Page 37 of Savage Hope

She has three siblings, two older and one younger. The two older siblings both survived the blood curse, which makes her nervous, but she’s a badass nonetheless. What she learned aboutme in return is…nothing. I have nothing to offer except the tendrils of darkness that Florentine’s infused within me.

I've barely been here a whole day, and the trauma that threatens to rear its ugly head now that I’m out of the bubble is enough to floor me. It takes all of my strength to tamp it down.

Running my fingers through my hair, I look at my face. Maybe it's the mascara she put on my lashes that make my eyes pop more, or the blush on my cheeks, or the bronzer or highlighter. She used so much stuff that I don’t think I look like the same person anymore.

Either way, I feel empowered tonight. I feel stronger than I've ever felt before. I don't feel weak, I don't feel panicked, I just feel…new.

A new me for a new place.

Is that possible?

It's not like anybody from Florentines is desperate to cling to the version of me that I was. Even if tonight is the only night I'll ever get to experience the freeing feeling it offers, it’s better than to have never experienced it at all. Right?

“Girl, I've got the perfect outfit for you,” Bryony states, running her hands over my new clothes hanging in the armoire beside me. She pins them against my chest, rifling through a few shirts before she settles on her decision. “Get ready here. I’ll turn my back in the corner,” she insists, giving me no room to decline, and there’s a part of me that doesn’t want to.

Sighing, I eye the clothes in my hands and focus on the fact that I’m going to attend my first party. I’m slightly worried about who else might be there, but that’s a problem for later. Right now, I want to prolong this fuzzy, exciting feeling inside of me.

I slip into the denim jeans that fasten high up my waist, change out of my tee for a cropped silk top, and step into the black boots I was issued.

Staring at myself, a twinge of a smile curls at the corner of my lip, and no matter how hard I try to drop it, it only grows stronger. Instead of letting myself get too carried away with these changes, I clear my throat, looking at the back of Bryony’s head as she stands in the corner, just like she said she would.

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Are you getting changed?” she retorts, and I smirk.

“I’m done.”

She whips around, clapping her hands together excitedly as she beams at me. “Looking as hot as you do, you can ask me anything.”

I roll my eyes at her, pretending I didn’t hear the compliment as I step away from the mirror. “The Alpha Pack you mentioned before, who are they?” She mushes her lips together, biting back a smile as she taps the side of her nose. “You have to tell me,” I insist when it’s clear she’s not going to say a word.

“Please, it’s amusing to watch.”

“What’s amusing to watch?”

“Them protecting someone, and thatsomeonehaving no idea. Especially when you’re not a wolf.”

I pout at her, planting my hands on my hips, hoping like hell I’m conveying a badass vibe like I want. “You’re talking nonsense. If you don’t tell me, someone will.”

“Sure, good luck with that,” she teases before she sweeps her hands over her body, muttering soft words under her breath, and I watch in complete awe as her clothes change.

Gone are the joggers and tee, and in their place is a tank top tucked into a mini skirt. Sandals now crisscross over her feet and a delicate anklet has settled itself on her right leg.

“What was that?” I finally manage when I find my tongue again, and she grins.

“When you figure out your magic, you'll notice you'll be able to do that and a lot more. It's my favorite part about magic. Somuch of my time is no longer wasted on mundane things. It’s fun.”

“Why didn’t you use that on me?” I ask, bewildered at the amount of time we just spent putting me back together again.

“Because I love the process of hair and makeup. Besides, it’s your first time. You deserved the real experience. Don't take that away from me.”

I roll my eyes at her sass, and she gives me a pointed look. “Now, are you ready or not?”

“If I said not?” I retort, and she scoffs.

“Then I’d pretend I didn't hear you because…what have you got to lose, Polaris?” she asks, and I freeze in place, letting her words drift over me before I exhale slowly, the sensation somehow calming a little of my tension.

“Nothing. I have nothing to lose.”

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