Page 68 of Savage Hunt

My consciousness slammed back into my body, stumbling in the water. I’d expected the spell to have screwed with our bond, but he could still see, feel, and hear me.

I spun just as Fane reached me. “Just listen to?—”

My words cut off as he wrapped his hand around my throat to strangle me, and not in the fun way I liked during sex. This was to sever my air supply and force me unconscious. Would he then drown me or slit my throat and watch my blood turn the water crimson?

“Let me go.” My fingers slipped over his, trying to break his hold. “You can’t kill me.”

His menacing laugh sent chills down my spine. “I can’t?” He yanked me into his chest, snarling like a feral beast. “Watch me.”

As black spots converged over my vision, I reached inside and pulled out whichever magic answered my call. It happened to be my demon side because as soon as I tapped into that power, my pupils elongated into black slits like Fane’s.

This caught him off guard, allowing me to slam my arm across his, finally breaking his grip. I stumbled back and choked on air as my esophagus burned with each breath. Bruises would definitely form on my neck soon.

“What the fuck are you?” His nostrils flared as his muscles tightened beneath the wet shirt. “Shifters don’t have eyes like that.”

“I’m not just a wolf shifter.” I widened the gap between us and circled toward the shore, walking backward. “Don’t you remember?”

He followed me, matching my every step with his larger stride, bringing us closer. “I remember that you killed my brother.”

My hand absentmindedly went to the claw marks on my side as I rose out of the water, catching Fane’s attention. He growled, knowing exactly what the scars were from. “Venna had Kaspin put a spell on you.”

“The only spell Kaspin performed was to help me find Warin’s killer.” He yanked the bloodstone out of his shirt. “This showed me his murder, and it’s enchanted to lead me to his killer. And I found her.”

I frantically shook my head as Fane followed me through the lake. “Venna brought us to Heldrok together. She had your mother and would only release her if we surrendered.”

He scoffed. “Nice try. Venna is the one who got my mother out of Heldrok.”

“Ruin did!”

Kaspin really screwed with his memories.

Water dripped down his body, and his black shirt clung to his shredded torso, revealing all the hard dips and curves I knew by heart. “You’re going to pay for killing my brother.”

“I didn’t have a choice.” My bare feet sank into the sand on the shore and then the grass. “He slaughtered four teens and a little girl. When he came after me, I fought back.”

“That’s bullshit. Warin would never kill innocent kids.”

“He wouldn’t, but something was wrong with him.” I searched the ground for my sword but didn’t stoop to pick it up. What the hell would I do with it? I wouldn’t kill Fane.

I’d let him kill me first.

“We met months ago outside of Wrath & Ruin.” I made the mistake of ignoring my surroundings, and my back hit a tree as Fane quickly closed the distance between us. “We were in Heldrok together for killing Venna’s sister and Karn. She also?—”

He moved too fast and pinned me against the rough bark. His presence overwhelmed me—his warmth, the heady scent of leather and spice, and his familiar touch—and I melted into him despite the perilous situation. A moan slipped out before I could clamp my lips shut.

The disgust on the demon shifter’s face almost fooled me, but when his gaze dipped to my breasts, his desire bubbled underneath.

He was still attracted to me even though he wanted to kill me.

That was how it had been at the beginning. Murder and lust.

“Don’t let her do this to you, Maverick.” My hand trembled as I reached up and ran my finger over the scar across his jaw. “She’s using you.”

He snatched my wrist and restrained it above my head. “She’s helping me. I just have to bring you to her so she can get the Infernal Sol out, and then I can kill you. That’s my payment for her assistance.”

Voices echoed from the other side of the lake, and Fane’s head jerked back. “Why are Ruin and Logan here?”

“Because we’re friends,” I said, my heart racing from the threat of Fane and the adrenaline pumping through my veins. If I could only make him see the truth, we could get out of this place together.

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