Page 74 of Savage Sacrifice
Well, one witch and one former witch who died but still lives to see another day.
Have I tried, though?
Her pouch of sand sits on the other side of the sink, making my fingers itch at my side, but as much as the thought lingers, what weighs heavier is the fact that she hasn’t made eye contact with me since she finally came inside.
I rake my eyes over her as I clear my throat, but even that doesn’t pull her stare to mine. “Is everything okay, Bryony?”
She pauses, hands poised above the vial before her as she sighs heavily. “I’m okay.”
I raise a brow at her. “Are you sure? You don’t seem fine,” I push, and she nods.
“I am.”
My lips purse as my eyebrows pinch in confusion. “Is that why you were hiding outside earlier, and why you haven’t looked at me since we came in here?”
Her gaze finds mine—finally—and her lips set in a thin line before her head dips once again. “It’s nothing for you to worry about. I’m overwhelmed with coven stuff and I didn’t want to bring that up in front of you,” she mutters, and although I sense a hint of truth in her words, I know there’s more to it.
My lips part, ready to push a little further, but she waves me off, tossing her hair over her shoulder as she lifts the vial between us.
“A few sips of this and you’ll be back to your usual self.”
I rub my lips together, considering my options, and a yawn tingles at my throat, confirming just how exhausted I am, so I opt to give her the out she’s seeking. Today has been heavy enough. This can wait until tomorrow.
“Thank you,” I breathe, wasting no time bringing the dark brown bottle to my lips.
I cringe, prepared for something awful, but to my surprise, it tastes like water. A shiver runs down my spine as soon as I place the vial on the counter beside me, and I slip off the vanity, turning to see my reflection with a content smile.
My silver hair is back in place, the freckles are gone, and my blue eyes are shimmering back at me. Unfortunately, they’re framed by puffy lids, reconfirming the exhaustion that clings to my limbs.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” Bryony breathes, running from the room a moment later, making sure I can’t quiz her any further.
Heading in the same direction, I falter in the doorway when Tatum appears, a tired, lopsided grin on his face when his eyes find mine. I fall into him, wrapping my arms around his middle as he drapes his around my back, enveloping me in his warmth.
“Hey,” he breathes, and I hum against his chest. “I was hoping I could steal you for the night. I don’t think I can settle without you by my side,” he admits, making my heart ache, and I nod.
“Sure, I just want to check on Blaze before I pass out,” I admit as I lean back, and he smirks at me as he takes my hand, leading me toward the stairs.
“Come on, I’ll show you where he’s sleeping.”
“Sleeping?” I clarify in surprise, and he snickers.
“He was definitely high as hell off your blood, and he hit the deck two minutes after you scurried away in there with Bryony,” he explains as he stops by the first door at the top of the stairs.
It creaks open to reveal a sleeping form on the bed, and I recognize my vampire immediately.
“Are you sure he’s going to be okay?” I ask, and he nods.
“Yes, he’s just spent from healing me,” he states, running a hand through his hair, and I let the weight of the world dissolve from my shoulders.
Releasing Tatum’s hand, I hurry into the room, pressing a soft kiss to Blaze’s temple, managing not to disturb him before I rush back to the door. With it closed behind us, I follow Tatum into the room across the hall.
Lincoln, Asher, and Wylder will be checking on the rest of the pack, still out exploring in the dead of night, while Minnie was using the en-suite attached to her room when Bryony came to help me.
Tatum closes the door behind us as I pause in the center of the room, staring at the new space with tired eyes. A navy comforter covers the double bed to my left, and the soft grayheadboard harmonizes with the walls so well that I can barely tell where it begins and ends. He moves to the right, where white doors lead to a small closet, and wastes no time in grabbing a t-shirt from the top of a pile.
It’s in my hands a moment later, along with a kiss to my forehead.
Muttering my thanks, I let the silvery dress pool at my feet, along with my lingerie, before I slip into the offered t-shirt. I sigh at the softness against my skin as it falls mid-thigh, folding my arms over my chest for a moment as I breathe him in.
