Tatum’s hand finds my lap instantly as Wylder nudges a plate toward me.

I hadn’t even realized there was food. All I saw was them.

A chocolate pastry and a bottle of water are placed in front of me, and I take a bite, enjoying the deliciousness before I address the room. “What conversation are we referring to?”

“What we do next,” Lincoln answers swiftly, and I nod in understanding.

At least it’s a conversation worth having.

“That’s a loaded question,” I state before taking another bite of my pastry, and Minnie hums in agreement.

“That’s what I said.”

“Where do we start?” Tatum asks, and silence drenches the room because right now, that’s the most challenging question there is.

“That’s what we have to figure out,” Asher states, leaning back in his seat as he thinks.

I clear my throat. “How about we outwardly discuss where we’re at, then we can figure it out from there,” I offer, and Lincoln nods.

“I like it. Let’s do that.”

Wylder’s hand runs up and down my arm in silent support while Tatum squeezes my thigh. “From my end of things, I’ve had no contact with Belladora at all, but one of her men is my professor at the college.”

“Wait, what?” Minnie gasps in surprise, and I nod.

“Yeah, and Jonah showed up at my last class too. So even though we don’t have direct access to her, I think we can push for the connection,” I offer, and they all nod eagerly.

“Other than that, I still have three roommates who don’t remember a thing and parents out there who suddenly now want to know who I am. Otherwise, I have nothing.”

“That’s not nothing, we can work with that, Silver,” Asher insists from across the table, and I smile, letting the doubt wash away as I feed off his strength.

“What have things been like for you guys?” I ask before stuffing my face with the last bite of my pastry.

“Nothing from Whitmore, but there’s still a weird vibe,” Lincoln states, and the others nod along.

“The three of us still afflicted by the curse are still expected to attend classes, but those who have been freed have more leniency,” Tatum states, and my gaze drifts between the twins.

I know Minnie is without the mark on her arm, I made sure of that, but I know Lincoln and Bryony aren’t quite as lucky. Settling my attention on the alpha in question, I clear my throat and tilt my head at him.

“Your wolf?” I breathe, and his lips set in a thin line as he shakes his head.

Dammit.

“But you have your mark?” I clarify, making sure I haven’t missed anything.

“Yes,” he answers, rolling his sleeve up to reveal it on his forearm.

There’s a lot to unpackage there, I can see it in his eyes, but it’s out of his control, just like my desire to still be a witch. We can come back to this, but first, there’s another big question to consider.

“What do we do about The Crow?”

Asher shakes his head in reference to his uncle. “He’ll be licking his wounds somewhere, but I’m sure he’ll be back,” he admits. “Worse than ever,” he adds for good measure, and I gulp.

“I wouldn’t expect anything less,” I breathe. I haven’t known of this man, this monster, for long, but what I know is enough, and he’s not going to rest, especially not after Tatum killed one of his men yesterday.

“What did he say last night?” Asher asks, scrubbing at his chin, and I shrug.

“Honestly, very little. He was assessing me, baiting me almost, then Blaze was heading toward us and everything unravelled from there.”

“Baiting you?” Wylder asks, resting his chin on my shoulder.

“Yeah, just… teasing the fact that he knew I wasn’t dead, knew where I was, and that he still had power over me.”

“Fucker,” Tatum grunts, nostrils flaring in anger, and I place my hand on top of his on my thigh, squeezing in comfort.

“The final two coins?” Blaze asks, finally inserting himself in the conversation.

“We’ll figure it out,” Wylder states, aware that if what we believe is true, the final two coins fall down to him and Asher.

“What happens when they all change color?” I ask, receiving nothing but blank looks in response.

“I guess that’s what we’re going to figure out, Amica Mea,” Blaze states, jaw tight at his lack of control over the matter.

Rubbing my lips together nervously, I take note of the fact that we’re missing someone. “Is Bryony around?”

Asher cocks a brow at me. “How come?”

I frown, confused why it matters, but I clear my throat and answer. “I was hoping to see if there was any magic left in me or not.” As soon as the words leave my mouth, embarrassment creeps in.

Thankfully, Minnie offers me a soft smile, easing the worry rising inside of me. “She left already.”

My eyes widen in surprise. I thought she would have stayed, but she seemed distraught last night. That hasn’t driven her to put a wedge between us all, has it? Before I can vocalize my thoughts, Tatum rubs at the back of his neck.

“Speaking of her, something is off,” he murmurs, and I blink at him.

“Off?” I repeat, and to my surprise, a round of nods comes from everyone else in the room, Minnie included.

“I can’t place it. I’m sure she’s stressed about all things coven-wise, but… I feel it too,” she admits, and I gape in disbelief.

“In what way? I don’t understand,” I press, but I don’t doubt there’s something, not if it’s come to Tatum’s attention, and Minnie’s too.

“It was weird when Professor Whitmore wouldn’t let us leave the academy, forcing us to wait until morning to come searching for you.

We waited by the portal, and when Bryony showed up, she said she had spoken to Whitmore and he gave her the code to let us out,” Blaze states, nostrils flaring with irritation.

I rear back in surprise. That is odd, but not odd enough to cause suspicion. I don’t think?

“She was also cowering away last night. The fear in her eyes, there was more to it,” Tatum adds, and I shake my head.

“I mean, The Crow carries a presence like no one else. I’d be scared too,” I acknowledge, and he tilts his head at me.

“The supernatural world knows of him. Sure, some quiver, but you have barely been a part of this world and didn’t falter. As a member of the Renegade Coven, and now apparently a center witch, you would expect more.”

I flop back against Wylder at a loss.

Peering at Minnie, hoping for something to balance out the concerns, her smile falls flat. “She’s been super spacey, and asking questions I don’t know if she should have the answer to,” she breathes, and Lincoln snarls.

“We can’t have a mole in our inner circle,” he snaps, and Asher hums.

“Then that’s where we start, with Bryony. Maybe it will lead to some answers.”

“Agreed,” Wylder says firmly, his breath at my neck.

“And me, where do I start?” I ask, knowing I’m going to have to head back to my new fake life.

Blaze purses his lips, wiping a hand down his face before he sighs. “You’re not going to like what I say,” he mutters, and I exhale, feeling myself deflate.

A disgruntled sigh parts my lips as I meet his gaze, but I don’t hide away from what I know is coming. “You’re going to tell me I need to reach out to my parents, aren’t you?”

He nods, sweeping his tongue along his bottom lip. “Yes, and you need to speak to your professor so we can get in touch with Belladora again,” he adds, and Lincoln mutters his agreement, providing me the rare pleasure of witnessing the two of them co-existing.

Sitting tall in Wylder’s lap, I know my time with my family has come to an end. “So I have to go back?” I ask, knowing it already, but needing to hear it from the others.

“You have to go back,” Wylder confirms as he presses a kiss to my shoulder, and it fuels me with a level of drive I’m not familiar with.

I’ll do it, though. I’ll go because that’s what we need, and because I know I’m coming back to them.

“Don’t worry, though, Little Witch. We won’t be far behind you. I promise you that.”