Page 38 of Savage Torment

“Need another?” he offers, nodding to the table, and I shake my head.

I side step him as I inch away from the wolf table. Bianca glowers at me and the guilt I felt moments ago washes away as I straighten my spine and stand as tall as I can, despite the juice still clinging to my clothes.

“I’m taking my breakfast to go.”

12

POLARIS

Idon’t see what my choice of breakfast is until I flop down on a patch of grass outside. I’m running on adrenaline. It feels like I’m going crazy. There has to be something wrong with me.

Maybe instead of acting like that I could have channeled a calmer version of myself and thought about the repercussions of my actions. Even more so, maybe I should have considered that Blaze was right there.

Fuck.

I’m not going back now. I’ve already made a show of myself.

Before I indulge in the croissant I grabbed in the middle of my grand exit, I steal a pinch of sand from my pouch and whisper under my breath. I exhale the moment I feel clean again.

Somewhat satisfied, or as satisfied as I know I’m going to feel, I take a bite of my pastry and my shoulders sag with a mixture of ease and defeat. Before I can digest my thoughts, a shadow casts over me, and I look up to find Minnie and Bryony hovering beside me.

I shake my head instantly, waving my hand for added measure. “You don’t have to?—”

“Please, you’re lucky it’s only the two of us. Wylder and Tatum were hot on our heels, but I didn’t want to overwhelm you,” Minnie states, taking a seat to my left while Bryony flanks my right.

A warmth blossoms in my chest, but I feel guilty for its existence. “You shouldn’t have had to do that, I’m sorry,” I murmur, and she cocks a brow at me.

“We’re besties, remember? Besides, it didn’t come without a sacrifice. Be prepared to be bombarded by them later. I put your magical kitty cat up for grabs as payment.”

“You did what?” I screech, eyes wide in surprise as she cackles, Bryony joining in.

“I mean it must be magical the way they’re all tripping over themselves to get in there,” she retorts with a wink, and I roll my eyes.

“That’s gross.”

“Maybe,” she breathes, a smile still lingering on her face as she takes a bite of her own pastry.

The silence that lingers is comforting, but only because they’re patiently waiting for me to speak. I take a few more bites of my croissant before I relent. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

“Shouldn’t you have?” Minnie replies, cocking a brow at me once again, and I shake my head.

“No, I…”

I try to find the right thing to say, but that only makes the victorious glimmer in her eyes shine brighter before she speaks.

“What’s up, Polaris? Can’t come up with an excuse for why she didn’t deserve to be smashed in the face for being a bitch?” she encourages, and I sigh, glancing down at my lap.

“When you put it like that,” I mumble, struggling to find a reason to defend her, but it still doesn’t stop the guilt from settling in my gut.

“I’m going to be straight with you, are you ready?” Bryony interjects, and Minnie cheers her on.

“Yes, that’s it. Bring it to her, lay some truth on us. Let’s boost her confidence,” she hollers, and despite the seriousness in Bryony’s eyes, there’s a hint of humor that lingers among the three of us.

Minnie always has the ability to lighten the air around her. I just hope my darkness doesn’t overshadow her to the point of extinction. With that thought in mind, I sit taller and nod. “Hit me with it, even if I don’t think I’m ever ready for what comes out of either of your mouths,” I muse, keeping the air light as we all grin at one another.

Bryony stands, wringing her hands in front of her as she settles her attention on me. “Our life was destined for disaster before we were even born. We can’t control the blood that runs through our veins or the curse that imprisons us. We also can’t really control the fact that we’re here, bound to one another. What wecancontrol is how we choose to live the time guaranteed to us. Once our birthdays roll around, everything is out the window. It becomes a dog-eat-dog world and I hate to break it to you, but you need to realize this before you’re swept up in it without a single chance.”

“Yes, I agree,” Minnie adds enthusiastically with a clap. “Especially the dog-eat-dog reference. Stellar. You’re taking good pointers from me, I like it.” I let the words sink in, the truth palpable. She’s reiterating my own thoughts and I need to really absorb them now or I may as well give up and not bother to waste my energy. “Besides, she deserved to get smashed in the face. She deserves a hell of a lot more if you ask me, but that brings us right back around to the curse looming over all of us because ending her ends another,” Minnie says, eyes narrowed in anger, and I hum my agreement.

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