Page 72 of Savage Torment

Clenching my eyes shut, I try to take a deep breath, failing miserably again and again until I relent and blink my eyes back open. The moment I do, dark wood catches my eye and I act on impulse. Fourteen steps, I count and take pride in each one until I find myself pressed against the wall. No matter which way I go, left or right, if I keep my back pressed against it, I’ll find my way to the exit.

One way will take longer than the other, but despite the insanity, I remember entering from my right, so I opt to seek safety in that direction.

I barely make it a couple of steps before a hand clamps down on my left shoulder and I screech, turning with wide eyes, but my panic instantly dissolves as Blaze appears beside me.

“Fuck. How do you always wind up in the middle of the madness?” he grunts, stepping around me so he can lead the way. He takes my hand in his, not bothering to look back at me as he charges toward the exit.

“You can’t honestly be mad at me right now,” I snap, and he doesn’t say a word, simply shaking his head. Asshole. “Let. Go,” I bite, digging my heels in as I try to tug my hand free from his grasp, but he’s far stronger than me. “Hey! I said get off!” I repeat, rage coiling through my veins, and he spins to face me, anger vibrating in his every breath as his shoulders heave and his eyes narrow at me.

“You can say whatever you want once we’re out of here, but for now, shut the fuck up so I can at least attempt to keep your crazy ass safe. I’ve already watched you scramble beneath Krystal’s dead body, let’s not add you to the mix too,” he growls, and my nostrils flare with my own rage, but the second my lips part, ready to tell him exactly what I think, he snarls.

“Watch out.”

He’s moving me before the warning even registers in my ears, maneuvering me behind him just in time as a wolf leaps through the air, jaw cranked wide and teeth on full display.

Horror poisons my veins as I gape in disbelief, terror leaving me speechless while fear locks me in place, ready to accept my fate.

But it doesn’t come.

As the wolf descends and their jaw begins to close, it’s not me their teeth sink into, but Blaze.

A scream rips from my throat, but he barely makes more than a grunt before he fights back. Rearing his fist, he wastes no time slamming it into the wolf’s head, sending them forcibly across the room.

Astounded, I gape at the wolf for a moment before returning my attention to Blaze. He’s wounded, his arm bleeding and pinned to his chest, but he pays it no mind as he steps into my personal space, cupping my cheek as he peers deep into my eyes.

“Are you okay?”

I shake my head in disbelief. “You’re the one bleeding.”

“I’ll be fine. Now, let’s get you the hell out of here before anything else ridiculous happens,” he grunts, his steps slightly more labored as he tugs me behind him.

This time, I don’t complain, just as desperate to get out of here as I am eager to help him with his injury.

Only a few breaths pass before the exit appears, but instead of upping my speed and charging through the doors, my eyes drag up, freezing when I notice a balcony above the exit. I’ve never noticed it before, but who knows if it was even there before today. The balcony isn’t what’s actually capturing my attention, but the person standing on it.

“Blaze,” I call out, my words barely more than a wisp of air as I feel the color drain from my face. He doesn’t hear me, whichis not surprising, but this is important. “Blaze,” I repeat, tugging my arm back, and he whips around to glare at me.

“What the fuck now, Polaris?” he growls, but I ignore his tone as I point to the balcony.

“Who is that?”

He huffs, eyebrows gathering in a mixture of irritation and confusion as he follows my line of sight. He barely glances before turning back to me with a sigh. “That’s the keeper of the games. Why?”

With nausea churning in my stomach, I shake my head. “No reason,” I rasp, eyes pinned on them again as Blaze tugs me over the threshold of the assembly hall and down the corridor without a backward glance.

I move on instinct, my mind still in the assembly hall, staring up at the balcony.

Gray-peppered hair, worn-framed glasses, and a band tee that looks like it’s been worn for over a thousand years. Only one memory lives vividly in my mind, but my gut tells me there are more.Farmore.

Because the keeper of the games isn’t just anyone.

No.

He’s the man from my memory.

He’s the man I was told died a long time ago.

My father.

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