Page 5 of Savage Desire

“Good. As long as you're safe, that's all that matters.”

My brows crinkle. “I… Why?”

Silence lingers between us for a moment and I hear her sigh, heavier this time.

“You know why, Polaris. Last night was insane and you left in a hurry. We could talk about it more if you let me in.” I'm already shaking my head again before she's finished speaking.

Not that she can see me.

“I’m good.”

Silence greets me again and my fingers twitch against my thighs. A part of me wants to remove the barrier between us so I can lean on her as the friend she is, but mortification keeps my feet rooted to the floor.

Another sigh, a reluctant one this time, is followed by a defeated tone. “If you need me, you have my number, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Good.”

“Good,” I repeat, as my eyes latch on the door.

Bryony clears her throat and I know she’s not done. “I was hoping to hand this to you in person. That was what the request was, but I guess I'll just slide it under your door,” she states, and I frown.

I have no idea what she's talking about, but a moment later the sound of something brushing across the wooden planks echoes in my ears.

My eyes dart to the floor where a familiar flash of gold appears, stealing my breath with it. My heart ricochets as I gape in awe, dropping to my knees as I scramble to feel the knowing press of the metal face against my palm.

Tears prick my eyes as I stare at what has always been my symbol of survival, of hope and destruction, home and foreign lands. But now, the truth is before me. It’s so much more than just a symbol for me. It’s the same for others too. Apparently, all of those loved by the heartbroken witch.

Running my thumb over the face, I sit back. “Thank you,” I gasp, unsure if she’s still there to hear me, but even if she is, even if she responds, I don't hear her. I’m too consumed by the words Asher spoke when he saw it in Lincoln’s grasp.

It's connected to the first witch. That's what he said, that's what I'm supposed to believe.

Connected. To. The. First. Witch.

Five words more powerful than I can explain, but one thing is for sure: I don't want to be. I don't want anything that may come from this coin, but it's mine regardless.

I'm not parting ways with it, not when it holds secrets from my past that could unleash the pathway to my future.

With it in my grasp, I can and will face it all.

3

WYLDER

Sweat beads down my spine and gathers at my temples as I lose myself to my routine.

Lift. Breathe. Lift. Breathe. Ride out the burn. Repeat.

Set after set, my muscles flex and burn, fueling the adrenaline that I live by every day. Every lift ignites my heart, reminding me who I am and what I stand for. Although, just like a lot of days lately, my mind wanders to a silver-haired little witch that is doing nothing short of turning my life upside down.

But I have to focus. I have a fight on Friday that has to take paramount priority over everything else, sexy silver hair included.

Reaching my rep target, I push myself further, drawing out another ten before I set the dumbbells down and shake my arms out. Dropping down onto the bench, I blindly reach for my water, relishing the cold bite against my hand as I unscrew the lid and down the entire contents at once.

My eyelids fall closed as I take a deep breath, and the familiar flash of silver plays in my mind.

Polaris.

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