Page 41 of Savage Sacrifice
“But where to? We don’t know if it’s the afterlife or here,” I admit, my shoulders slumping in disappointment, but the moment I lock eyes on my drawing of Polaris and Lincoln, the sliver of hope blossoms once again.
“Can you still feel it?” Bryony asks, and I nod.
“Yes, but that doesn’t explain it or offer a guarantee,” I mutter, not really making any sense, but my thoughts are jumbled and I’m scrambling. For sure we found Krystal, but that wasn’t like this. Not really. The risk we’ve taken, the riskLincolnhas taken, is on another level.
“Is there anything we can do, Bryony?” Wylder asks, scrubbing at his cropped hair, and she shrugs.
Silence claims us, helplessness taking root as we struggle, even in our new surroundings.
“Wow, calm the party, it’s a rave out here.”
I frown at the sound of Blaze’s voice as he approaches, snacking on an apple as he assesses us all.
“How did you find us?” Wylder asks, and he shrugs.
“You’re not quiet,” he replies, and I scoff.
“We literally weren’t saying a word,” I insist, and he taps at his temple.
“In here.”
“You can’t read our minds, don’t act like you can,” Minnie interjects, and Blaze rolls his eyes playfully as he leans back against the shrubs, obnoxiously taking a loud bite of his apple.
“Where have you been and why are you so… playful?” Asher asks, confusion thick in his voice, and I nod in agreement.
He’s slightly out of character.
“Eating some bunnies, want one?” He cocks a brow at Asher, whose nose crinkles in distaste.
“Bunnies?”
Another eye roll. “I’m a vampire, I need blood.”
So he takes it from bunnies? That feels even more out of character. Is this an alternate universe?
“You’re too joyous,” Wylder grunts, and he smirks.
“No, I’m just hopeful,” he says with a shrug, and jealousy captures me.
“How?” I rasp, desperate to feel it as much as he does, but he simply shrugs again.
“I can feel her.”
“How?” I repeat, and his gaze finally turns my way as he shrugs again, and I immediately consider ripping his shoulders from the sockets.
“I don’t know, I just can.”
“Thanks, great talk,” Asher grumbles, and I scrub a hand down my face.
I need some of that optimism instead of the gloom that burns deep in my soul and the layers upon layers of sadness that consume me.
I’ve never wanted to live more in my life, and now I’m floundering in a world that doesn’t make any sense without Polaris or Lincoln.
The chime of a ringtone cuts through the air, alerting all of us as we glance at one another. It takes a moment, but I quickly realize it’s coming from my backpack. Diving inside, my heart stops when I see the name pop up on my screen. I swipe to answer the call before I can even suck in a breath before I breathe.
“Linc?”
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