Page 50 of Savage Torment

Eager to stop the rising tension, I attempt to take control of the situation before it continues south. “I never even thought to ask if you got it,” I admit, earning a tight smile from Asher.

“We did. It was in Lincoln’s office. With you being in the medical center, I didn’t want to bombard you, and obviously, Lincoln didn’t want to trust you over the whole vampire thing, but…” His words trail off and I gulp. That doesn’t make any of this better.

“But the crow wanted me to see it.” It’s not a question; it’s a statement. Even if I don’t know the guy, it’s here for a reason.

Wylder shrugs. “You’re the one who took the arrow. You should definitely know we found it.”

“Are none of you listening to me?” Lincoln complains, still set on placing invisible barriers between us.

I thought seeing him out in the hallway this morning meant something. I know I didn’t act like it, but damn, he deserved to stew a little. Hell, a lot. Especially after he left me stewing all night. I’m not usually one for petty revenge, but sometimes, where needs must, a point has to be made. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to change anything.

Disappointed, I shake my head at him. “We don’t have time for your crap right now. We actually have to discuss this. I actually have to pull my head out of my ass and understand?—”

“There’s nothing for you to know,” he interjects, sending a burning irritation through my veins.

I’m done with this crap. I’m done with being on the cusp of knowing things with them but always being cut off before I actually learn anything at all.

“What does T.K.O.G. stand for?”

Silence drenches the room, kicking my heart rate up a notch. Tatum clears his throat as he tilts his head. “Why?”

“It’s on my coin. Is it on yours?”

“Yes,” he answers without hesitation, and I gape in surprise.

I don’t know why my head went there, but the first time Tatum was in my room, we pinky promised to try to trust each other. He showed me his coin. If we’re going to get anywhere right now, this has to be the place to start.

“What does it stand for?”

The four of them eye each other, a flash of uncertainty flickering in the air as I hold my breath. This is another make-or-break moment. Everything hangs in the balance, and it’s Asher who meets my stare first.

“The Keeper Of the Games.”

I wait for more, but nothing else is said.

“In English?” I mutter, tucking a loose curl behind my ear and Wylder offers me a tight smile.

“When you come of age, and your blood kin is announced, the fallout is controlled by the keeper of the games. Well, controlled is a strong word. They are high up in the hierarchy that is the supernatural world, but more than anything, they keep the figures and document who survives and who doesn't.”

I nod like it makes sense, but it really doesn’t. “Does the coin mean anything else apart from the fact that it’s linked to our ancestors, who are connected to the original witch and her men?” I ask, and Tatum shrugs, disappointment evident in his eyes.

“I’m sure it means far more, but that’s all we know.”

I take a deep breath, assessing the situation as my gaze returns to the golden chalice in the middle of my bed.

“What could the chalice help us with?”

“You don’t need to know that,” Lincoln interjects again, and my eyes snap to his.

“She took a fucking arrow for us, she deserves everything,” Ashers snaps, calming the storm inside of me.

“No more keeping me in the dark.” My hands ball at my sides as I try to contain my frustration, but it’s futile as I glare at the asshole wolf.

“We can’t?—”

“If you can’t trust me, then I can’t trust you, and I refuse to waste any more time on this ridiculous back and forth,” I interject, cutting off whatever bullshit was about to spill from Lincoln’s mouth, but despite my irritation, he smirks.

“You don’t have any control here.” It’s a warning, one I don’t care for, but as I part my lips, ready to tell him exactly where he can shove it, Tatum lifts his hand.

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