Page 35 of Savage Sacrifice (The Savage Six #4)

POLARIS

H ome.

Four little letters forming one tiny word, which holds so much meaning. If I've learned anything, home isn't a place, it's them, and when I heard it from Wylder's lips, I couldn't move fast enough.

I didn't wait for an explanation, I just moved.

I've never dressed so quickly in my whole entire life, and I can say that confidently for the first time ever.

In a pair of sweatpants and a matching black sweatshirt, I toss my silver hair up into a messy bun on top of my head, slipping my feet into a pair of sneakers and head for the door.

Thankfully, I manage to get out of the house without being seen, and as the door silently closes behind me, I take a moment to appreciate the sun peeking out over the horizon, casting its swampy heat over the Florida soil.

Something twists in my chest, like I know I'm not going to come back here, not under these circumstances anyway. I know it deep down in my soul, and I hope I’m right.

I won't be able to leave Ben without any answers, but that's not something I should stress over right now.

Rubbing my lips together nervously, I head toward the spot Wylder told me to go to, just on the edge of the forest. It's funny how nature always brings me out of my shell, pulling me into a reality I'm not always ready for, but this time, my strides are purposeful, determined.

My feet pound along the ground as I eat up the distance, but it’s only as I pass the second row of trees that I spy a woman waiting patiently by a large Live Oak. She must hear me approach because she turns instantly, and I pause a moment to take her in.

Uncertainty doesn’t war inside of me as I run my gaze over her from head to toe, so that’s a good sign at least. Her hair is black and braided over one shoulder.

It stops at her waist, and I can't imagine how long it would be without the braids.

Her olive skin and hazel eyes sparkle with an abundance of wisdom that I can't even fathom. I’ve never seen a glint like it.

Like she knows everything in the world, yet is still eager to learn more.

She’s dressed in a navy pantsuit with a silk white shirt underneath, and her lips are painted blood red. She’s gorgeous, yet familiar, and I can't quite put my finger on how that’s the case.

“Hello, Dear,” she says softly, like we’re not meeting for the first time in a random forest. Despite the stranger before me, my shoulders relax as I take another step toward her.

“Hi,” I reply nervously, and her smile spreads.

“You must be Polaris,” she breathes, and I nod.

“I am. It's nice to meet you,” I say, stopping in front of her and reaching out a hand. Her fingers gloss over mine and her spine stiffens at the same time her grip tightens on my fingers.

I freeze in panic, unsure if it’s the half-sleepy delirium wreaking havoc on me as she openly gapes in my direction.

“Devoted,” she breathes, and my eyebrows furrow with surprise.

As I rear back, I can feel my pulse throbbing at my temples, accelerating the blush at my cheeks beyond burning as I try to take a calming breath.

“I’m sorry?” Blinking at her in a mixture of confusion and weariness, it feels like time stills as she tilts her head.

She clears her throat softly, relaxing her hold on my hand as her lips pinch. “You're my son's devoted,” she states, and it’s my turn to gape at her in surprise.

“Son? You mean Blaze?” The second the question leaves my mouth, I know it to be true. That's where the familiarity comes from. The shape of her eyes, the sharpness of her nose, and her full lips. She passed all of those genes on to her son.

“Oh, my goodness,” she whispers, sudden tears welling in her eyes as she releases my hand completely, only to wrap me in her embrace a moment later.

It's awkward, but the sense of comfort is there, and I find myself leaning into it, gently patting her on the back in return until she finally releases me again.

“It's so lovely to meet you,” she says, her eyes raking over me from head to toe. Once, twice, three times as she assesses her son's devoted.

Had I known I was going to be meeting someone's parents right now, I probably would have dressed more for the occasion, but I hadn't considered it a possibility when I stepped out of the house.

Embarrassment threatens to creep down my spine, but she continues to gush with excitement, unknowingly refusing to let me slip into my old mental state of fear and overwhelm.

“It's so lovely to meet you. I can’t tell you how worried I’ve been that my Blaze would never be blessed in such a way,” she insists, stroking her thumb over my cheek that continues to heat under her touch.

I don’t know what the hell is going on, but this woman is even worse with personal space than Blaze is.

Another thing they share. “Has he been a handful?” she asks, and I blink at her.

She cocks a brow in question, and I gulp.

“Well, he's been Blaze,” I managed to mumble, and she snickers, squeezing my arm in comfort, or support, I’m not sure.

“So he's been a handful,” she concludes with a smile, linking her arm through mine and tugging me into her side as she draws me farther into the forest. Each step she takes is poised and elegant, like she’s some kind of royalty.

“You must tell me all about yourself. I don't recognize you from within the community,” she states, and I clear my throat.

“Community?” I ask, searching for clarity, and she nods as she pats her hand on my upper arm.

Community? The only community I've been a part of so far is at Trinity Falls Academy, and I've definitely never seen this woman there.

She waves me off. “Yes, Dear, among the vampires, you don't look familiar.”

My brain short-circuits as my feet stop. I turn to her as a chill runs down my spine. “That's because I'm not one.” The truth flows effortlessly from my lips, with fear of the consequences emerging a second later, and I instantly wish I had kept my mouth shut.

Her eyes search mine, an array of emotions flashing across her features as she hums. “That probably explains why I'm not aware you exist,” she states calmly with a sad smile across her lips.

Uncertainty still clings to me as my eyebrows rise. “Sorry?” It's a question more than anything, but she waves me off once more, leading me deeper into the forest, and it seems I'm still happy enough to go along with her because I don’t protest.

“Don't worry, Dear. My son clearly worries about things he really shouldn't.

That's for me to lecture him over. Not you. Now, how about you? Tell me all about yourself, Polaris,” she insists, surprisingly unfazed by the fact that I'm not a vampire like she was expecting. “Oh my goodness, and mind my manners, I’m Beatrice,” she adds, making me smile before she nods eagerly. “So, what are you?”

My stomach churns. This question feels worse than the last, cutting through me like a blade, ragged and drenched in poison. “I don't know anymore,” I admit, answering honestly.

Her lips pinch once again as she assesses me, coming to a stop by two small trees forming a perfect arch. “Why do I get the feeling there's more here than what meets the eye?”

“Because you’re smart?” I answer, a hint of jest in my voice, and she smiles.

“I’m also not wrong.”

“No, you’re not.”

She tilts her head once again, compassion sparkling in her eyes as she nods.

“Maybe that's what I get to lecture you about then. But luckily for you, I have meetings this morning, so you’ve got some time. Although, you’d better be prepared because, as my son's devoted, that means you’re family.

And I’ve never had a daughter before. We’re going to have the best time,” she insists, gleefully, and I’m starting to question whether she could actually have any connection to Blaze because she’s so… nice.

She’s playful, joyful, and not an asshole. They might look the same, but this doesn’t feel like a similarity… does it?

“Okay,” I breathe, still not entirely sure what I’m agreeing to, but she smiles wider nonetheless.

Without another word, she takes two steps, dragging me with her as we pass between the two small trees.

However, when we reach the other side, it’s not the forest that remains in view—well, not the same forest.

No.

I blink. It’s the tree line around the vampire dorm. We're back on Trinity Falls Academy grounds.

My stomach churns. The last time I was here, I was dead. The last time I was here, I had fewer answers and fewer things to worry about. The last time I was here, I was definitely still oblivious to the darker edges of the world.

“Hey.”

Wylder's voice cuts through the air, interrupting my thoughts. I turned to him with a smile, but I can’t step toward him because Beatrice keeps her arm locked around mine as she assesses Wylder.

“My son sent you so he could avoid me, didn’t he,” she grumbles with a disappointed sigh. Wylder lifts his hands in a show of surrender and matches her stance, head cocked to one side as he glances at her.

“Blaze’s mom?” he clarifies, and I nod as she mumbles her confirmation.

Wylder glances over toward the building, scrubbing at the back of his head before turning his attention back to us.

“He didn't send me, but he didn't not send me either,” he says, clearly aware that there's a slight nuance under the surface, but she simply hums.

“Please do me a favor and tell that boy he better grow a pair and find time to speak to his mother before she takes control of the situation and forces him to socialize with me,” she says with a wink before leaning in to press a soft kiss to my cheek.

“Same goes for you, Polaris,” she adds, a giggle lightening the air around us, but before I can utter a word in response, she’s gone.

I blink at the spot where she stood, unsure of what actually just happened, when Wylder scoffs.