Page 48 of Savage Desire

Torn, I swipe a hand down my face, and when I lean back with a sigh, I find a familiar wolf standing dominantly above me.

“Asher?” I breathe, acutely aware of the few students around us watching as a wolf lingers in the witches’ area of the hall.

“Let’s go, Polaris,” he breathes, offering me his hand. I frown at it, waiting for what, I don’t know, but he doesn’t move, revealing his patience as time stretches out between us before I succumb to his offer and place my hand in his.

He gently tugs me to my feet before releasing my hand and placing his palm against the flat of my back, edging me toward the door. I follow the silent direction, my grimoire pressed against my chest as I silently thank whoever placed it back in my possession amidst the madness that was consuming me outside.

I expect to see his friends, but as he directs me outside and down the walkway that leads to the onyx witches’ building, I realize it’s just the two of us. He doesn’t speak, a fact I’m silently grateful for since I’m running short on words right now.

It’s only when I trudge over the sand path that leads directly to the witches’ dorms, that I realize what I’m actually doing, where I’m actually going.

Rearing to a stop, I offer him a tight smile. “I don't know if I can be here right now,” I admit, and he nods, no smile in return.

“Unfortunately, Silver, it’s the safest place for you until we’re finished,” he states, and I frown.

“Finished with what?” I ask, and he shrugs.

“I need you to stay here until we're done sorting a few things out. But until then, I don’t think you should be exposed. I’m worried about your safety after today’s chaos,” he states, making my frown grow deeper.

“You’re not making any sense,” I breathe as he presses his palm against my back, more urgently this time, and despite my weariness, I open the door. As I turn to him, he continues inside, leading me up the stairs and down the hall until we’re standing directly outside of my room.

“I don’t think anything makes any sense today, but here we are. I need you to stay in there, and one of us will come and get you when we think it’s safe to do so.”

I blink at him, irritation rippling through me as I shake my head. “I can do what I want,” I declare, and the curl of his lips is almost amusement, but the heaviness of the situation washes it away quickly.

“Please, Silver. For me,” he breathes, and my eyebrows furrow. Before I can register this sudden nickname from him or the fact that he thinks he can convince me to do something because it’sfor him, he twists my door handle and swings it open, nudging me inside and closing it in one swift move.

It’s only when I hear his footsteps retreat that I realize I’ve never shown Asher or any of the others which room is specifically mine, yet between him and Tatum, they’ve infiltrated my personal space without care.

It’s about more than being safe. I have to be vigilant.

17

POLARIS

Dear Diary,

What in the backward Florentine’s shit is this place?

I thought Florentine’s was the worst. We all did. But I was safe there. Sad and lost, but safe for the most part.

I’ve been here for what? Barely a handful of weeks and I’ve already witnessed so much death and destruction. Well, technically, four deaths, two lost in the crossfire of the damn blood kin curse, but it’s still four too many.

I used to lay awake at night, scared for when the time came for Florentines to put us out of our misery and kill us, but now, in comparison to this mess, I can’t decide which is worse; dying or watching people die. And what happens when the curse drops and we have to actually survive? Does that then make me the one being the reason someone else dies? My blood kin?

Regardless, that’s not my life now, this is, and it was going well. I lit a candle today, actually more than one, and even accidentally set the cabinet in Professor Juniper’s room on fire, but she didn’t seem bothered by it. Apparently it earned me a grimoire. I haven’t opened it yet, it’s sitting all cute on my nightstand, but opening it feels too overwhelming. Especially after the mess out on the lawn. My head still hurts, it’s nowhere near as piercing as it was, but it’s still enough to leave me grouchy.

Speaking of grouchy, I’m mad. Mad isn’t the right word, but I’m irritated at the very least.

Asher walked me back, and I was too delirious to put up a fight when he scurried me into my room, disappearing in the next breath with my door closed between us. I’m more annoyed that I followed his order and stayed put. What’s that about?

I need to figure my shit out and stop being a pushover. I spent all morning amping myself up to be strong so I can survive, but at the first hurdle, I crumbled.

It’s embarrassing.

Maybe I need to think of some strong affirmations that will help me be a badass bitch, or maybe I need to work on creating a lucky charm for myself. I feel like I deserve one at this point, but it also feels likecheating, and I want to feel… whatever it is I’m searching for, for real. I want to know it in my heart.

I want to be my own reason for greatness.

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