Page 105 of Savage Desire

“We’re ready. Stop complaining,” Asher mutters, giving his friend a pointed look as Wylder takes a step toward me.

“Actually, before we go, is there any way you could…” His words trail off as he waves at my hair, and I frown as another sigh comes from Lincoln.

“He wants you to change the color of your hair for protection.”

Oh.Oh.

“Maybe. I think I have some left over from what Bryony made me,” I mumble, sliding between everyone to my nightstand. I open the middle drawer to reveal the elixir I was hoping to find. I don’t bother wasting time showing anyone since it will more than likely make Lincoln more irritated thanhe already is. Something I’d like to avoid if I’m going to have to spend the day with him.

Holding my hair out, the droplets hit the roots, slowly traveling down the strands, and the silver curls that frame my face transform to the dark shades of night. I rake my hands through the length, the color now matching my outfit, before I turn back to the group.

“I’m good to go, unless Minnie…” I shake the bottle in her direction and she shakes her head.

“Thanks, but I’m okay,” she says with a smile, and Lincoln grabs the door handle, yanking it open with a little more force than necessary as he waves everyone out.

One by one, we all march out, nerves flitting through me as I follow after them. I’m the last one to pass him, and before I can step over the threshold, his fingers curl around my wrist, pausing me in place as he whispers against my ear. “Don’t fuck this up, Midnight,” he rasps, and if it weren’t for that damn nickname, I would likely tremble at his tone, but the use of it reveals more than he knows.

Knowing my effect on him stirs a confidence inside of me that I wasn’t expecting. I meet his stare dead on as I yank my arm from his grasp. “You don’t get to call me that when you’re being an ass. Not now, not ever.”

“I can call you what I want.”

“And I can tell everyone you have a small dick,” I bite back, agitation getting the better of me, and he snickers.

“We both know my dick isn’t small.”

“The one on your head definitely isn’t, Linc. But if you don’t leave her alone, I’ll kick the one between your legs so hard it’ll make the statement true,” Minnie chimes in from behind me, making the others chuckle as I stand in a heated stare-off with the first person here to make me feel things while simultaneously ruining me.

He steps out of my room, slamming the door shut behind him before brushing past me with ease. “Whatever. I don’t have time to deal with this shit.”

My gut twists at his lack of interest, and the feeling quickly morphs into irritation at myself for letting him get under my skin. Again. Taking a deep breath, I try to see past it as I fall into step with Tatum.

As we head outside, I nudge his arm with mine. “We’re definitely cleared to leave campus, right? And miss classes for the day?” I ask, even though Asher already told me it’s all been confirmed.

“Yeah. Minnie took care of it for all of us. We’re good. With any luck, we’ll be able to take tomorrow too and do something fun to make up for the shit we have to deal with today,” he explains, and a ball of hope forms in my stomach.

I like the sound of that.

“Tell me the plan, Little Witch,” Wylder states, walking backwards as he looks to me for an answer, and I frown.

“What, right now?” I mutter, and he raises an eyebrow at me. “In the open?” I clarify again, wanting to be sure, and all he does is blink at me expectantly. Well then. “Head to the classified location, which I wouldn’t even recognize if you told me its name because I’ve spent all of my memorable life at Florentine’s, but that’s apparently beside the point. From there, we need to get through the security measures in place to find the chalice and the specific item Asher is searching for for his uncle. Which, again, I have no knowledge of. Actually, I’m putting a lot more trust in you guys here. Maybe that’s not the best idea,” I grumble, tucking a loose tendril of hair behind my ear as my nerves ignite further at the realization, but Tatum reaches for my hand, squeezing it for comfort as he draws my attention to him.

“We’ve got you, Polaris. Just like you’ve got us. We’ll be out of there in no time. Okay?”

The determination and belief in his eyes is enough to set me slightly at ease, and I nod, taking another deep breath before I commit. “Okay.”

It’s too loud.Waytoo loud. If I thought the campus dining hall could be too much, I had no idea what else was out there. Now, I’m a breath away from clamping my hands over my ears and hiding in the closest nook to block it all out.

“Are you okay?” Minnie asks, linking her arm through mine. I try to smile, but it falls flat as my face scrunches at the sound of horns blaring in the distance.

“I’ll be okay.”I hope. “Where are we?” I ask, barely able to hear myself think, and Minnie’s mouth forms a littleO.

“This is New York City, baby,” she says gleefully, despite the fact that we’re here to deal with something for The Crow. I look around at the hustle and bustle, people moving in every direction, and I already think it’s more than I can handle. The buildings are taller than anything I’ve ever seen before and the cars that fill the road seem to go on for miles.

“Let’s get inside before she does something stupid like reveal that she’s a witch to the whole human race,” Lincoln grunts, heading toward the building in front of us without a backward glance, and the rest of us take off after him.

“Ignore him; he’s a jerk. He’s also really stressed out, and I can’t tell what’s driving him crazier: the fact that we have to deal with this right now or that he can’t manage his feelings for you,” Minnie says. I stare at her for a moment before a laugh escapes my chest.

“Please, that man feels nothing but anger when it comes to me. But it’s fine, I’m over it. I’m over him.”

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