Page 69 of Savage Sacrifice
“No way!” I blurt, rushing to my feet in an attempt to keep my balance. “We have a fucking alpha. The best at that, and I—” Movement in the distance catches my attention, a fluttering of shadows so inconsequential, I almost dismiss it, but the rustling of leaves follows and I know it’s more than an animal.
“Did you see that?” I ask, my voice barely more than a whisper as my blood runs cold.
“See what?” Lincoln asks, slowly standing as he eyes me with confusion. He follows my line of sight, and I’m certain there’s nothing to see until a flicker a little farther to the left regains my attention.
“I sawthat,” he mutters, swiping a hand down his face, and my gut twists.
“Something’s not right,” I rasp, my muscles continuing to tense.
Lincoln hums in agreement. “I could have sworn that it was one of The Crow’s men.” I snap my attention to him, panic flooding my veins. He must sense the same thing as I do because he mutters one single word before we both take off running.
“Midnight.”
Stumbling through the forest with bare feet isn’t the best idea, but Lincoln doesn’t shift, so I opt to stay at his side until we alter our direction slightly to the right and he glares at me.
“What do you plan on doing with your dick swinging?” he grunts, and if it were any other time I would laugh. The remnant of it vibrates in my chest, but I quickly redirect my attention, adding a little extra height to my next step as I shift into my beast.
With my added speed, I approach the shadows more quickly than he does, and I have to slow my pace so I can hide among the trees. It’s only when they break through the treeline that I recognize where we are.
The campfire burns to the left, dwindling down, but the only person who matters holds all of my attention. My gaze latches onto Polaris immediately, seated at a picnic table with her back ramrod straight and her pulse vibrating so much I can sense it from here.
My heart drops as I spot the familiar black leather coat draped over the man across from her, his top hat and mask in place.
The Crow.
What the hell? Where is?—
A whimper from my left tears my attention to the makeshift bar Wylder has been manning all night to find Bryony huddled inside, fear forcing her into hiding. Sighing, I get ready to leap from the trees to protect her when a snarl cuts across the space, drawing my gaze to an angry vampire.
Blaze.
He’s carrying a tray of food, but it’s quickly forgotten when it clatters to the ground and he takes off running toward Polaris. I should join him, but I don’t want to lose the element of surprise that we might need.
Blaze makes it two steps away from the table, eyes zeroed in on Polaris, when Finch appears out of nowhere, holding him captive as The Crow’s voice booms through the air.
“Restrain this cunt while I try to manage an intellectual conversation with the beautiful woman before me.”
Rage burns through my veins. I should search to see where Lincoln is, but I refuse to take my eyes off Polaris. She’s not in immediate danger—well, that’s a lie, but it almost feels like TheCrow isn’t going to attack her. I don’t even know how I know or feel that, but it’s there, taking up space in my gut.
I inch closer as Polaris clears her throat. “Maybe you can get to the point of your visit then, Crow.”
She intertwines her fingers, resting them on the table as she cocks a brow at the man in question, and I can’t decide whether she’s filled with enough confidence to win a war or whether she’s poking at a bear who’s ready to strike.
“You owe me a deal,” The Crow states, not pushing back on her attitude, and I know there’s something at play here. He’s not this calm and accommodating without reason.
“I don’t owe you anything,” she insists, and The Crow tilts his head.
“How do you figure that?”
“You showed me the chalice; I collected the coins. That was our deal.”
The Crow shakes his head. “Really, Polaris? I thought you were paying more attention than that. That’s why you’re here right now, looking like this. Am I right?”
I feel Polaris’s gulp from here.
“You offered me the information on what happens to those who lose to the blood kin curse.”
The Crow claps obnoxiously loud. “There’s the smart girl I was banking on.”
