Page 116 of Born Savage

Rage turned his head, studying me in the darkness. “Yes, I do.”

“Then trust me enough to allow me to guide you through the opening. This is another test, Rage. We must confront our fears. You are strong enough to do that, but the gods are telling you that it’s okay to ask for help.”

“Now you believe in the prophecy.”

“Maybe I do. Let me prove it to you.” I stood, backing away and holding out my hand. “I started a fire because you had faith I could harness my gift.”

“Are you so certain about that?”

“I am. Trust me. Come with me. I need you.”

“What do you need me for, princess?”

Maybe I didn’t truly mind him calling me a princess. “Everything.” Still stubborn, I had to grab his hand, refusing to let him go before he’d give in.

I backed away and he reluctantly followed, shaking his head the entire time. When I slipped on the ice, he swooped his arm under me, pulling me tightly against him.

“Careful, princess. You’ll hurt yourself.”

“I guess you’ll need to keep me from doing so. Won’t you?”

“I guess so.” The attraction was even stronger than before, but there was more of a desperate need not only for each other, but to reach our destination. He lowered his head, brushing his lips across mine. “I do trust you, princess.”

“Then you need to place trust in yourself. In the darkest of nights, there will always be a light. While sometimes it will take all your courage to face the monsters, never give up for you are destined for greatness. There will be one who will always protect you. If you have faith.”

He allowed me to guide him to the entrance, growling the entire time as I forced him to his knees. “Something Peter told you?”

“No,” I said as I pulled him down. “My birth mother did. Right before she was murdered.”

CHAPTER 25

Rage

“Dad. What are you doing here?” I was shocked to see him. In signing on the dotted line and joining the Verndari Project, I’d been told I wouldn’t be allowed to see my parents until after the completion of the training.

“I needed to speak with you, son.”

“What’s wrong?”

“There are some things that you need to know for the future.” My father had changed since the war had begun, aging at a much faster rate. “Sit.”

I followed his lead, lowering onto a bench. “Dad. What’s going on?”

“You look good, son. Healthy.”

“I’m fine. How’s Mother and Emily?”

“Missing you. I don’t have much time. There are dark forces determined to use the war to gain power.”

“Who?”

“People I considered friends. But don’t worry. There’s been a plan in place for a very long in case something of this nature should occur.”

“Do you need my help? I’ll leave the program and come back home.”

He touched my arm, squeezing. “You can’t do that, son. The only place you’ll be safe is right here. I need you to survive so that one day, you can begin to rebuild what I’d hoped would never be lost.”

“Me? What are you talking about?”