Page 39 of Savage Torment

“You’re right.”

“I know, I’m glad you’re catching up, but for real, Polaris. You have to stand your ground and you have to be willing to do whatever it takes,” Minnie repeats, backing Bryony’s words, and I nod.

“Thank you.”

“Great, so my pep talk worked?” Bryony checks, and I nod again.

“Perfect, so tonight… girl plans or group plans?” Minnie asks, and I frown.

“I thought you put my magical kitty cat up for offer?” I reply, giving her a pointed look, and she snickers as she waves me off.

“Please, I always get my own way. Girls or group?” she repeats, and I rub my lips together in thought.

“The difference is…”

“Just the three of us or everyone else too.”

“I don’t know, maybe I should buckle down on my grimoire,” I reply, worried she won’t like my answer, and the way her eyebrows crinkle confirms she’s not sold on the fact.

“There’s plenty of time for that too,” Bryony interjects, and I offer a tight smile.

“Notif I want to catch up.”

Minnie sighs dramatically, flopping back on the grass to look up at the sky. “I don’t like it when you’re right.”

The worry eases in my chest. I don’t know when I got my own emotions so entangled in others, but I need to get out of this. One step at a time. I sigh too, but instead of getting comfortable on the grass, I rise to my feet. “Me either.”

“But we need plans, and soon. All work and no play makes for a boring life,” Minnie insists, and I nod, but before I have a chance to respond, the bell chimes, confirming it’s time to head over to combat.

Offering her my hand, Minnie slaps her palm against mine and I haul her to her feet. The crowd starts to thicken around usas everyone else filters from the dining hall, but before I can get overwhelmed, Minnie links her arm through mine and tugs me along to our next class.

I silently thank the gods for putting this girl in my path again. Without her and Bryony, I don’t know if I would be here right now. And even if I was, my sanity level would be questionable.

“Is your wolf’s bane in place?” Minnie asks as we near the combat field and I nod.

“Yeah, why?”

She gives me a pointed look. “I might think Blaze is brilliant for you, but I don’t trust him with your mind just yet,” she explains, and I nod. I’m unsure what to actually make of her statement, but before I can think too much on it, Professor Drummond is calling out for everyone’s attention.

“Pair off in your usual couples. Let’s work on challenging each other today, yeah?”

I mutter my goodbyes to the girls and edge over to the usual mat I take with Wylder. Dropping my bag at the edge, I take off my sweater and place it over the top.

“Hey, Little Witch.” Wylder’s breath brushes over my ear as he looms behind me and I shiver at his close proximity.

Spinning to face him, I don’t get a chance to speak a single word before he wraps me up in his arms, sighing as he rocks us from side to side.

“Hey, Wylder,” I rasp, barely able to breathe, but the feel of his arms around me causes all of my worries to melt away.

He releases me all too quickly and I immediately miss the warmth of his embrace.

“What’s that for?” I ask, nervously twisting my hands together as I take him in and he gives me a pointed look.

“Just breathing you in,” he says with a shrug, stealing my breath so effortlessly.

“Breathing me in,” I repeat, more to myself than anything, and the corner of his mouth tips up at the side before he leans in.

I shiver at the press of his lips against my ear. “Totally fucking hot this morning, Little Witch. It’s not every day I get hard watching someone get hit in the face, but when you’re the one doing it, it’s impossible not to.”

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