Page 112 of Savage Torment

“You already said that.”

I smile at her, a genuine one this time, but Wylder steps up to my left, tucking his hands into his pockets as he clears his throat. “Let's get to the point here, shall we? I don't mean to come off any crazier than these two right here, but do you happen to own something that looks like this?” he asks, flashing his cell phone in her direction, presumably to show her the coin.

“Oh, yeah, it was the only item listed in my personal possessions when I woke up,” she states, disappearing inside before returning a moment later with a black velvet pouch, the coin perfectly nestled inside.

“Holy shit, it really is,” Wylder blurts with a grin, and she smiles from ear to ear.

“Well, I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I'm going to need to take that,” Blaze declares from behind me, dropping the temperature around us, and she shakes her head, instinctively stepping back. She moves to close the door in our faces. “No, I'm sorry, but no,” she starts, but before the wood can slam between us, Blaze wedges his foot in the gap, halting her retreat.

Dammit.

This is going to get out of hand.

“No, you guys need to leave,” she insists, panic in her eyes as Wylder presses against the door, forcing it open, and I cringe.

“I’m really sorry, Krystal,” I breathe as Blaze cuts the distance, wrapping his hand around her wrist. He pulls her tighter to him as he maintains eye contact.

“Blaze,” I call out, worry getting the better of me. I don’t want to hurt her, but he pays me no mind as he leans closer.

“Krystal, you're going to give me this coin without argument. You're going to forget you ever had it, and then you're going to go back into your house like none of this ever happened.”

I watch in disbelief as Krystal’s body relaxes and she offers him the coin freely, just as he asked.

The door closes a moment later and he spins with the coin in his hand.

“We need to leave now,” Wylder states, and I shake my head.

“We need to understand more. We can't just leave her here,” I insist, and Wylder plants a hand on my shoulder.

“We have the coins,” he murmurs. But it doesn't feel right. None of it feels right. “We need to go now, Polaris,” he repeats, and my heart aches.

Blaze places the coin in my palm and I subconsciously slip it into my pocket, slightly defeated at the fact that my gain is someone else’s loss.

Not just anybody’s; hers.

A shiver runs down my spine, my gut telling me to stay and talk to her, but when Wylder tugs at my arm, I go.

“I know it’s hard, Little Witch, but we’re one step closer to understanding not only your past, but the history of the curse.”

35

POLARIS

My room is crammed once again, but this time, there are only six of us. Bryony and Minnie are harboring Ben in Bryony’s room. The moment Blaze explained the dangers of him staying there, my friends jumped into action before I could even say a word, resolidifying the fact that I may make dumb decisions sometimes, but when it comes to my friends, I chose well. It’s a relief to know that Ben is safe, especially since his name was also called for the upcoming ceremony.

I stand in front of my desk, two wolves flanking either side of me and a vampire pressed against my back. We all stare at the gold coins lined up on the tabletop. There are six, each slightly different in some way, but I feel so overwhelmed by their presence that I can’t really decipher what stands out.

“They're all reunited,” Tatum states, and I can't help but feel a sense of satisfaction that I was able to play a part in that. If I accomplish nothing else before my time is up, I’m glad I got to witness this. It feels right to see them all together.

It certainly doesn’t sit well with me that we had to take some from strangers, but I try not to dwell on the harsh reality, which is easier said than done when my mind loves to plunge deep into my guilt.

“What if the owners of the coins were just as important as the gold?” I blurt out, unable to deny the uncertainty that is taking hold of me.

I have no idea who the other person was, and neither do those who retrieved it. Apparently, they weren’t above a little breaking and entering and somehow managed to get away with the coin without running into anyone. But that doesn’t quell the concern gnawing in my gut.

Blaze presses a kiss to the crown of my head. “I’m sure we will find out.”

I hum in agreement, but another nagging thought takes over. “I still can’t get over Krystal. None of it makes sense,” I mutter, and Wylder squeezes my left hand.

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