Page 70 of Savage Torment

POLARIS

“What is it we’re walking into here?” I ask nervously, worry getting the better of me as we head closer to the main academy building.

Even with my hand in Tatum’s and Wylder’s arm draped over my shoulders, the threat of disaster overwhelms me. The guys share a look, making Minnie roll her eyes as she hurries a few steps ahead to turn and speak to me.

“I forget you’ve never been before,” she murmurs, an unnecessary apologetic smile on her face that quickly seems to morph into a grimace. She walks backward, completely unfazed, as she explains. “It’s not the nicest, but it’s real, I guess,” revealing far less than I anticipated.

“What does that mean?” I question further, tilting my head at her, and she waves her hand, ushering Tatum out of the way before she takes his spot beside me. My palm feels the loss of him immediately, especially when Wylder falls away too, but she links her arm through mine and I somehow manage to feel an inch taller and more confident as I match her determined strides.

“I mean, it’s… chaotic,” she admits, eyebrows raised, and despite the news she’s sharing, she doesn’t falter, and somehow,neither do I. “You’re about to witness students discover who their blood kin is after all this time.” I gulp as she continues. “Some react instantly while others leave to think and consider their options. The whole ‘you die, I die,’ is gone, and that makes a difference.”

“What she’s trying to say is you’re highly likely about to watch someone die,” Lincoln grunts, never sugarcoating anything, but despite the unease that settles in my gut, I appreciate the heads up.

“I don’t like the sound of that,” I admit as the double doors leading inside loom ahead.

“Agreed, at least this time we all know that they’re dying trying to survive, and it no longer has repercussions on someone else.”

That’s true. It doesn’t make the reality of the situation any less daunting, though.

Nothing more is said on the topic as we enter the main academy building with the rest of the students, who seem to linger outside for as long as possible. The fact that others are nervous, too, is reassuring, but I would still rather be anywhere else but here.

As we near the assembly hall, Professor Whitmore stands outside with a device in his hands, and it takes me a moment to realize he’s checking off everyone’s name as they enter.

When it’s our turn, Minnie steps up first, and Lincoln moves in right behind her. They both offer their names and Whitmore hums in acknowledgment as he ticks them off before pointing them toward the wolf faction.

“Ah, a Florentine, if I recall correctly,” he states when I step up next, cocking a brow at me, and I nod, hating that I’m still associated with that place even when my sigil is gone. “Excellent. Your name?” he asks, irritating me even further.

“Polaris Beauchamp,” I grumble, and he nods, checking me off on his device.

“Witches are to the left,” he states, pointing in the opposite direction he guided Lincoln and Minnie. My heart sinks as I slowly realize we can’t be seated together.

Glancing back over my shoulder, my eyes latch on Asher’s first, noting the grim line his lips are pressed in, and I offer a meek smile before slipping through the doors. I barely make it two steps before I freeze, gaping at the unfamiliar room that now lies before me.

I’ve only been in here a handful of times, but I’ll never forget the room where I learned my name and the faction I belong to, and it definitely did not look like this. Previously, there was a small stage area to the left with rows and rows of seats filling the rest of the space. Now, the room is… bigger. Not just by a little bit, either. More like double the size, if not, triple. The center of the room is bare, with rows of velvet chairs creating a circle around it as a focal point for everyone to see. The space in the middle feels like it’s big enough for the entire witches’ dorm to stand in the center of it.

I gulp, feeling small in the space as I scan the chairs to my left, finding Bryony in the front row. She spots me as I near, a wide smile on her face, and she looks far better than she did yesterday.

“Hey, how are you feeling?” I ask, taking the seat beside her, and she nods.

“Honestly, I’m good. I have no idea what that was, but I’m feeling normal again today,” she insists, and I smile wider.

“Good. You had me scared,” I state, but before she can respond, a scoff comes from the other side of her, where I find Foster. His eyes are narrowed on me, disdain plaguing his features as he sneers.

“I thought we agreed?—”

“No, Foster. You did. Just because you have an opinion doesn’t mean I share it,” Bryony snaps back, interrupting whatever he was about to say. He shakes his head, redirecting his attention to the center of the room, and I gulp again.

Whatever he was about to say was about me, that’s for sure. A part of me wants to push him on the matter and give him a piece of my mind, but the light in the room dims, drawing my focus to the middle of the space.

“Good morning, students. Firstly, I would like to thank you all for your prompt attendance. As we all know, today is a very important day for many, and it’s paramount that we show united support to our fellow blood kin students,” Professor Whitmore says, turning in a slow circle as he addresses everyone in the room.

Glancing away from him momentarily, I turn my attention to the other factions. It takes me a second to spot that the wolves are seated diagonal to us, while the humans are directly across, leaving the vampires to our right. I try to see if Blaze is here, but there are too many students in our way for me to get a clear view.

“I’m aware it’s a first for our Florentine students to be present for such events, but it brings me great pleasure to offer the opportunity to watch it before you take part in the tradition yourselves,” Professor Whitmore continues, his words doing nothing to ease the pent up emotions swirling in my gut.

“Are you ready?” Bryony whispers beside me as she nudges my leg with hers, and I shake my head, refusing to look away. She squeezes my arm, silently attempting to offer comfort, but until this entire thing is over, I’m not sure I’ll simmer down.

“Let’s proceed, shall we?” Whitmore declares, smiling from ear to ear as he holds his hands out wide. Six figures take to the center, each coming from a different angle, and the temperature in the room seems to drop.

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