Page 12 of Savage Desire

“If I wanted to say something to get you out the door then I would mention the fact that if we don’t hurry up, one of your fawning wolves will be here to do it instead.” There’s a crinkle to her eyes as amusement morphs her face, so I glare at her.

“I don’t have fawning wolves,” I mutter, rolling my eyes at her as I shut the door to my armoire so I can’t keep scrutinizing myself in the mirror.

“Sure thing. It wasn’t like one of them broke into your room last night, had me waiting with a pizza, and?—”

“Okay, okay. I get it. It’s not the fawning, but the threat of one or more of them showing up here is enough to get me out of thedoor. Happy now?” I ask, returning a pointed look her way as I hurry to where she stands.

Bryony swings my bedroom door open with an accomplished grin on her face and I bite back the urge to roll my eyes at her again. Thankfully, she drops the topic, falling into step with me as we hurry downstairs and outside. The morning air is heavenly, the slight breeze lowering my temperature. Not that I’m hot, more stressed and worried.

Last night ended up going well, chatting with Bryony helped ease a lot of the worries I’d built up in my mind, and I feel focused on the things that matter most again.

My magic.

No bangles means I have abilities that I should be able to tap into, to learn and weave together. If I want to survive, I need to be able to accomplish as much as possible, and I don’t have much time. She repeatedly offered to show me a few things last night, but when I tried, nothing happened. She insisted it was due to my lack of sleep, and I slept as hard as I could last night, not wanting the same issue today.

Who knew I would need to be energized to be able to access my magic? If that’s not the case and nothing happens again today, then I’m going to declare that there’s something wrong with me.

“We stick together, remember?” Bryony murmurs, inching closer to me as we bypass a group of wolves by the entryway to the dining hall, and I nod.

I just need to make it through breakfast, then I can get down to witchy business.

The noise from the dining hall is louder than ever, the grandeur of the space unwavering despite the presence of so many people. If anything, the busyness only makes the sheer size of the room more prominent.

Bryony links her arm through mine, tugging me through the crowd toward the witches’ table. We make our way right up to the top end, hoping to avoid any issues, and the second I take my seat, my skin prickles.

Someone is watching me.

The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end as I lift my gaze, my eyes locking across the room. I gulp. It’s not one set of eyes staring at me.

It’s four.

Five when Minnie realizes what everyone is staring at.

She’s the first to smile, offering me a tiny wave, and I do the same back, blushing at the small interaction as she goes back to eating her food. Asher dips his head first, while Tatum sends me a knowing grin. I can sense his approval from here.

Wylder’s lips purse, his eyes narrowing an inch as he takes me in, and it leaves me confused. I can’t tell what he’s thinking from this distance. Lincoln, however, is far more readable.

Mad. He’s mad.

My gaze drops to the table, desperate to avoid the glaringly obvious irritation at my presence.

Fuck.

I knew Tatum was lying last night when he said they were all worried about me.

Not that it matters now.

Nothing from that night matters, not in the grand scheme of things. I’m here to survive and see past my twenty-second birthday.

If he doesn’t like me now, that’s okay. I’ll get over it, eventually, or die pretending to at least.

With my mind refocused, I load my plate with food, eating in a comfortable silence with Bryony. It’s only when I place my knife and fork down, clearing my plate of the bacon and eggs I piled up high, that she turns to me.

“What are you most excited about today?” she asks, and I tilt my head.

“What do you mean?”

“The magic, of course,” she replies, wiggling her fingers at me like that makes total sense.

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