Page 19 of Savage Desire

“Yes, you're letting it slip because of some asshole.”

“That asshole is your brother,” Bryony interjects, and I hide my face behind my hands for a beat before I continue to insist.

“It wasn’t,” I mutter, desperate for this topic of conversation to change. Communication is not the best in this moment, across the board. Me, them, all of us. That's the one thing I've learned.

Minnie waves me off before pointing her finger in my face, a stern look flashing in her eyes. “You are a badass queen in a new place, finding your feet with a brand new level of freedom that you've never had before. We are not, I repeat,we are notgoing to spend that time worrying over others’ opinions and how they choose to handle themselves; my brother included or not. You deserve all of your positive energy. You also deserve the same energy from others, because you deserve a chance. Do you understand me?”

Wow.

If that wasn’t the most powerful pep talk I’ve ever heard, I don’t know what is.

I’m left gaping at my newly re-acquired friend as Bryony lifts her hand and the two of them high-five.

“Well said,” she sings, the two of them giving me a pointed look, and I roll my eyes at the same time someone scoffs in passing.

A familiar scowling face comes into view and my back stiffens as I hold back a groan. “You guys are embarrassing.”

Minnie stiffens, her jaw tight as she sneers, swinging her gaze to the right. “Bianca,” she growls, her lip curling in distaste.

“Minnie,” Bianca retorts, glaring at the three of us before she turns in the opposite direction, mingling among the other students.

“Does she even know how to smile?” Bryony asks, and it’s Minnie’s turn to scoff.

“No. If anything, she's allergic,” she declares, the scowl transforming into a complete look of delight across her face, and I can’t help but giggle at her animated expression.

The second the soft noise parts my lips, the professor calls for attention.

“Let’s not waste any more time, shall we?” Professor Drummond hollers, and the space falls into silence, awaiting her next order as I nervously shuffle from foot to foot, acutely aware of who my partner is supposed to be in this class.

The moment I think of it, I instantly search for him in the crowd. My lips slam together the moment I find him, a feat that isn’t too hard when he stands taller than almost everyone else here. His back is to me, giving me a second to drink him in like the other night didn’t happen. His muscles ripple beneath the t-shirt that clings to him and I watch as he stretches his neck from side to side. His fair, cropped hair shines under the morning sun and I desperately pray for him to turn around so I can catch a glimpse of his hazel eyes.

The only issue that comes with that is the moment he sees me, it’s going to burst the little bubble I’ve created for myself and I’m going to have to face the consequences of the other night. In a fantasy world, it would be like nothing happened, but from his stiff stance, I get the feeling that won’t be the case.

Technically, I haven’t done anything wrong, I’m just in possession of something they didn’t expect me to have. In all fairness, I didn’t expect Tatum to have one as well, but here we are. I’m not mad about it, but in reality, I don’t know as much about it as they do.

Do I want to rectify that fact? I don’t know.

I need to face one hurdle at a time, and the coin is not as high up my priority list as other things. Like learning to be a damn witch.

“Pair off in the same groups as usual. In today's session, I want us working on bringing people down to the floor. Again and again and again,” Drummond explains, her voice booming over us. “I don't care how many times it takes. I want every personto do it. If you can’t, keep trying. If you can, keep doing it. Defending yourself in this life is paramount. Any questions?” she asks, pausing for half a second before she claps her hands, not really waiting for an interruption. “Let’s go.”

Everyone snaps into order, finding a mat as a pair, but I’m rooted to the spot, nerves getting the better of me, until Minnie nudges me forward, clearly sensing my panic as she ushers me along.

As I turn my attention in the direction she’s encouraging me, I find Wylder already staring at me. His eyes meet mine and my chest tightens when his facial expression doesn't immediately relax like it usually does when he sees me. Instead, he remains closed off, leaving me to drown in the sound of my pulse thundering in my ears.

“Hi,” I breathe, feeling my cheeks heat as if on cue.

“Hi,” he mutters, taking a step back so he’s centered on the mat he’s already claimed for us.

I glance back over my shoulder, desperate to draw some strength from Minnie, but she’s gone.

Damn her.

Turning back to Wylder, I gulp when I find him already in combat position. His knees relax and his arms lift, and I recall the stance he taught me in our first combat class. “Do you remember anything I’ve taught you?” he asks, and I nod.

“All of it,” I mutter, my cheeks somehow finding a way to burn even brighter as I recall everything he showed me last week. Not just in combat class, but in the locker room after his fight, and on the log flume at the amusement park too.

Fuck.

---