Page 53 of Savage Desire

Minnie leans in, planting her hand on her thigh in hopes of comforting her. “You’re not on the firing line, Polaris. We’re trying to help, I swear. But for us to do that, you’ve got to let us.”

Polaris turns to Minnie, eyes settled on hers for what feels like an eternity before she sighs. “I’m told I’m a center and I don’t have a coven, not after The Renegades…” Her words trail off, and I’m certain there’s a story there, but it doesn't seem like she wants to delve deeper into it.

“Being a center is special, Polaris. That’s amazing,” Minnie murmurs, running her hand down her friend's arm, who smiles back softly.

“I don’t really know what it means for me. I just know I have no interest in being in a coven, and my magic professor is going to lean more into teaching me mind magic next class.” She clamps her lips shut as if she’s said too much, but that’s perfect.

My gaze flashes to Lincoln, but he’s staring intently at the witch before us. I can’t decide if the look in his eyes is one that screams of his desire for her, or the anger and irritation he’s been consumed with since he can’t seem to get a handle on the things she makes him feel.

Fun.

“A center needs a coven, Polaris,” Tatum murmurs, his words cutting through my thoughts, and I snap my stare to the girl in question, desperate to read the expression on her face.

Confusion.

“No, I don’t want one. They… it’s just a no.”

“It can’t be a no. A center is fueled by their coven. It helps them ground their mind magic,” Lincoln states, his tone not as harsh as I expected. Polaris blinks at him, clearly unaware of what he’s talking about. “Does your magic professor tell you anything important or are they leaving you to drown?” he continues, his tone shorter, but it’s not aimed at her, it’s aimedforher.

“Apparently so,” Polaris admits, her shoulders slumping.

Minnie offers her brother a glare before inching closer to her friend, but I speak before she gets a chance.

“What I saw today, Polaris. I don’t really know how to describe it. You were delirious and overwhelmed.” She nods along as though those two words align with what she felt in the moment. “Seeing you like that reminded me of someone else I saw once, struggling with the same thing. It’s because their mind magic was in overdrive and they had nothing to ground them. No coven,” I reiterate, making sure she understands what I’m saying.

Her face falls into her hands. “What happened to the person?” she asks after a moment, her question catching me off guard.

Fuck.

“She died. She had nothing, no one, to tether her to the Earth,” Lincoln blurts, saving anyone else from revealing the harsh truth, and I watch as Polaris sinks farther into the seat for a whole two seconds before she’s on her feet.

“This is a lot to digest. I need to go. Can I have my things?” She steps toward me, hand outstretched as her eyes crinkle at the sides, and I shake my head slowly.

“No can do, Silver. This is the third and final topic on the agenda. If you’re done talking about your magic, we can move on to it if you like,” I offer, and she glares at me, huffing in irritation before she throws her hands up in surrender.

“Whatever. Get on with it so I can get the hell out of here,” she grumbles, the firmness to her tone reigniting the heat in my dick.

Lifting her journal in the air, I turn to my family. “Who wants to come on a little mission to prove to Polaris that every word she’s written in this damn thing has been recorded?”

Minnie rises to her feet, gaping at the journal in my hand, but the mischief in her eyes is a familiar one. “Oh, hell yeah. Count me in.”

“Me too,” both Wylder and Tatum say in tandem, and all eyes turn to Lincoln.

He stares at Polaris for a moment, his nostrils flaring slightly as his jaw ticks. “Do we get to read the recording?” he asks, a coy smile curling the corner of his mouth.

Polaris scoffs. “If what you’re saying is true, he can stay the fuck here,” she blurts, and I snicker as I rise to my feet.

“The witch has spoken,” I state, giving our leader a pointed look, and he flips me off.

“Don’t make me banish all your asses. I’m in.”

19

POLARIS

Every step I take is filled with trepidation, silently pleading for Asher’s statement to be false. He’s already overwhelmed me with so much knowledge that I can’t wrap my head around, this will just be the icing on the cake, but not the good kind.

I wish.

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