Page 84 of Savage Desire

“B?”

I shake my head back and forth, my eyes drying from the strain of refusing to blink again in case he disappears. He stands before me, every inch the guy he was at Florentine’s, except instead of our God-awful uniform, he’s wearing a pair of loose-fitting jeans and a plain white tee. His hair has grown, curling around his ears, but the most concerning difference is the darkness in his eyes.

He was always fun, happy, and free-spirited, but now he looks… sad. It’s a three letter word I’m more than familiar with. He tilts his head at me, rocking back on his heels nervously. “P, are you—” My initial on his tongue finally spurs me into action and I dart toward him, wrapping my arms around his shoulders as I pull him in for a brief but calming hug.

I lean back, hands planted on his shoulders as I gape at him in disbelief. “B… I mean Benjamin. Is Ben okay? Fuck, nevermind. I… Where… What?” A haunted giggle parts my lips as he blinks down at me, confusion swirling in his eyes, and I quickly drop my hands to my sides.

“I’m sorry I showed up here like this, it’s just… when you didn’t come earlier I…”

I frown at him, my veins running cold as I lift a trembling finger between us.

“Didn’t come?” I repeat, my brows furrowing deeper and deeper as I try to make sense of his words.

“Are you okay?” he asks, concern etched into his features as I scoff.

“Are you?” I retort, trying to figure out which one of us is crazy right now.

He scrubs a hand through his long shaggy hair. “I was fine until you didn’t show, and then I was worried,” he states, and I shake my head.

“No, B. I… I’ve been looking for you the entire time since we got here. I would know if I had found you, nevermind agreeing to meet you,” I splutter, and he stiffens.

“Polaris, I’ve seen you three times now.”

I rear back at his words like he’s slapped me across the face. The usual heat that lives in my cheeks drains, along with the rest of the color in my face as a chill runs down my spine. “That’s not possible,” I breathe, and he quirks a brow at me.

“Why are you acting like this? You’re making it sound like I’m lying,” he grunts, his words a little more terse now, and I shake my head, lifting my hands in surrender.

“I’m not saying you, I’m just, three times? I haven’t… I don’t… You know what, never mind, we’re getting off topic. Are you okay? Where have you been?” I ask, reaching out a hand to squeeze his arm in support, but he darts back out of reach, his eyes suddenly wide with panic.

“We’ve been through this already,” he whispers, his words light yet weighed down with disbelief.

Panicking, I rub my lips together before I exhale. “You’re going to have to refresh my memory,” I murmur, forcing a bright smile, but his gaze only narrows.

“You came with him.”

I still, searching his eyes deeper, but he’s looking at me as confused as I feel. “Him? Who?”

His lips part, but nothing comes out. He swipes a hand over his mouth, taking a deep breath before he tries again, but the look of bewilderment only grows stronger. “I can’t remember,” he admits, and my chest tightens.

“A vampire,” I state, and his nose twitches.

“A vampire?” he repeats, like that’s not jogging his memory, but why else would neither of us remember who he’s referring to and how else would I not know what the hell he’s talking about right now. B is here. He’s right here declaring that we’ve seen each other three times already and I have no recollection? That’s impossible.

But then… I’ve woken up confused and alone three times since arriving here. Is that where I’ve been going? What I’ve been doing?

Holy fuck.

“Could it be Terence or Sian, maybe?” he mutters, and I shake my head.

“You said he, so that rules out Sian, and Terence hasn’t unlocked his sigil yet, or that I’m aware of at least,” I explain. “Besides, I haven’t seen him since…” My thoughts trail off as I recall the last time I saw him. The bruises, the beating, the wolf responsible.

Fuck.

“Since what?” B asks, and I scoff.

“That’s another story entirely. Definitely not one for now. Can you clarify what you prefer to be called?” I add, and he rakes his fingers through his hair again, tighter this time, like it’s impossible to hide his irritation.

“What’s going on, Polaris?” he bites, and I wince.

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