Page 56 of Savage Torment

“No,” she answers, and her heart rate stays at the exact same pace, confirming she's telling the truth.

“Good,” Lincoln says with a nod, rocking back on his heels, but once again, she shakes her head.

“I’m going to tell him.”

“Like hell you are,” he snaps back, and she turns to him with her hands planted on her hips.

“He might know things we don’t,” she insists, and Tatum glances back at Lincoln, giving him a pointed look.

“She has a point.”

Any calm that Lincoln had summoned is gone again. “You can't expect us to trust a vampire,” Lincoln grumbles, and Polaris aims a finger in his direction.

“And you can't expect me to trust wolves, but here we are.”

My cock twitches at the tone of her voice and the way she stands on her own two feet, unwilling to back down to anyone in a moment like this. It’s completely opposite to the girl who first stepped on campus. She was a shell of herself, and watching her blossom is addicting. Watching her stand tall for herself compared to the submissive woman between the sheets when I have her in my grasp is even more of a turn on too.

Lincoln takes a step toward her, a reply on the tip of his tongue when his cell phone goes off, leaving his jaw clenched as he pulls it from his pocket.

“Fucking pack issues,” he grunts. The look in his eyes says it's not as serious as it could be, but something that needs his attention right away. Maybe it will be good for him to step back from this situation for a bit. He’s far too good at rolling with his emotions when there's a logical side of him in there somewhere.

“You guys go, I'll stay with Silver,” I decide, earning a glare from Wylder as Tatum frowns.

The reality is, Wylder is the muscle needed if necessary when the wolves try to get out of hand, while Tatum is the calm and collected one who can neutralize a situation swiftly. So it makes the most sense for them to go and me to stay.

“You don't need to stay,” Polaris insists, and I wave her off.

“You're not being left alone. Blaze was right, especially with this waiting for you,” Tatum answers before I can say a word, pointing at the chalice that remains on her bed.

She rubs her lips together nervously, but doesn't answer back, accepting that this is how the rest of the night is going to go.

Without another word, Tatum pulls her into his embrace, pinning her to his chest, and she wraps her arms around his neck, drinking him in. It’s strange seeing Tatum so openly affectionate with someone, but it’s only fitting it’s her. She sees him, just like he sees her. Both in ways no one else can.

He leans back just enough to meet her stare as he taps his cheek. A smile curls the corner of her mouth as she rises up on her tiptoes to press her lips against his skin.

“Later, Polaris,” he murmurs, and she blushes, nibbling at her bottom lip.

“Later, Tatum.”

He steps back and Wylder immediately fills the space, the complete polar opposite to the man who was standing there a moment earlier. He's a lot more feral. There’s no rising sexual tension, it’s already there, thick and ready as he grabs her jaw and slams his lips to hers, claiming her in one swift breath. Her nails dig into his shoulders as she holds on for dear life, and my cock is even more alive at the sight before he ultimately releases her and she stumbles back a step.

“Little Witch,” he says with a wink before sauntering toward the door. He doesn't linger, heading straight out, and Tatum follows after him. I'm quite sure that's because he knows that if he doesn't, he'll be back in here for more, and there are other matters to address. Matters only the Alpha is supposed to handle.

Which leaves Lincoln rocking back on his heels as he tilts his head at Polaris. She stares him down just as firmly. I'm certainLincoln is going to head straight for the door without saying a word, but to my surprise, he takes two steps, cutting the distance between them until they’re toe to toe. Resting his forehead against hers so their noses run alongside one another, he closes his eyes and brings his hands to the back of her neck, holding her in place.

He doesn’t move to kiss her, he doesn’t do anything except whisper so softly I almost miss it. “I’m sorry.”

He's gone in the next breath, leaving Polaris frozen in place, blinking at the door trying to make sense of what just happened. The door closes behind him and her shoulders slump forward, not so much with relief, but from overwhelming exhaustion.

She takes a deep breath as she turns to give me her full attention. “What now?” she asks, and I shrug.

“Now we work on some of your magic.”

Her eyes widen in surprise. “We do what?” she repeats as her brows furrow.

“Well, Minnie mentioned that you're determined to strengthen your magic.”

“I am.”

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