Page 91 of Savage Desire

Asher: I think we deserved it.

Stifling a laugh, I tuck my cell phone away and step outside. I’m going to need to eat if I’m supposed to have the energy to deal with them today. Everyone, including Asher, because that talk needs to happen. I’ve allowed myself a moment to be petty, but I need to get over it now. I’m already juggling the disaster of the blood kin curse, adding more issues is only making me sink in this mess faster.

The sun feels extra warm this morning, adding a spring to my step as I cut across campus and head toward the dining hall. Wrapped in my own little bubble, I ignore the rest of the student body as I near the academy building, but the second I step inside, someone yanks on my arm.

I’m moving faster than I’m prepared for and my back hits a wall a moment later, sucking the air from my lungs.

My eyes are wide with panic as I gape up at Blaze. He looms over me and I shove at his chest, forcing him back a step, and to my surprise, he goes.

“What the fuck is your problem?” I snarl. He folds his arms over his chest, giving me a pointed look as I force myself to stand taller. “I’m done with your crap. You need to leave me the hell alone,” I add, nostrils flaring with anger, and he’s crowding my space a second later.

There’s not an inch of air for me to breathe between us. His nose runs along mine as he plants his hands on either side of my face, caging me in. The rage I expect to see in his eyes isn’t there though. It’s something else, something?—

“You drive me insane.”

I blink at him. “I drive you insane? I do no such thing. I leave you the hell alone, that’s what you’re supposed to do with me too, but you seem to have some kind of problem.”

He snickers, but it’s haunting. “Problem?”

“Yes. I don’t know what the hell is going on, but you clearly have a problem with me, and I’m over it. You should get over it as well,” I insist, trying to remain as calm as possible despite the fact that my heart is racing wildly in my chest.

He doesn’t speak, he doesn’t move, he doesn’t do anything. Our breaths mingle between us, and with each inhale, I calm down. Too calm. He’s a lunatic. I should be in prime fight or flight mode right now, but I’m not.

My heart stills and I press my palms flat against his chest. “It’s you.”

The words are out before I can take them back. He cocks a brow at me, his blue eyes piercing. “What’s me?”

“The blackouts… the memory loss… B showing up in my room… it’s all you. Why?” I can barely hear myself over the thundering of my pulse, and at the mention of B he rears back, eyes boring into mine as a sneer curls his lip.

“He did what?”

My blood runs cold as he takes a step back to pace in front of me. Finally able to see past his frame, I realize we’re in an emptyclassroom. Not that it matters. I need to get out of here because if I’m right, I’m about to forget all of this too.

With my back plastered against the wall, I shimmy toward the door, but I barely make it three steps before he’s caging me in once again. “Nice try, but you’re not going anywhere. Why was he there?”

I balk. He’s not denying it. I search his eyes and fail to find even a hint of remorse. Before I can think, my hand rears back and a second later my palm stings with the contact against his cheek. His head whips to the side, but the sigh that tumbles from his mouth is more irritation than fury.

Fuck.

“I fucking love it when you do that,” he mutters, eyes closed as he relishes in the contact, and I note a slight pink starting to color his cheek. He’s completely oblivious to the fact that I’m reeling over his words.

He loves it when I do that? Have I done it before?

This is insane.

Gulping, I try to stop the tremor that vibrates through my limbs. “I’m leaving now.”

My words seem to go unheard as he fixes his stare back on me. “Why was he there, Amica Mea?”

I frown at him. “Amica Mea?”

He shakes his head as he leans in close again, caging me against the wall, and I back up as far as I can. He’s a mystery. An angry mystery of a man who doesn’t care that I just slapped him across the face. I don’t understand.

“Why was he there?”

I rub my lips together. “That’s none of your business.”

He snickers again, the sound as dark as it was last time. “I think you just called me out for it being all of my business, Amica Mea. How about we cut the dance that we always do and you can go on your merry way.”

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