Page 34 of Savage Sacrifice (The Savage Six #4)

WYLDER

I ’m going to rip Professor Whitmore’s head clear off his shoulders, then shove it firmly up his unlubed asshole before spearing his cock with a rusty spike and parading him around in a victory lap.

It’s going to be one hell of a fucking victory lap.

But first, I want my Little Witch.

Staring off with the guard manning the exit portal, my blood pressure rises. I’m going to make an example of him first if I need to, but not before I get my girl.

My heart thunders, the distance between me and the woman I love making the pain even more treacherous with every passing second.

“I’m sorry, Sir, but you can’t use the portal at this time of night. I recommend you go and get some sleep. Come back at nine.”

I roll my eyes. He’s like a broken record. He’s already said this to me twice. My fists clench at my sides, the desire to slam one into the side of his face growing stronger with every fleeting moment.

“I don’t think you understand,” I start, and he waves me off.

“No, I don’t think you do,” he grinds out, finally showing his irritation with me. “There’s nothing I can do. Now, fuck off or I call Whitmore.” He cocks a brow at me and I grin.

The idea of getting Whitmore in front of me is alluring, really fucking alluring, but I bite back my snarl before I fuck it all up too soon, and Minnie’s words circle in my mind.

“They’re not going to let you out, Wylder. We all know it. But if you want to go and throw your weight around, have at it. I just… I swear to God, if you alert Whitmore to anything, then I’ll strangle you with my bare hands.”

It wasn’t a threat, but a warning.

The last thing I want to do is fuck this up and piss Minnie off. Not when she’s right.

Sighing, I step back, lifting my hands in surrender. “I hear you. But just so we’re clear, you’re at the top of my shit list,” I promise before turning away from him.

I’m barreling down the hall and back outside a moment later, storming toward the dorm buildings as the essence of dawn tingles at the fringes of life. The peeking ghost of sunlight spurs me on, but it’s not the wolf building I’m heading toward; it’s the vampires’.

As soon as Tatum offered insight into what he overheard, Blaze grabbed Bryony and ran.

Thankfully, Lincoln and Asher kept up with him, but my mind went elsewhere.

I wanted my girl. The moment Tatum explained what Bryony had told Professor Whitmore, her fucking father, all I could think was I need my girl.

I need her now.

Recalling the entire thing does nothing to calm the rage inside of me, but as I hurry down the path leading to the vampires’ dorm, I channel the emotions fuelling me.

I take the steps down into the basement, rolling my shoulders back as I force my mind to quiet, just like I do when I’m about to step into the ring.

This is no different.

There’s an opponent in there. She just happens to be a fucking traitor.

The heavy door falls closed with a thud behind me, and I manage one more calming breath before I step into the dark and dingy room.

My nose curls up at the sight of bodies chained to the beds that line the walls on either side.

All are incoherent, except one. If I didn’t know any better, I would think it was a drug den in here, but I’m privy to the fact that the vampires are the ones coming down here for a hit, not those looking worse for wear.

I might kick up a fuss about it on any other day, but right here, in the twilight hour, I only care about the stupid girl to my left.

Bryony is chained to the bed like the others, but instead of just one set of metal cuffs holding her captive, there are four.

Each limb is bound in place. Asher, Tatum, and Lincoln are sitting in a row by the wall, arms folded as they stare at her intently, while Minnie and Blaze tower over the bed.

“This is barbaric,” Bryony snaps, tugging at her restraints, but without her sand, she’s powerless. I think. If she is a center, then she could do more, but with what coven?

My nostrils flare with irritation. We’re still fucking clueless, and I hate knowing I’m not the one in control.

“Honey, you haven’t seen anything yet,” Minnie says sweetly, but the betrayal is thick in her tone, revealing the depth of her threat.

“Don’t tease with the idea of killing her. That’s my job,” Lincoln interjects, lifting his arm so everyone can see the blood kin mark etched into his skin. The one that matches Bryony’s.

“You don’t mean that,” Bryony murmurs, her voice wavering just a fraction, and I hate that she’s trying to play the victim. Gripping the foot of the bed, I glare at her.

“You better start talking before I decide to do what I wanted to do back in the assembly hall,” Lincoln snarls before I can garner my own warning, but despite my frustration, I spot the small gulp that bobs at her throat.

“Lincoln,” Minnie breathes, and he’s on his feet a moment later, ramrod straight between his sister and the traitor.

“Don’t Lincoln me. She betrayed us, betrayed you,” he spits, and Minnie’s chin falls to her chest.

“I know.”

I can’t bear to see the sadness in her eyes.

I know that if Polaris were here, everything would be easier.

“Why the fuck can’t I get out of here?” I grumble, and Minnie tilts her head to give me a pointed look.

“To go where?” Blaze grunts, his brows gathering in confusion.

“To Polaris,” Minnie says before I get a chance, and Blaze’s brows furrow deeper.

“Now?”

“If they know about her, then why isn’t she here with us where it’s safer?” I state, my chest swelling as my words fill the air.

Blaze tilts his head at me, lips pursing for a moment before he nods. “I can make it happen.”

Wait, what? Where was this guy when I needed him earlier? I scratch at my temple, recalling him darting off with Bryony before I first voiced my need.

All I can do is gape at him in surprise as Lincoln folds his arms over his chest, staring our vampire down.

“Wait, could you not have made it happen for us to leave when we were searching for her? You know, so I didn’t have to die,” he barks, and Blaze shrugs, unfazed by Lincoln’s quick shift in demeanor.

“I can get people in, but I can’t get them out,” Blaze says, as if that explains everything. Swiping a hand down his face, he sighs, glancing at his watch as he takes a backward step. “Focus on this traitor while I figure it out.”

He’s gone in the next breath, leaving the rest of us to blink at one another. If he’s going to make it happen, I’m going to hold up my end of the bargain and focus all of my attention and pent up emotions on the bitch strapped to the table before us.

Grabbing Lincoln’s vacant chair, I drag it toward the bed so I’m at Bryony’s side. “How’s it going?” I ask, watching the confusion dance across her features as she blinks at me.

“Not so great,” she mumbles, and I nod, tapping the backrest as I try to rein in my fury, using the chair between us to help restrain myself from acting on instinct.

“You fucked up, huh?”

She shakes her head instantly. “I don’t know what you’re all talking about. There’s been a misunderstanding,” she insists, sweat beading at her temples.

“So you’re telling me that Tatum is a liar, that he didn’t hear you having a little chat with your father, who just so happens to be the head of this academy.

He also didn’t hear you confess that you’re part of some master scheme that seems to revolve around Polaris, and required you to infiltrate us?

Is that what you said, Tatum?” I clarify, keeping my gaze fixed on Bryony instead of my brother.

“That about sums it up,” Tatum says in agreement, and I cock a brow at Bryony.

“I didn’t?—”

“Do. Not. Lie. To. Me. Bryony,” I snap, my muscles bunching with rage. “You’re either going to help right your wrongs or you’re going to die. What would you rather?”

“You wouldn’t,” she breathes, and I scoff.

“Try me.”

She glances past me, and I know the moment she settles on Minnie. The guilt that shimmers in her eyes is evident, whether it’s real or not is an entirely different question.

“Everything I feel for you is real,” she breathes, and Minnie cackles from behind me.

“I don’t believe a thing you have to say.”

Bryony’s eyelids fall closed, despair vibrating from her restrained body.

“I’ll help you, I will, I just need you to believe that,” she insists, prying her eyes open to settle on Minnie again, but I cut her off, lurching to my feet and sending the chair clattering to the floor in the other direction, so all that Bryony can see is me.

“You’re going to fucking help, and you’re going to do it without demanding shit from Minnie because she owes you nothing right now.

Nothing . Do you hear me?” I snarl, planting my fists on either side of her head so all she can fucking feel is my anger.

Her nostrils flare, but I don’t back down.

If anything, I like it. It fuels me, keeping me focused.

“Whatever you’ve done to Polaris, the lies you’ve told, the shit you’ve put Minnie through, that’s all on you.

I can see the guilt in your eyes. I hope it’s burning your soul right now. ”

Her lips pinch as water gathers in her eyes. “My mother promised everything would be okay.”

“Your mother? Amuse me, we know who your father is now, but that little detail seems to have slipped your mind.”

Her eyelids fall closed again, defeat rich in the air. “Professor Juniper.”

“Wait, Professor Juniper, as in the witching teacher?” Tatum hollers, and Bryony nods.

“That’s her, my mother dearest,” she whispers, a tear tracking down her face.

Professor Whitmore and Professor Juniper? That doesn’t even make sense. However, I’ve never really paid enough attention to either of them to connect the dots.

“And what’s the grand plan, Bryony? Why are you infiltrating a bunch of students like the world depends on it?” I bark, shaking my head in disbelief, and she blinks her eyes open to stare at me.

“Because it does.”

“I’m struggling to see how,” Minnie interjects, folding her arms over her chest as she glares down at the girl who has been lying to her, to Polaris, to all of us.

Bryony’s lips set in a thin line. “The order, the hierarchy, the balance between factions, it all rests on the blood kin curse. If you take it away, you take all of the control with it.”

“Who needs control? Besides, the factions are as segregated as ever; that’s not real balance, it’s fear,” Asher snarls as Blaze storms back into the room, the door clicking shut in the distance with a resounding thud .

He nods at me the moment he steps over the threshold, and it takes me a moment to realize he’s alone. “Wait, you didn’t call her already?” I clarify, and he shrugs, tucking his hands into his pockets as he glares at our captive witch.

“You looked excited about it,” he grunts, leaving me to gape at him.

“I am, but you’re a vampire. I mean, the one and only Blaze the asshole too. I was expecting you to walk in here with her,” I admit, and the corner of his mouth lifts in amusement, but he still doesn’t turn away from Bryony.

“I’ve seen more of her than you have lately. Besides, she’ll need your upbeat spirit for this,” he states, and I grin.

“I could kiss you, man,” I mumble, clapping my hand on his shoulder as I turn to him, and his brows furrow.

“Please don’t,” he protests as Lincoln huffs in annoyance.

“Can we stay on topic here?” Lincoln commands, but I ignore him as I turn to give Blaze my full attention.

Taking the two steps needed, I slap a kiss on his forehead. He shoves me off, but there’s amusement still lingering in his eyes. “I take it back, I?—”

I lift my hand, stopping him from finishing whatever he was about to say. “Don’t finish that sentence, or it’s your lips I’ll go for next,” I warn, wagging my eyebrows, and he groans, wiping a hand down his face.

“How the fuck do you deal with him?” Blaze grumbles, looking for guidance.

“We don’t,” Lincoln breathes, making my grin spread wider as I pull out my cell phone.

Two breaths, and the dial tone fills the air.

“Is this a good idea?” Tatum asks, glancing between my face and my device, and I nod.

“The alternative is for us to be separated while they know she’s alive,” I confirm, turning a withering glare to Bryony.

There’s a flash of guilt in her eyes, which feels strange.

She believes in whatever this is, I can sense it in her defiance, but there’s also a part of her that feels bad about it. Just not bad enough to change.

“Maybe we should go to her,” Minnie adds, and Bryony scoffs.

“My father is never going to let you off campus now that he knows,” she grimaces, and my nostrils flare with anger.

“No thanks to you,” I snap when the call answers, and a sleepy voice echoes through the line.

“Hey, Wylder? It’s really early, is everything okay?”

I plaster a broad smile on my face, hoping it comes through strong in my voice. “Little Witch, hey, it’s your favorite wolf,” I start, and she hums in amusement.

“Hmm, I didn’t know I had one,” she says with a yawn, and I grin, opting to leave that there before someone else decides to wade in on being her favorite. The topic isn’t up for discussion. Not today, at least.

“That’s because it’s always been me. Now, are you ready for some news?”

“News?” she repeats, curiosity thick in her tone.

I nod, even though she can’t see, knowing we’re one step closer to this all being over. “It’s time to come home, Little Witch.”