Page 88 of Savage Hope

Drenched to the bone, I stare at the double doors leading inside as I consider what I’m supposed to do next. If she’s in there, and I storm in like this, it will only add to my embarrassment, but if I don’t try to explain myself, I fear it may make me feel even worse.

My face falls into my hands as I try to shake the rest of the fog that clouds my thoughts while the rain continues to pound down on me.

“Ah, so the wicked witch of Florentine’s isn’t dead then.” My gaze snaps to find Lincoln standing on the top step, glaring at me from his dry perch. My mouth falls open, an explanation on my tongue, but I don’t get a chance to breathe a word before he’s in my face. “She waited for you. She waited for you, and you didn’t come. Is this a joke to you? Is my sister a pawn for you to play with? Is that what you think? Because let me set one thing straight: I will make sure you regret mistreating her, and I’ll enjoy doing it.”

“I didn’t?—”

“Save it. I should have known letting her trust someone like you was the wrong thing to do,” he snaps, unfazed by the rainpouring down on him, too. I want to defend myself, explain what happened, but I’m transfixed on the droplets of rain that fall from the tip of his hair hanging over his eyes.

Damn.

I want to tell him what’s going on, that I’m scared, confused, and questioning everything, but right now, he’s rightfully defending his sister, and anything I say is pointless in comparison.

Instead, I settle on two simple words. “I’m sorry.”

He sneers, a scoff curling his lips further. “It’s not me you should be apologizing to. I don’t even want you to apologize to her, but she deserves an explanation, and you’re going to give her one.”

I nod, desperate for the chance, and he takes a step back, finally allowing me a second to breathe.

“She’s inside. Wait at the doors. I’ll have her come to you. We don’t need you causing a scene in the dining hall,” he grunts before effectively dismissing me and storming inside.

I follow after him, appreciating the reprieve from the rain. The hallways are mostly quiet, but I earn a few confused stares from the students passing by, so I press my back against the wall in the far corner and do my best to hide away.

“Polaris, what an earth?” Minnie turns the corner, eyes scanning me from head to toe, and I try my best not to think about how ridiculous I look.

My teeth start to chatter, and I can’t decide if it’s from the cold of the rain or the nerves building inside of me. I fold my arms over my chest, offering a weak smile. “I’m sorry.”

She waves her hand as she stops in front of me. “Screw that, what happened to you?”

Shaking my head, I force myself to keep my head high and my eyes locked on hers. “It doesn’t matter. I shouldn’t have?—”

“Polaris, cut the shit. What’s going on? I knew you wouldn’t just leave me hanging like that. Tatum and Wylder agreed with me. I’m not sure what Lincoln said, but ignore him. Whatever is going on here is more important.”

“It’s not,” I rasp, her whirlwind vibe almost bringing me to my knees.

“You can tell me, or you can tell all of us,” she warns, and I gulp, acutely aware that there’s no way out of this.

Clearing my throat, I decide on the former.

“I honestly don’t know. I don’t remember anything after leaving you earlier.”

Her brows gather in confusion, making it abundantly clear that I’m not making sense, but it doesn’t make sense to me either.

“This is not the first time it’s happened. Bryony mentioned possibly the vampires, but I don’t know…I have no clue.”

I swipe my hair back off my face, defeated in every sense of the word, and in the next breath, she’s bundling me in her arms, offering me a tight hug.

“You’re okay, Polaris. You’re safe.” Her words nestle deep in my gut, and as much as I take strength from them, I’m scared they’re not real. “Do you need help?”

I shake my head as she steps back. “No, I’m good. I just needed you to understand.”

“We can help with this, Polaris,” she insists, and I shake my head more firmly.

“Please, Minnie, please don’t mention this to anyone. I appear weak enough as it is.” Her smile is dipped in sadness, but she nods all the same.

I tuck a wet lock of hair behind my ear and she grins. “The silver came back, huh?”

“Sadly,” I mumble, and she rolls her eyes at me.

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