Page 28 of Savage Sacrifice
“Not the face, it’s my best feature,” I mutter, and he scoffs while Minnie groans.
“You’re embarrassing,” she grumbles, and I love the playfulness to her tone, but the mood quickly sours once again as Blaze taps my chest.
“I could…”
I shake my head immediately. “Not that. I want that intact,” I insist, and he nods.
“The neck it is.”
I take a deep breath, nodding despite the ringing of my pulse in my ears.
“Any last words?” He cocks his head at me, and I gulp, but it’s weird to admit that I’m not scared, only nervous that I won’t find her like I want to.
I have no idea what’s waiting for me on the other side, if anything at all, but I can’t consider failure. It’s not an option.
Taking a deep breath, I slowly glance at everyone in my office. “I know I’m dumb as fuck most of the time,” I start as my gaze lands on Minnie and she cocks a brow at me, making me roll my eyes. “Fine, all of the time, but you guys mean everything to me and I’m going to find her if it’s the last thing I do. Whether that’s in some random place in the middle of New York or the afterlife. Regardless, she’s been alone long enough. It’s time we sacrificed for her. She’s survived Florentine’s, this place, being shot by an arrow, and The fucking Crow before she took a blade to the chest for one of us. Without question, without a single worry in her mind. I’m not doing this for me, or for us, it’s for her.”
Minnie runs her finger across her cheek, catching a tear that slips free as Wylder and Asher nod in agreement. Tatum offersme a tight smile as Bryony whispers under her breath, sprinkling sand over his forearms, and I turn my attention back to Blaze. The vampire in question peers at Bryony for a beat, waiting for the signal. The second he gets it, he nods once and moves in a blur.
No asking if I’m ready, no sweet moment between enemies as he brings his hands to my neck.
I feel no pain.
I hear no snap.
All I sense is darkness.
12
POLARIS
“That’s the end of class for the day. Does anyone have any questions?” The professor’s voice echoes through the lecture hall, and everyone subtly shakes their head.
I have a lot of questions right now, but none that the professor can answer.
My memory is still nothing but a puff of smoke, and I can’t imagine he has the answers to my personal life.
“Okay, great. I’ll see you all next time,” he states just as the bell rings, drawing the class to an end. I rise from my seat along with everyone else, grabbing my backpack and hitching it over my shoulder. “Oh, actually, Polaris, do you have a moment?” His voice cuts through the air, turning my cheeks pink at the attention it garners, and I nod, gulping down the panic as I avoid the other students staring at me inquisitively.
As everyone takes the stairs up to the exit, I go against the grain and shuffle down to the professor’s desk, waiting for everyone to leave before he turns his attention to me. When I hear the doors click shut behind me, I nervously tuck a loose tendril of hair behind my ear before I speak, forcing myself to keep my chin up as I meet his stare.
“Professor Otto.”
“How are you doing?” he asks, a kind smile on his lips as he plants his hands on his hips, tilting his face to the side to assess me.
“Uh, I’m okay.” He cocks a brow at me in silent question and I feel my cheeks burn even hotter under his stare. “I’m slightly overwhelmed at times, but I’m managing through it,” I manage to rattle, and he smiles.
“Good,” he murmurs with a nod, dropping his hands to his sides as he nears his desk.
“If there are any issues with the syllabus we’ve already covered, just let me know. I’ll send an email this evening confirming what we have gone over so far so you can try and catch up if needed,” he offers, and I nod.
“Thank you.”
“No problem,” he insists, and I take that as my cue to take a step back.
“I’ll check over the email when it comes through, but really, I’m hoping the memories flow back.” They’re nowhere in sight so far, but the hope is still there.
Hope seems to be everywhere.
