Page 4 of Savage Sacrifice
Bryony.
She moves toward me, tears gathering along her eyes as helplessness settles like a weight inside of me.
If I react quickly and end my blood kin’s life, it will cause Minnie pain.
If I do nothing and let Bryony take the victory, it will cause Minnie pain.
No matter which way I look at it, it’s only going to cause my sister more pain than she’s already dealing with.
Looking away from Bryony, unafraid of her actions, I spy Blaze at the back of the room, leaning against the wall by the exit with his arm awkwardly wrapped around my sister’s shoulders as she sobs against him. Wylder, Tatum, and Asher are standing with him too, an array of emotions on their faces that I can’t even begin to try and process.
Despite my hatred for vampires and fury at someone giving me an order, I take it.
Not for me.
Not even for Minnie.
But for Midnight.
“Lincoln?” Bryony whispers nervously, and I shake my head, opting not to look at her.
“You’re good, for now,” I grunt, storming through the crowd toward my family.
There are two people left, waiting to meet their fate, but that’s none of my business.
Blaze nods for me to join them.
Chatter flutters through the air around me, and as I approach him, he whispers something into my sister’s ear and she quickly turns to face me.
“Lincoln,” she sobs, throwing her arms around my neck, and I soak her in.
I’m sure I’m squeezing too hard, but I don’t give a fuck.
The relief is real, but it’s quickly joined by overwhelming pain too.
I love my sister with all that I am, but looking at her, knowing the sacrifice we’ve all witnessed, is going to be hard.
“We need to leave. Now,” she states, forcing herself out of my hold as she wipes the tears from her cheeks.
“What’s the point?” I retort with a scoff, pushing a hand through my hair.
I need to do something. I’m not sure what, but the trembling is almost uncontrollable. All of the emotion coiling inside of me needs to be released.
“The point?” Minnie says, confusion etching her words, and I frown at her, watching as her face morphs from sorrow to determination. “The point is, my best friend looked me square in the eyes and killed herself to save me.” I’m not the only one who gulps. My senses are coming back, we’re all struggling the same. Hearing it out loud doesn’t make it any better. “But not without her parting words,” she adds, determination and hope blossoming in her stance.
“What parting words?” I ask, sensing the same uncertainty from the others as Bryony nervously comes to stand a step to my left, silently joining us despite our current predicament, but none of it matters when Minnie speaks again.
“Come find me.”
2
BLAZE
Comforting someone is not my area of expertise, but I heard what Polaris said, even if I couldn’t stop her. It does nothing to quell the emotions taking root in my gut. My mind won’t settle. Nothing makes sense, and for the first time in my life, I feel backed into a corner with no way out.
I’m the master of finding a way, but this? This is something else entirely.
Yet, hearing Minnie repeat the words I know I heard settles something inside of me. Not enough to center me and fill me with roaring determination, but enough for me to keep my emotions in check.
