Page 120 of Savage Torment

He pulls it out with a flash of silver in his grasp. Before I can acknowledge what it is, he slams it against his chest, dropping to his knees as blood pours down his t-shirt.

I cry out in disbelief, pain clogging my throat as Blaze shoves Sian away, dropping to his knees to tend to Ben, but it's too late.

The lack of a symbol on his arm confirms it.

He's dead. He died for her.

My eyes narrow on the woman in question, watching as her lips set into a thin line as she stares down at him. Without a word, not asingleone, she storms from the room.

I think I’m going to be sick.

“Polaris Beauchamp.”

I'm not ready to face what comes next after seeing that.

Blaze is ushered aside as the magic in the room draws me to the center. I find myself stopping right beside Ben. I shouldn’t look down, but I can’t help it.

Silver protrudes from his chest and my heart aches. I gulp, embracing the whispers as a tingling sensation travels down my arm. I watch in fear as a symbol materializes. A vine stretches from wrist to elbow with leaves etched into my skin, glowing with an intensity I didn’t expect.

It would be pretty if the circumstances were any different.

“No,” the cry snaps my gaze toward the remaining students. My eyes find the glow before they shift up and lock on my blood kin.

Minnie.

I sink to my knees, my palm resting on Ben’s lifeless chest as I gaze in horror at my friend. My blood kin.

Tears stream down her face as she moves toward me slowly.

Lincoln’s words play on repeat in my mind, reminding me we have time to figure this out.

But this is different.

Sheis different.

All my life, the parts that I can remember, I’ve been content as a loner. Building wall after wall around me so I don’t get hurt, so I don’t feel any more pain than I already have.

Then came Minnie.

Minnie, who stuck up for me with her brother.

Minnie, who encouraged me to be the best version of myself.

Minnie, who showed me joy, happiness, and a freaking theme park.

Minnie, who just wanted to be my friend too.

My finger nips against a sharp edge, pulling my gaze away from Minnie’s as I glance down at the blade protruding from Ben’s chest.

All at once. Everything makes sense, but I have to move fast.

“Polaris,” Minnie whispers, tears spilling down her cheeks as she lowers to her knees in front of me.

My heart pounds wilder than it ever has before. “Do you trust me?”

“Polaris?” She calls my name again, but this time it’s a question laced with confusion.

I shake my head. “Do you trust me?”

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