Page 28 of Savage Torment

“I’m glad we can agree on that,” he grunts, earning a snarl from Lincoln, who snaps his gaze in Blaze’s direction.

“Fuck off, Blaze.”

The man under fire simply shrugs, somehow standing taller under scrutiny. Gone is the guy who whispers little secrets about being soft on me, the one offering snippets of what he wants and what he thinks we could be. It’s all disappeared.

“You put her in danger.” The words are heavy, thick, almost choking me as silence deepens, and to my surprise, it’s Wylder who cuts the tension by wagging his finger in the vampire’s direction.

“You have a lot to answer for.”

“Please, hound. I don't answer shit to anyone with fur.”

The snarl on his lips sends a wave of panic through my body as Asher takes a dangerous step toward the vampire. But before anyone can say or do anything, Minnie starts waving her hands in the air to draw everyone's attention to her.

“Guys, Polaris doesnotneed your crap right now. This isn't a pissing contest, and don’t even think about whipping your little dicks out to measure whose is the biggest. We’re not doing that shit right now, and definitely not in front of me. So, back up,” she orders, and Blaze assesses her for a beat before offering her a simple nod.

“You're right.”

“I know,” she says, rolling her eyes as Blaze gives me a pointed look, like her sass is my fault and not a sheer wonder of the world. There's humor in her speech, and I'm clinging to it like a lifeline.

The sound of a cell phone goes off and Blaze sighs as he stuffs his hand in his pocket. He wipes a hand down his face before his gaze settles on me. “I need to leave.” There’s disappointment in his eyes, despite the thick tension in the air. It’s almost as though he would rather stay here and face all of this than deal with whatever demands his attention. But he blinks, and the depth is gone as he turns to look at the wolves filling the room. “Is she going to be safe without my presence?”

“Fuck you,” Lincoln grunts, but Blaze simply cocks a brow at him.

“I can take her with me, but her safety percentage drops.”

“Why?” Minnie asks, and Blaze shakes his head.

“I don't trust you, but I trust her safety in your hands more than the scenario I’m walking into right now.”

“It wouldn't matter if you didn’t,” Asher states, eyes flicking to me like there’s more he wants to say, but he clamps his lips shut.

Blaze pays him no mind as his eyes burn into the side of my face before he earns my attention. “Amica Mea.”

My whole body vibrates at the sound of his nickname for me, and in a second, he closes the three steps between us, gripping my chin to hold my gaze. The wolves track his every move, yet none of them jump in, each waiting to see what he will say and do. “My number is saved in your cell phone under Tuum.”

What the hell is Tuum?

I shake my head slightly, but his grip makes it barely possible. “I won't need it,” I insist, and he grins, unsurprised by my defiance.

“Of course not,” he says with a wink. “But just in case,” he adds, and my heart lodges in my throat, thumping beyond belief.

I’m irritated, desperate to deliver a defiant response, but before I can react, he leans in, pressing a kiss to the corner of my mouth, leaving tingles in his wake before he's gone again.

He leans back, his eyes locking on to mine. Unspoken words dance in the blue depths of his gaze as a menacing grin curls the corners of his lips. “One more slap for the road?” he murmurs, and I stifle a laugh as I shake my head.

“You would like it too much.”

He runs his tongue over his bottom lip as he takes another step back. He's focused solely on me, as if he’s imprinting meinto his memory before he leaves, retreating toward the exit and disappearing from view.

“What the fuck was that?” Lincoln grunts, and Minnie huffs, wrapping her arm around my shoulders as she pulls me against her side, using her free hand to point her finger in the wolf's direction.

“Oh, you can all just fuck off,” she insists, and Wylder stares at her with wide eyes, hands raised in immediate surrender.

“What?”

Minnie scoffs, shaking her head. “You're not bombarding her with your micro penises right now. She needs a break from all the testosterone, and she needs to rest. The only way that's going to happen is with the girls.” She nods, solidifying her decision for good measure.

“Wait,” Asher says, trying to interject, but Minnie pulls us back a step toward the exit.

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