Page 26 of Savage Sacrifice
She rolls her eyes at me. “You’re talking cryptically, Lincoln, spit it out.”
“Death. He means death,” Blaze blurts, hitting the nail on the head as he stares at me just as inquisitively as the others, while Bryony remains behind me, giving nothing away.
“Thanks, Blaze,” I mutter, disdain heavy in my tone, and he shrugs.
“You were being dramatic, I was assisting you in getting to the point,” he clarifies, and I refrain from telling him to fuck off since there are more pressing matters unravelling between us.
Minnie blinks at me, unshed tears glistening in her eyes as she presses a hand to her chest. “Death? You can’t die, Lincoln. I can’t lose you too.”
I place my hand on her leg, trying to offer her some comfort, but it does nothing but make her tremble more. “That’s where the witch comes in.”
“I’m not sure how,” Bryony murmurs, finally inserting herself in the situation as she moves around to the other side of the desk.
“I need you to find a way to keep me tethered here, so I can keep my thoughts, my knowledge, and everything else, but put me on the other side of the veil, if there is one. I’ll find her.”
I’ll find her.
Three words said with such confidence, I believe it myself.
“Lincoln, no,” Minnie whispers, her hand landing on top of mine, and I offer her a tight smile.
“It’s the only way to find Midnight.”
“It’s not,” she insists, and it’s my turn to give her a pointed look.
“Does anyone else have a better plan?”
Silence descends over the room again, confirming my thoughts before Minnie grumbles with irritation, but it’s Wylder who speaks next.
“But if you die and lose your magic, you won’t be a wolf anymore.”
“I know.” It’s a clipped answer, but my wolf pleads for it. The marking I left on her flesh, it means everything.
“Who would be our alpha?” Asher asks, steepling his fingers together as he glances at me, but before I answer, Wylder interjects again.
“Never mind being the alpha, you can’t lose your wolf like that.” He throws his arms out in frustration, so I try my best to explain.
“My wolf is the one who settled on the idea. I can’t…I can’t do anything, see anything, feel anything else. He won’t allow it.” Each word comes out stronger than the last, driving my point home while simultaneously feeding my wolf the words he wants at the same time. “And with regards to an alpha, it would likely go to a vote or a brawl, I wouldn’t be around to know, but I expect one of you motherfuckers to decide among yourselves to fight for it.”
“Linc, this doesn’t make sense,” Wylder states, and I sigh.
“No, it does. It really does. Admitting it out loud does help, and right now, I feel like it’s the only chance we’ve got if Bryony is willing to see if it’s possible,” I add, and she nods, nervously nibbling on her bottom lip.
I don’t trust her, not even an ounce. There’s something I’m missing, but my brain refuses to focus on it when there are bigger issues at hand, like trying to find Polaris.
“But losing your wolf, Linc, that’s a lot. It’smorethan a lot,” Minnie breathes, worry tainting her features, and for the first time, I smile. A true, raw, genuine smile.
“She’s worth it, Minnie. She’s worth everything.”
11
LINCOLN
“Ifound it!” Bryony’s screech vibrates through the air as she scrambles to her feet, grimoire in hand, but my gaze is locked on Minnie as I watch the color drain from her face.
I understand the worry and concern, fuck, I’m feeling it, but it’s locked in. I’m going to die to find Polaris, and Bryony has finally found the spell that can help us.
“Show me,” I grunt, reaching for Minnie’s hand as I stand to look at the grimoire spread open in Bryony’s hands.
