Page 81 of Savage Desire

“Always,” he insists, and I shake my head back and forth twice before he captures my chin between his finger and thumb, forcing me to look at him. “I don’t know what happened before, but I know he’s shredding the hell out of the dorms right now,” he states, cocking a brow at me, and I shrug.

“Make sure he shreds the feather and card from my existence while he’s at it,” I snark in response, and he chuckles, but the sound is hollow as he runs his thumb across my skin.

“If it was that simple, then I’m sure he would.”

All of the things he’s not saying hang between us, bringing my disaster of a life into the secret sanctuary I thought I had. If it declares anything, it’s that there is no hiding away from it.

“I’m in trouble, aren’t I?” He blinks at me, his jaw falling slack, but no words come out. I sigh. “Your silence is answer enough,” I mutter, and he scrubs a hand over the back of his neck.

“You might not be, but it never bodes well to catch The Crow’s attention.”

“And it’s his uncle?” I ask, seeking clarity even though I already know the truth, but it just doesn’t seem real.

“Unfortunately.”

Grabbing my backpack, I pin it to my chest before tapping the grimoire through the fabric. “Do you think there’s anything in here that might get rid ofhim?”

“I wish that more than anything, but The Crow does come with a few positives,” he states, and my eyebrows gather in confusion.

“What does that mean?”

He shakes his head as he stands before offering his hand out to me. “Let’s get out of here.”

It’s my turn to shake my head as I stare at his hand, refraining from grabbing it. “I’m not going to see him.”

“I didn’t imagine you would,” he states, a loose smile back on his lips, and I nod.

“Good.”

“But I’m hoping you’ll come with me,” he encourages, waving his fingers in front of my face.

“Where?”

“If I tell you, you’ll say no.”

I cock a brow at him, still making no effort to grab his hand. “That’s ominous.”

“Trust me,” he breathes, rubbing his jaw as I scoff.

“We’ve had this conversation already,” I grumble, and he shrugs.

“Not this one. It’s just fun. You can trust me to have fun, right?”

Silence stretches between us, uncertainty clawing at me, but despite my concerns, my hand finds its way into his and I’m on my feet a moment later.

I grab my bag and we’re gone, my fingers still laced with his as he tugs me along after him. The second we step out of the forest, people are going to see us holding hands, just like some have seen me hold Asher’s hand or walk with Wylder’s arm around my shoulders. If he seems to care, he doesn’t show it as he tugs me closer, his fingers flexing against mine as we head past the academy building.

Instead of letting the panic and worry of someone calling me out for being a whore ruin the moment, I tilt my head back, straighten my spine, and walk with a strength I never knew I had. If I want to hold Tatum’s hand, let Asher fuck me for anyone to see, have Wylder parade me around the wolves’ table,or give in to my attraction to Lincoln in the middle of the forest, then I damn well will.

Opinions and judgement be damned.

With a spring in my step and a spark of hope and excitement for what Tatum has planned, I don’t notice the figure coming around the corner of the building until he’s shoving past me. I stumble into Tatum, who manages to keep me upright, but when I blink up at him in shock, it’s not me he’s looking at.

“Watch where you’re going, Blaze,” he grinds out, and my eyes snap to the vampire in question.

His nostrils are flared, his lips curled in a sneer, and his hands fisted at his sides as his eyes remain zoned in on where Tatum holds my hand. His jaw ticks, once, twice, three times before he finally lifts his gaze. I rear back when his hand comes my way, but he stops himself an inch away from my arm before retreating.

“Fuck you, Tatum. Why don’t you and your whore get a fucking room,” he snarls in response, the torment in his eyes not matching his words before he spins on the heels of his boots and storms inside the academy building.

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