Page 40 of Savage Sacrifice
It’s on the edge of my tongue to decline, to think of somewhere better, but in reality, he’s right. It’s the perfect spot. I’m never going to feel closer to Polaris than I do there, and if I’m trapped in this vortex of being connected to Lincoln without truly knowing his whereabouts, then it’s the only spot that might calm my racing heart.
“If we can make that happen, I think it would help,” I admit, turning my attention to Bryony.
She nods, though her brows gather slightly in confusion. “For sure, but I don’t know if I know where you’re talking about,” she murmurs, and I grunt.
“The place you found Polaris in the woods after your coven tried to unveil her magic.”
My tone is harsher than necessary, but it’s uncontrollable. Recalling the sadness I felt in her that night leaves me ready to bring the world to its knees, and I’m sitting before one of the people responsible for that pain and sadness, friend or not.
Guilt taints her eyes and she grimaces, but nods, which only makes Minnie frown. I don’t know if she knows about that night, or whether Polaris disclosed it, but it’s slightly unfair to bring it up now when Polaris seems to be over it.
I shrug, shaking the concern from my limbs. We’ve got much bigger issues to deal with right now.
“If you need to bring anything, grab it now. It will only take me a few moments to prepare the relocation spell,” Bryony offers, and I nod, immediately darting for my backpack nestled against the side of the sofa.
As I hike it over my shoulder, a sharp tugging sensation vibrates through my chest, unsettling the tether I feel, and it steals my breath, but quickly calms a moment later.
I heave in a breath or two, startled with the panic and fear that the connection was severed, but I keep it to myself. There’s no need to worry the others now that I know it’s still there.
With the only item I need firmly on my back, I turn to the others and we all gather in the center of the room where the sand is still marked out on the floor. Bryony nods in confirmation to us all before she begins to mutter under her breath.
Two blinks and the room shifts, the light dimming as we find ourselves nestled among the trees for shade. My pulse quickens as my gaze zones in on the spot I first saw her hiding from me, heightening as I recall the moment I showed her my art in the far corner, before my attention settles on the hedge with the slight dip in the top from where I fucked her with my fingers.
Fuck.
She’s everywhere.
I can practically smell her in the air.
It’s intoxicating and soul-destroying all at once.
A hand lands on my shoulder, pulling me from my thoughts, and I turn to find Minnie looking at me with concern etched into her features. “Let’s get settled so we’re not going insane. Unlessyou want to jog on the spot and burn off some energy?” she offers, and I shake my head with a grimace. Exercise outside of my wolf form is not my cup of tea, and the smirk on her face tells me she knows it too. “Drawing it is,” she declares, nodding at my backpack, and I smile, nodding along with her.
Everyone awkwardly stands around while I choose where to settle myself. Before I decide on where to go, I walk the perimeter of the sand that is now lying in the grass beneath my feet. The spot in the corner where I showed Polaris my art is inside the boundary, and I drop my backpack to the ground.
Wordlessly, I leave the others to it as I pull out my sketchbook and pencils and start drawing. The desire and need to see Polaris takes over and my fingers move on their own accord. I’ve drawn for so long that it’s become muscle memory at this point.
I’m in the zone, and minutes pass me by. Every scratch of the pencil against the paper is a piece of me scrambling for purchase. It’s only when Wylder scoffs in surprise from above me that I’m pulled from my focus.
“Holy shit, Tatum. That’s stunning,” he murmurs, awe lilting his voice, and I hum in acknowledgment. “How the hell can you draw her from memory like that?” he asks, dropping down to sit beside me.
He reaches for my sketchbook the moment he’s comfortable, and I let him take it. Not even minding when he runs his thumb over the pencil marks like I usually would.
It’s my favorite picture I’ve drawn of her to date.
There’s not an ounce of loneliness or sadness in it, and that’s because she’s not alone. Lincoln is beside her, hand in hand, keeping her safe.
My heart aches.
“What if he’s not okay and we’ve lost them both?” I breathe, turning my attention to Wylder, who gulps before turning to look at me.
“We can’t think like that,” he rasps, and I nod, hating the brush off that it feels like, when a shadow casts over us and Asher drops down onto the grass across from me. He bends his knees, wrapping his arms around his legs as he sighs.
“It’s fucking hard not to, though,” he grumbles, and I nod in agreement.
It’s hard seeing any of us suffer, but Asher… damn.
“He’s tethered to you, remember? We have to stay positive with that knowledge,” Minnie adds from her spot over the small hedge, a sad smile on her face as Bryony runs her fingers through her hair in an attempt to comfort her.
