Page 5 of Savage Torment

“And if I’m willing to change that?”

“You’re going to have to be more specific because my brain isn’t firing on all cylinders right now,” I state, and he hides a grin behind his hand as he clears his throat.

“Tell me when you started using the wolf’s bane, and I’ll fill in the gaps for you.”

My head tilts as I narrow my eyes at him, trying to find a loophole to his offer, but I come up empty. Sighing, I toy with the item in question secured around my wrist. “After B came to my room.”

He nods, letting those words take root. “So you remember our kiss.” The flash of his heated lips on mine in a brief and intoxicating flicker of time consumes my thoughts and the telltale burn at my cheeks comes alive.

“I remember.”

“Nothing else before that?” he clarifies, and I shake my head as he presses his palms against the arms of the chair and rises to his feet.

“Nothing. I think it’s only fair that you let me remember the rest of it,” I insist, and he fails to wipe another smile from his lips. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this guy smile unless he’s causing me rage.

He leans closer, hands coming to my face, and I stiffen. “I can show you.”

“Show me?” I repeat, startled by the fact that he’s actually agreeing to this, and he nods. “Why would you show me?” Ibreathe, regretting the words as soon as they leave my tongue, but instead of retreating or rethinking his offer, he only seems to draw closer so the tips of our noses are pressed together.

“Because you’re never going to fall for me otherwise.”

3

POLARIS

His fingertips press against my temples, and before I can determine how I feel about the intonations slipping from his lips, my mind is transported into the past. My eyelids close, blinking open a moment later to reveal the familiar halls that run throughout the main academy building.

Panic flickers in my chest as my gaze snaps from left to right, an overwhelming sense of loss consuming me. Nothing seems familiar; yet, I know these halls. However, as I turn the next corner, desperately searching for something, I collide with a hard chest. Just before I collapse in a heap on the floor, a hand wraps around my upper arm, halting the inevitable as I blink up at the figure looming over me.

Black hair frames his face as piercing blue eyes bore into mine.

Blaze.

Panic shifts to fear as I attempt to wiggle out of his hold, but every inch I move only appears to make his grip tighten further.

“Easy targets like you shouldn’t wander around alone,” he sneers, nostrils flaring with irritation, and I scoff, disbelief dripping from my tone as I stare at him.

“I wouldn’t be seen as an easy target for anyone but a monster waiting to catch its next victim,” I snap back, but the harsh words only make his smile widen.

“I prefer the cliché saying about the predator hunting its prey,” he retorts, leaning in closer as I attempt to step out of his reach, but with his hand on my arm and the wall suddenly behind me, I only worsen the situation for myself.

Clearing my throat, I strive to exude confidence, but the chances are slim. It doesn’t stop me from straightening my shoulders, the back of my head settling against the wall as I keep my chin held high.

“Well, as cliché as this has been. I’m leaving now,” I state, trying and failing to yank my arm from his grip for the third time, and I huff with agitation.

“You leave when I say you can leave,” he bites, his words almost hushed as I cock a brow at him.

“Oh, is that so? Can I get that in writing, so I have an explanation for why I’m late to class? I wasn’t aware that a vampire's word counted as an excuse for me to be late.”

His fingers flex tighter around my wrist, the pain bordering unbearable, but despite my brows crinkling together, I keep my mouth shut.

Just as his lips part, the bell rings out, signaling the start of the next classes and shielding me from the scathing words he was about to unleash. Instead, he leans back just enough for his gaze to rake over me from head to toe.

My cheeks flush under his intense gaze, and when his eyes return to mine, a curl appears on his lips as he tilts his head to the side, still appraising me. “You’re lost.”

“I’m not,” I retort, the lie heating my cheeks further, but he seems to relax instead of growing angry at me. Releasing my wrist, he slips his hands into his pockets as I pin my arms to my chest, subconsciously rubbing at the delicate spot as hecontinues to drink me in. When he catches the movement, I quickly drop my hands, matching his stance with my hands in my pockets.

He’s still standing toe to toe with me, so bolting is out of the question. I just need to bide my time and make a move the moment he gives me a hint of space to do so. However, that would definitely make me the prey to his predator, and that’s the last thing I want.

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