Page 10

BLAZE

I knew the chances were slim of her actually heeding my order, if not impossible, but the onslaught of rage that this beautiful woman can expel drifts to nothingness as she sleeps.

I’m taking that as a win. Watching her eyelashes dust over her skin as she catches up on some much-needed healing is impressive.

I wonder how many others have had the privilege of this view? I wonder if they had it and took it for granted without even realizing.

My mind drifts to the wolves and I shut down that train of thought.

Instead, I recenter my focus on the woman before me.

She's feisty, that's for sure. Putting up a fight isn't something that is second nature to her.

It somehow has a way of enhancing her from head to toe, inside and out, like she takes a step closer to finding her true self with every breath she takes.

It’s not an easy road, but she’s taking it.

All it does is prove to me that she spent her life surviving, pushing, fighting for another day.

And even now, as she finds herself at Trinity Falls Academy, finally aware of what her future may hold, she doesn’t hunker down and pretend none of it exists, she just stands taller, works harder, and takes no prisoners.

Me included.

I shouldn't expect anything less from my bound.

Bound.

Who knew one five letter word could hold so much weight?

Since it happened, I haven't really had time to think about it. I wasn't ready for her to know. I wasn't ready to truly acknowledge it myself. I was quite content with our secret moments in the shadows that began to hold more meaning as every interaction proceeded.

But now it's real. Now it's out there for others to know. Then, eventually, he will know.

That's what I have been trying to avoid. Yet the moment I saw her injured, I threw caution to the wind and did what was necessary. It’s not every day you see silver hair in the arms of a wolf, rushing across campus. Well, not with all of them frantic and panicked anyway.

I won't be shocked if the wolves are already passing their rumors around now, blindly finding a way for it to get back to him before I leave the medical center.

I know they’re still here, the nurse is keeping me updated, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t begun shredding me to pieces for everyone else to observe.

I’m already a villain on campus. That’s what happens when you have to protect yourself and kill someone in self defense.

My actions caused another to die, a fact I would have been a little more sad about if it wasn’t the exact girl who tried to hurt Polaris when she first arrived.

She doesn’t know I know, but I’ve been watching long enough.

Never mind what he will have to think, I have to consider my family too. My mother will be happy, proud even, and I can already picture her crying. My father on the other hand… I can sense his disappointment already.

In reality, he should know better than anyone that being bound is out of our control. My mother wasn't always a vampire. She changed for him. She was a devoted human destined by blood to hunt the supernatural. She still does, but not my father.

He’s made it clear he expects me to find a vampire bound, like it’s that simple, but I’m sure he would have preferred anything other than a witch. He's never going to understand. The only thing that may sway him is seeing her coin.

As the thought flashes through my mind, I slip my hand into my pocket.

My coin has been passed down through the generations of my family.

The little information I have didn't come from my father, but my grandfather. I’ve never really known its importance until I saw Polaris had one too.

The main thing my grandfather said was, “When the coins are in the right hands, you shall find your destiny.”

No truer words have ever been spoken. Especially now that I have my Amica Mea.

There’s more to it, I can sense it. This coin holds more weight than ever before, and I’m sure, in time, I’ll find out the root reason.

My cell phone vibrates in my other pocket, pulling me from my thoughts. Reluctantly, I tear my gaze away from her sleeping form to glance at the screen. It’s a text message from a number I don’t recognize, but the second I read the words, I know who it’s come from.

Unknown: I want to see her. Don't think you can keep her away from me. You won’t make it out alive.

If that's not Wylder, I don't know who it could be. It’s his tone for sure.

That’s the thing the wolves don’t realize: I’ve had my sights set on Polaris Beauchamp since the moment Lincoln knocked her to the ground when she arrived on campus. I’ve watched it all.

Her pain, her excitement, her lust. I’ve witnessed every moment. From her secret meets with Tatum in the forest maze to the spectacle of Asher fucking her over the VIP balcony at The Aurum.

I’ve had time to adjust to the fact that I’m going to have to share this woman.

I didn’t want to and I really shouldn’t have to, but it’s not in my hands, not if the coin means what I think it does.

My priority is my devoted being safe at all times, and the truth is, it’s not always going to be me that can ensure that’s the case. Not when I come with my own dangers.

Stuffing my cell phone back into my pocket, ignoring Wylder’s tantrum, I barely manage to pull my hand back out of my pocket before it vibrates again. Only this time, it's not from a message, but an incoming call.

The second I see the name on the screen, I rise from my seat, discreetly hurrying from the room to try and not disturb her. I catch a glimpse of her sleeping form before I close the door behind me.

I answer the call and lift my device to my ear. “Where are you?”

I’m greeted with fury before I can even say hello. Not that I would, which is probably why they know to cut to the chase.

“At the Medical Center.”

“I’m aware. Why?”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask why they bothered asking, but I know it won’t get me anywhere. “I don't think it's any of your business,” I reply, and the silence that greets me offers no comfort. I grow more concerned with every moment that passes until he speaks again.

“Why can't I get into your room?”

My spine stiffens. “Why would you want to get into my room?” I retort and he laughs. There's no humor involved, only the sharp edge of a knife threatening to slice through me, even from here.

“I’ve heard a rumor.”

“Which is…”

I can picture him now, running his tongue along his teeth, stretching out the moment to ensure his superiority is known. “That you're hiding my lunch.”

“I don't know what you're talking about,” I answer, using every piece of my focus to keep my voice neutral.

“I want access to your room.”

“Well, that's a hard no,” I grumble, and he snorts.

“I think you're forgetting how this works.” The threat is clear, the challenge more so.

“I recall perfectly.”

“I want you back here now .”

“No can do,” I reply, and I can feel his anger burning through the phone

“Blaze, do I need to remind you?—”

I hit the red button and tuck my cell phone away before I have to listen to any more of his bullshit. I understand the hierarchy of vampires. I understand how all this is supposed to work. But fuck that if they think I’m just going to accept it.

Exhaling, I turn to look through the window beside me. It doesn’t look into Polaris’s room, I've made sure to close her blinds for privacy, but the blinds in the next room stand wide open, offering a view of the motherfucker I put there: Terence, or The Cunt, as I prefer to call him.

My ears prickle with the light footsteps of someone approaching, and when I peer to my left I find the nurse heading toward me.

She clears her throat. “Have you decided what you want us to do with him yet?” she asks, and I turn back to look at the motherfucker hooked up to more leads than he deserves.

“No.”

I can sense her shuffling nervously from foot to foot before she speaks again. “There's only so long I'll be able to keep him in here like this. More than that, some girl just showed up trying to speak with you.”

It was bound to happen eventually. Especially if he knows where I am. A minion will come hunting soon enough.

“He stays how he is until I say otherwise,” I snarl, directing my anger at the wrong person as a gasp rings out.

I snap my gaze to the left. I was so consumed with my rage for the man in the bed before me, and the hierarchy of the vampires creeping up on me, that I allowed my defenses to slip.

It’s too late for me to avoid the inevitable as Polaris comes to a stop beside me in her medical gown with her hand plastered against her lips, eyes wide as she mutters one single letter.

“T.”

I grunt, nostrils flaring as I follow her line of sight. “Don't feel sorry for him.”

She turns to me with disbelief shining in her eyes. “Don't tell me what to do.”

I snort and drag my hair back off my face. “The one good thing the world has done is make sure he knows his place,” I state, and she gasps again.

“Don't be heartless.”

I spin to her. “Don't be na?ve. Are you forgetting that he wanted to feed on you?”

She shivers, but I need to drive the point home. “Imagine what the wolves would say if they knew that fact. What do you think they would do to him? We already saw what happened when Lincoln realized he wanted to be the one to take your purity,” I rasp, watching as her eyes widen.

“You're lying. T wouldn’t choose to take my…” Her words trail off as she remembers where Benjamin is and why.

I cock a brow at her. “Your inability to finish your own sentence tells me you know I’m not.”

She purses her lips, giving me a narrowed glare before she turns away from me, refusing to admit how in the wrong she is. “How long has he been here?” she asks, lips twisting nervously.

I consider ignoring her question, but I have nothing to hide. “Since the night you chased him in the woods,” I answer, feeling her eyes return to the side of my face.