Page 44 of Savage Desire

Or maybe I’m just being ridiculous.

“Are you ready for lunch? I’m starving,” she murmurs as we step outside into the midday sun, and I sigh at the same time my stomach grumbles.

With the heat of the sun hitting my skin, the remaining trembles connecting me to Mrs. Stephens drift off and I remember she’s not here. A conversation is going to be needed with Professor Juniper next time, though, because I cannot handle seeing that bitch again.

No. Way.

With my new book in hand, a grimoire as Juniper called it, I’m excited to get through the day and avoid the wolves and the disaster that seems to follow me so I can sink into the pages tonight. I’m ready to learn more. Desperate, really.

As we cut across the perfectly manicured lawns, a burst of anger bites through the air, making Bryony and I jolt with surprise. Not just the two of us, everyone, as all eyes search for the source.

“What's going on?” she murmurs, pointing in the distance, and I shake out of my funk, bewildered by what she means. “Oh, shit,” she blurts, grabbing my hand and tugging me along at her side.

I have no idea what’s going on as we hurry, following everyone else as they form a circle, and when I spy the impending carnage awaiting in the center, I gulp.

“Is that…”

“Yeah. It’s Declan, the wolf that killed Dean, and then…”

Bryony’s words trail off, but I understand.

Veronica.

Declan is the wolf that killed Dean, the creepy vampire who was connected to Veronica through the blood kin curse, and she died right along with him.

I don’t recall Declan at all. I only saw the aftermath of his actions, but now that he’s here, among the students, he seemsdisheveled and mad.Reallymad. His clothes are crumpled and dirty, ripped with dark-red stains splattered over what seems to have been a white t-shirt. His hair sticks up in every direction, his hands are coiled into fists at his sides, and the snarl on his face is menacing.

He doesn’t look happy at all. Neither does the guy facing off with him.

A vampire.

“I’m not leaving here until your blood is on my fucking hands. You’re all going to pay, every last one of you,” Declan snarls, eyes narrowed at the supernatural standing across from him. One I’m slightly more familiar with.

Blaze.

16

POLARIS

He runs his tongue over his teeth, eyeing the wolf raging before him like it’s merely an inconvenience, but the way his muscles bunch at his neck gives away the flash of uncertainty.

It’s almost poetic, laughable, insane, but it makes him real.

He’s also an asshole. The biggest one I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting, but beneath the façade there is a level of humanity that remains. Even if it’s hidden way,waydown deep. My eyebrows gather, confusion clouding my vision for a second as I shake those thoughts off. That’s definitely not what I think of Blaze. Wherever that ideology came from, it can go right back there.

“It’s time you faced me like a man, Blaze, and there’s no time like the present. Don’t you think?” Declan snarls, knuckles whitening as he takes a slow, measured step to the right.

It’s instinctive to expect Blaze to start moving too, but to my surprise, he remains rooted to the spot.

Two lunatics facing off with each other. How fun.

“What am I facing you for?” Blaze grunts, the gathering of vampires growing behind him standing in silent solidarity whilemy stare swings back and forth between the vampire and the wolf.

Seeing Blaze’s support makes my back stiffen as a thought comes to mind, and I peer around the gathered students, searching for those you would also expect to stand behind their own: the wolves.

As if sensing my intrigue, the sea of students parts as four men storm toward the stand off taking place center stage.

I gulp, my body reacting to their presence as their swagger thickens in the air.

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