Page 73 of Savage Torment

23

BLAZE

Itry to ignore the searing pain in my arm, but it’s impossible. I don’t know which fucking wolf it was, but when I find out, I’m going to kill them slowly.

With Polaris’s hand laced with mine, we make it outside and I grimace, slowing to a stop as I take a deep breath. The change in pace doesn’t stop Polaris from ushering me around the corner, out of sight of everyone, as she positions me against the stone wall and rakes her eyes over me.

“We need to get you to the medical center,” she states, her stare eventually latching on to the blood staining my t-shirt.

“We don’t,” I grumble, trying to shield the wound from view, but she grabs my hand, refusing to let me hide.

“Blaze, you’re bleeding,” she insists, worry tainting her bright, blue eyes.

“I’m a vampire. Blood isn’t an issue,” I state, failing to give her a pointed look, and she tosses one back, flooring me with the fire flickering across her features.

“The lack of color in your face says otherwise,” she retorts, and I can’t help but grin.

“Slap me. That will put some color back in my face.”

As predicted, she rolls her eyes, refusing to give in to me. “You’re not funny.”

“I never claimed to be.”

Her eyes narrow. “You’re infuriating.”

“Right back at you,” I reply, and she frowns, stepping back as she folds her arms over her chest.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ignore her, gingerly bringing my arm to my side as I push up off the wall. “If you’re not going to the medical center, the least you can do is let me take you back to your room,” she offers, her hand falling away from mine as I head toward the pathway that leads to the dorms.

“No,” I snap, glancing over my shoulder at her. She startles at my sudden snarl, but I mean it with every fiber that I am, and if that means being an asshole to protect her, then so be it. “No matter what, do not go anywhere near the vampire dorms.”

“I was hoping to check in on Ben,” she breathes, banding her arms tighter around her middle, and I scoff.

“That’s also a no.” I turn toward the dorms again, my steps slower than I would prefer.

“Why?” She appears at my side, curiosity getting the best of her as always.

I could lie, make up some bullshit scary story, but it seems I’m a sucker for the woman before me. “Because I’m trying to keepeveryonesafe,” I grumble, settling on a clipped statement instead.

“Fine, then I’m taking you back tomyroom,” she grumbles, wrapping her hand around my uninjured arm in a semi-link.

I don’t put up a fight—more time with her sounds precisely like what the doctor ordered. Besides, if anyone can heal me, it’s her. And getting my Amica Mea all to myself without a wolf on my heels is a rarity I can make the most of, even if I am injured.

We walk in a comfortable silence. All I can hear is the rustling of the leaves and the thump of her heartbeat. The sound of herpulse alone is enough to ground me, despite the pain I’m in. It lights a piece of me I never knew existed. Not that she needs to know that.

I feel like she already knows far more than enough anyway.

Thankfully, we make it to the witches’ dorm without incident as she ushers me up the stairs and down the hall to her bedroom door. She opens it and pauses before stepping over the threshold.

“Oh, wait here a second,” she murmurs, slipping inside her room without a backward glance, leaving me to stare at the wood between us for a few moments before reappearing. She nervously tucks a loose tendril of hair behind her ear as she opens the door fully and steps back, making room for me to enter.

“What was that about?” I ask, cocking a brow at her, and she waves me off.

“Nothing.”

She looks anywhere but at me, but I let it slide, the pain burning down my arm impossible to ignore as she guides me to take a seat on her bed.

I cradle my arm, looking up at her as she shuffles nervously from foot to foot. “What are you protecting me from, Blaze?” she asks, catching me by surprise.

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