Page 2 of Savage Sacrifice
I don’t hear a single noise from the room, only the thundering of my heart as I recall the words I said to both of them.
“When your name is called and your blood kin is revealed, do not act. We don't take action. We regroup and think it through after. Nothing changes today.”
Only now I wish I had made the effort to say that to them together, at the exact same time, in each other’s presence, so they knew I meant it to both of them.
Instead, I’m staring at the two of them, the entire scenario out of my control, and all I can conclude is that this is my fault. This is my karma for being a cunt.
I’d rather die than risk anything ever happening to either of them.
I can’t see Minnie’s face, but I can picture the despair that contorts her features, the tears spilling down her cheeks, forever leaving tracks along her skin, just like Polaris. Devastation claims me as I watch my sister fall to her knees in front ofPolaris, the pair of them kneeling as emotion swirls around them.
Polaris’s lips move, but I can’t make out what she’s saying. I try to take a deep breath to focus myself so I can use my wolf senses, but it’s impossible. I don’t know if Minnie responds, but a moment later, Midnight shakes her head and mutters something again, but it still doesn’t register in my mind.
There’s no time for it either.
A flash of silver suddenly shimmers in Polaris’s hand and I frown, watching as a content smile spreads across her face despite the tears staining her cheeks. Her lips move again, but everything happens in a warped sense of time.
Fast but slow.
Elongated, but over too quickly for me to react.
With the crimson-tipped blade aimed in her direction, Polaris plunges the weapon at her chest, the serenity fluttering in her eyes unwavering even as she pierces her flesh.
A roar snaps from my jaw, my entire body alight with disbelief as I watch my mate fall limp to the floor. Blood pools around her as a high-pitched scream bites through the air, breaking through the sound of my racing heartbeat, and I realize it’s coming from Minnie.
I need to reach her, I need to get to both of them and take it all back, but I’m defenseless against the magic around me. The dark hue that wraps around the pair of them fades away, the rest of the room coming back into view, and movement to my left catches my attention.
Blaze growls, trying to claw at the three men holding him back, and I envy him. I envy the fact that he’s not trapped inside himself. I envy the ability he has to wreak havoc on those around him.
Pain claws at me and my eyes dart to my right, searching the front row of wolves, and I immediately find who I’m looking for.
My pack, my brothers, my family.
They’re not in their seats, though. They’re on their feet, desperate to enter the center of the space, but once again, they’re being held back. It doesn’t make sense. I’ve seen many people participate in the blood kin ceremony, or whatever the fuck they want to call this sham of an event that pits people against one another, butno oneis ever held back. If anything, Professor Whitmore looks as if he takes far too much enjoyment from the carnage that has been created.
Wylder’s face is bright red, anger claiming every inch of him, while Asher stands stoic, nostrils flared as his eyes remain wide, set on the center of the room. Tatum, however, is as white as a ghost. He might be one at this point. His pupils are blacked out, his jaw slack, and his arms limp at his sides.
Devastation.
He can’t suffer any more pain, not after what he’s already lived through. He just can’t.
Anger, terror, and disbelief quickly morph in my mind, revealing layers of emotions I can’t control or even bring myself to acknowledge.
I close my eyes, inhaling deeply before turning my attention back to the middle of the room, hoping with all that I am that I’ll find Polaris and Minnie embracing, the horror from moments ago turning into a cruel joke, but I’m not so lucky.
Minnie sobs, face buried in her hands as she leans over Polaris, while the glowing mark withdraws from their skin as though it never existed.
This can’t be real.
She can’t be gone.
I didn’t…
We didn’t…
I refuse.
I fucking refuse.
