Page 17

POLARIS

I don’t see what my choice of breakfast is until I flop down on a patch of grass outside. I’m running on adrenaline. It feels like I’m going crazy. There has to be something wrong with me.

Maybe instead of acting like that I could have channeled a calmer version of myself and thought about the repercussions of my actions. Even more so, maybe I should have considered that Blaze was right there.

Fuck.

I’m not going back now. I’ve already made a show of myself.

Before I indulge in the croissant I grabbed in the middle of my grand exit, I steal a pinch of sand from my pouch and whisper under my breath. I exhale the moment I feel clean again.

Somewhat satisfied, or as satisfied as I know I’m going to feel, I take a bite of my pastry and my shoulders sag with a mixture of ease and defeat. Before I can digest my thoughts, a shadow casts over me, and I look up to find Minnie and Bryony hovering beside me.

I shake my head instantly, waving my hand for added measure. “You don’t have to?—”

“Please, you’re lucky it’s only the two of us. Wylder and Tatum were hot on our heels, but I didn’t want to overwhelm you,” Minnie states, taking a seat to my left while Bryony flanks my right.

A warmth blossoms in my chest, but I feel guilty for its existence. “You shouldn’t have had to do that, I’m sorry,” I murmur, and she cocks a brow at me.

“We’re besties, remember? Besides, it didn’t come without a sacrifice. Be prepared to be bombarded by them later. I put your magical kitty cat up for grabs as payment.”

“You did what?” I screech, eyes wide in surprise as she cackles, Bryony joining in.

“I mean it must be magical the way they’re all tripping over themselves to get in there,” she retorts with a wink, and I roll my eyes.

“That’s gross.”

“Maybe,” she breathes, a smile still lingering on her face as she takes a bite of her own pastry.

The silence that lingers is comforting, but only because they’re patiently waiting for me to speak. I take a few more bites of my croissant before I relent. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

“Shouldn’t you have?” Minnie replies, cocking a brow at me once again, and I shake my head.

“No, I…”

I try to find the right thing to say, but that only makes the victorious glimmer in her eyes shine brighter before she speaks.

“What’s up, Polaris? Can’t come up with an excuse for why she didn’t deserve to be smashed in the face for being a bitch?” she encourages, and I sigh, glancing down at my lap.

“When you put it like that,” I mumble, struggling to find a reason to defend her, but it still doesn’t stop the guilt from settling in my gut.

“I’m going to be straight with you, are you ready?” Bryony interjects, and Minnie cheers her on.

“Yes, that’s it. Bring it to her, lay some truth on us. Let’s boost her confidence,” she hollers, and despite the seriousness in Bryony’s eyes, there’s a hint of humor that lingers among the three of us.

Minnie always has the ability to lighten the air around her.

I just hope my darkness doesn’t overshadow her to the point of extinction.

With that thought in mind, I sit taller and nod.

“Hit me with it, even if I don’t think I’m ever ready for what comes out of either of your mouths,” I muse, keeping the air light as we all grin at one another.

Bryony stands, wringing her hands in front of her as she settles her attention on me.

“Our life was destined for disaster before we were even born. We can’t control the blood that runs through our veins or the curse that imprisons us.

We also can’t really control the fact that we’re here, bound to one another.

What we can control is how we choose to live the time guaranteed to us.

Once our birthdays roll around, everything is out the window.

It becomes a dog-eat-dog world and I hate to break it to you, but you need to realize this before you’re swept up in it without a single chance. ”

“Yes, I agree,” Minnie adds enthusiastically with a clap.

“Especially the dog-eat-dog reference. Stellar. You’re taking good pointers from me, I like it.

” I let the words sink in, the truth palpable.

She’s reiterating my own thoughts and I need to really absorb them now or I may as well give up and not bother to waste my energy.

“Besides, she deserved to get smashed in the face. She deserves a hell of a lot more if you ask me, but that brings us right back around to the curse looming over all of us because ending her ends another,” Minnie says, eyes narrowed in anger, and I hum my agreement.

“You’re right.”

“I know, I’m glad you’re catching up, but for real, Polaris. You have to stand your ground and you have to be willing to do whatever it takes,” Minnie repeats, backing Bryony’s words, and I nod.

“Thank you.”

“Great, so my pep talk worked?” Bryony checks, and I nod again.

“Perfect, so tonight… girl plans or group plans?” Minnie asks, and I frown.

“I thought you put my magical kitty cat up for offer?” I reply, giving her a pointed look, and she snickers as she waves me off.

“Please, I always get my own way. Girls or group?” she repeats, and I rub my lips together in thought.

“The difference is…”

“Just the three of us or everyone else too.”

“I don’t know, maybe I should buckle down on my grimoire,” I reply, worried she won’t like my answer, and the way her eyebrows crinkle confirms she’s not sold on the fact.

“There’s plenty of time for that too,” Bryony interjects, and I offer a tight smile.

“ Not if I want to catch up.”

Minnie sighs dramatically, flopping back on the grass to look up at the sky. “I don’t like it when you’re right.”

The worry eases in my chest. I don’t know when I got my own emotions so entangled in others, but I need to get out of this. One step at a time. I sigh too, but instead of getting comfortable on the grass, I rise to my feet. “Me either.”

“But we need plans, and soon. All work and no play makes for a boring life,” Minnie insists, and I nod, but before I have a chance to respond, the bell chimes, confirming it’s time to head over to combat.

Offering her my hand, Minnie slaps her palm against mine and I haul her to her feet. The crowd starts to thicken around us as everyone else filters from the dining hall, but before I can get overwhelmed, Minnie links her arm through mine and tugs me along to our next class.

I silently thank the gods for putting this girl in my path again. Without her and Bryony, I don’t know if I would be here right now. And even if I was, my sanity level would be questionable.

“Is your wolf’s bane in place?” Minnie asks as we near the combat field and I nod.

“Yeah, why?”

She gives me a pointed look. “I might think Blaze is brilliant for you, but I don’t trust him with your mind just yet,” she explains, and I nod. I’m unsure what to actually make of her statement, but before I can think too much on it, Professor Drummond is calling out for everyone’s attention.

“Pair off in your usual couples. Let’s work on challenging each other today, yeah?”

I mutter my goodbyes to the girls and edge over to the usual mat I take with Wylder. Dropping my bag at the edge, I take off my sweater and place it over the top.

“Hey, Little Witch.” Wylder’s breath brushes over my ear as he looms behind me and I shiver at his close proximity.

Spinning to face him, I don’t get a chance to speak a single word before he wraps me up in his arms, sighing as he rocks us from side to side.

“Hey, Wylder,” I rasp, barely able to breathe, but the feel of his arms around me causes all of my worries to melt away.

He releases me all too quickly and I immediately miss the warmth of his embrace.

“What’s that for?” I ask, nervously twisting my hands together as I take him in and he gives me a pointed look.

“Just breathing you in,” he says with a shrug, stealing my breath so effortlessly.

“Breathing me in,” I repeat, more to myself than anything, and the corner of his mouth tips up at the side before he leans in.

I shiver at the press of his lips against my ear. “Totally fucking hot this morning, Little Witch. It’s not every day I get hard watching someone get hit in the face, but when you’re the one doing it, it’s impossible not to.”

My mouth dries as I try and struggle to gulp.

This man is a hazard.

“Wylder,” I breathe, unable to form a whole sentence, and he leans back, winking for good measure.

Accepting my inability to speak, I rake my eyes over him instead.

His light, cropped hair begs for me to run my fingernails through it, while his hazel eyes hold promise of all the sinful things running through his mind.

I know without asking that each and every one of them involves me, and my thighs press together.

“I’ve fucking missed you, Polaris. You’ve been injured, and not to be selfish, but I’ve felt left out.

If Minnie gets her way, she’ll have you all to herself for the rest of eternity.

Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen, yeah?

” He tucks a loose tendril of hair behind my ear and I blush, a mixture of his words and the realization that when I rid the juice from my body, I didn’t consider if my hair was messy now that it’s coming undone.

Clearing my throat, I try to calm my heart rate, but hearing him so openly express himself, in comparison to the mess I dealt with last night and this morning with Lincoln, is refreshing and impossible to downplay.

“Eternity, huh? That’s a long time,” I murmur, and my breath hitches as he places his hand on my waist, tugging me in closer.

“Not when it comes to you. Even eternity wouldn’t be enough time with you, Little Witch.”

Slay me dead.

When a man bigger than me in every sense of the word speaks softly, promise in his tone, I’m certain the angels at the pearly gates await me.

That’s the only thing that would explain such ecstasy from words alone, especially when everything else that surrounds me is drenched in a darkness that refuses to leave.

I press the palm of my hand to his chest as I run my tongue over my bottom lip, but his eyes dart from mine the second I inch closer. From the crinkle that forms between his brows, whatever has his attention isn’t good.

Understanding washes over me the moment I glance over my shoulder and a glaring vampire slowly walks past us. Wylder’s hand flexes at my waist and I quickly turn away from Blaze before he has the chance to try and speak to me.

“I’m sorry,” I mumble, and Wylder instantly captures my chin, tilting my head back so he can look into my eyes.

“Why are you apologizing?”

“Because if things weren’t complicated enough, they just reached new heights,” I say with a sigh, and he scoffs.

“If you don’t think I can take him then you vastly underestimate me. Get that fucker in the ring and I’ll show him a good time,” he states with extra fire in his words, and I shake my head.

“That wouldn’t be necessary.”

It’s weird and awkward. I’m not blind to the fact that factions are usually separated.

I’m not unaware of the fact that it feels like whatever this is between us, as intoxicating as it is, is likely to come with an expiration date.

Wylder’s never promised me anything, none of them have, so I shouldn’t apologize for Blaze, but, I can’t help it.

“Minnie said you have your memories back,” he broaches, and I hum. He searches my eyes, looking deep into my soul. “Good or bad?”

I blink at him for a second, surprised by his question.

“It depends. Both, maybe? There’s a lot for me to process, some things that may be relevant to you guys too, but as much as I want to reveal everything to you all, I’m aware that your loyalties lie with one another, just like his loyalties lie with himself. I need to be careful.”

“You don’t trust me.” There’s a tinge of hurt in his tone, and my tight smile does nothing to ease the tension bunching his neck muscles together.

“I do, just not as much as I need to trust myself, and even that’s questionable some days.”

“You want my loyalty?”

My eyes widen. “Wylder, I?—”

“I’ll give you my loyalty hands down,” he interjects, his voice projecting beyond the confines of the bubble our bodies have created, and I shake my head.

“I’m aware of factions and?—”

“I’ll mark the fuck out of you,” he interrupts again, his jaw now tight as his eyes storm with need and urgency.

“Wylder,” I breathe, but he shakes his head.

“This is serious, Polaris.”

“It must be if you’re using my actual name.” I try to ease the tension, just like Minnie does, but he rolls his eyes.

“You’re picking up too much sass from Lincoln. We’re going to have to rein that in.”

My cheeks heat as I take a deep breath. “You’re drawing attention to us,” I mumble, and he scoffs.

“Is that a problem?” The challenge is clear in his tone, and if I don’t watch myself, he’s about to get louder, and that’s the last thing I want or need.

“It is when the rest of us are trying to fight and you’re practically pissing on her leg like the lovesick puppy you are.”

My gaze snaps to the left, following the familiar voice, but instead of the usual wolf ready to come at me, it’s a vampire instead.

“Nobody asked for your opinion, you fucking jacked up mosquito,” Wylder grunts, and Sian rolls her eyes as she folds her arms over her chest.

“Oh my gosh that hurt my feelings so much,” she says dramatically, and my chest tightens. As soon as I feel relief and contentment, something else comes along to remind me how fucked up my life is. I’ll rest in Hell, I guess.

“Sian,” I mutter and she sneers at me.

“Don’t say my name. Why are you even looking at me? I bet you have something to do with Terence going missing, don’t you?” My gaze snaps to Blaze a few steps behind her at the mention of T, but the unfazed expression on his face tells me Sian isn’t privy to anything relating to him.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Sian,” I state, bypassing the fact that she’s causing a scene, then complaining that she has my attention. If I rise to her like I rose to Bianca, I’ll never make it to the end of the day.

Thankfully, Professor Drummond appears to our right, clearing her throat. “Are you done making a scene?”

“Ask her,” Sian grunts in response, and I lift my hands in surrender.

Blaze chooses that moment to step forward, a cocksure grin on his face. “If the witch is done playing?—”

“Keep her name out of your goddamn mouth,” Wylder snarls from behind me, his chest pressed against my back, and I take strength from his warmth.

“With pleasure,” he spits, glaring at me before turning away like I don’t exist once again.

Professor Drummond gives me a stern stare before stalking off, and I sag with relief once everyone gets back to their own business.

“It’s okay, Little Witch. Let’s work on those moves so you can snap his fucking neck,” Wylder whispers against my ear, and my pulse spikes.

I want the moves, but why don’t I want to use them against Blaze?