Page 28 of Savage Desire

“I’m good, I have sigil class,” I insist, and he rolls his eyes.

“Fine, but I'll see you at the party,” he states, not really seeking an answer as if he already knows it, and before I can open my mouth, he pulls me to my feet and crowds my space with his hands pressed to either side of my face.

His mouth is on mine in the next moment, stealing my breath as his tongue slips through the seam of my lips, claiming me in front of everybody. When he finally pulls back, I'm dizzy, my lips a puffy, salacious mess.

“I should go,” I stammer, taking a step back, and the smirk on his lips tells me he knows exactly the effect he's having on me.

“Yeah,” he murmurs, dropping back down into his seat.

I remain in place for a moment, nodding profusely when my eyes settle on Tatum. The look in his eyes is filled with unspoken words, but I can't quite decipher the meaning. There’s a huge sense of both positive and negative swirls in his deep brown eyes.

Unsure what to do, I step back, ready to get the hell out of there, when he taps his cheek.

Fuck.

My cheeks burn brighter than ever as I consider my next option, feeling eyes on me, but instead of taking a further step back, like I definitely know I should, I take one forward. Then another, and another, until I'm right beside his seat.

He leans back, almost arching in his seat as he tilts his face to the side, and despite my inner war, I find myself leaning forward. The world stills, the moment in time imprinting in my mind as I make it publicly clear that I’m caught between two men.

My lips brush against his cheek for the briefest second before I stand.

“Later, Polaris,” he murmurs, and I nod, my entire body moving on autopilot as I struggle to register what I’m doing.

My heart thunders through my entire body, leaving me pulsing from head to toe.

Despite all of that, my lips part. “Later, Tatum,” I mutter, turning toward the doors.

I don’t look back. Not even once. Who the hell knows what crazy stupid shit I would do if I did. I’ve had my fill of insanity for the day, I can’t put myself through any more.

10

POLARIS

Aweight hangs over me as I step into my sigil class. I feel even more out of place than I did at the wolves’ table. I'm just as flustered as I was in the dining hall, although now the topic of and reason for my discomfort has changed.

My gaze instantly drifts to Terence and Sian hunched over a book at the table to the left. Despite the fact that she’s released her sigil, it seems she’s set on helping him since he took off after her the other day. I wonder what it's like to still have someone to rely on since coming here. Sure, I have Bryony, and possibly even Minnie, but they don't have the lingering trauma of being a Florentine.

Maybe Danica and Helena could be of help, but they seem quite happy to just be the two of them. Although, I haven't made any effort to try getting to know them, as if I subconsciously know it's a lost cause.

“Come, Polaris. We have much to read through for your sigil to break,” Professor Sommers states as she scurries past me, barely offering me a sideways glance.

Nervously, I rub my lips together before I take a breath. “Professor, my sigil is broken.”

She pauses mid-step, whipping around to stare deep into my eyes with surprise, and a glimmer of hope flashes through them. It’s strange what a few little words can achieve. A sense of purpose and faith, and it’s only the beginning.

“That's wonderful news. You won't need to borrow any of the books in here then. Please, follow me,” she insists, and I hurry after her as she leads me toward the old books at the back of the room. But instead of stopping to flick through them, she pushes at the frame, and to my surprise, it opens up into another room. Not just any room, a library.

It's as if the ceiling goes on to the stars, lined with rows and rows of books, bound and wrapped in leather, holding information I can't even begin to imagine.

There are a few other students inside, each sitting in chairs or on cushions scattered across the floor. They each have books in their hands and a stack beside them.

“You have a lot to learn, Polaris. Now that you've experienced the gift of breaking your sigil, here is where you now must really learn about what this world holds for you.” She rocks back on her heels, a wistful-yet-strained expression flashing across her features.

“I don't understand,” I state, and she offers me a tight, soft smile, filled with hints of regret.

“There's a lot to understand, Polaris. Not just about you, where you come from and what your capabilities are, but also what you're going to be up against. In my opinion, this should be the first lesson you get, but it's only after you’ve broken your sigil that you're able to come in here.

“That doesn't make any sense at all,” I blurt, eyeing the books, and she hums in agreement.

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