Page 109 of Savage Hunt

Thirty-Five

My lids weighed a thousand pounds each as I opened them to an unfamiliar room with calming beige walls and another twin bed across the oak hardwoods. Aches ravaged my body like I’d been through a dozen car accidents, and an invisible hammer slammed against my skull.

The tattoo on my neck tingled, so I wasn’t surprised to find Fane in the wooden chair close to my bed, watching me with an unreadable look. Out the window framed in white curtains, the sun emerged over the horizon, but gray storm clouds kept the atmosphere gloomy. Rain scented the air.

Demise didn’t kill me after all.

Fane gave me his blood last night to save my life. More of him filled my veins than I did, and I could feel his every breath.

He toyed with the bloodstone dangling from the chain around his neck. “The desire to kill you penetrates every part of me. But I let you live last night. I saved you.”

“Confusing. I know.” My tongue felt like sandpaper, and when I reached for the cup of water on the nightstand, fireworks exploded through me. The room spun, and I sucked air sharply.

Son of a bitch. Everything hurt.

I collapsed back onto the pillow, sweat beading my brow from that little bit of movement.

“Here.” Fane slipped his hand under my head and lifted it as he tipped the cup to my lips. “Just a few sips.”

The cool water soothed the dryness in my throat, but it did nothing to stop the violent throbbing in my body. Fane must have felt it. The days of him taking my pain were dead and gone, though.

I blinked away the unshed tears and wiped the sweat from my forehead. “I know you don’t want to believe me, but something was wrong with Warin that night.” A tired sigh drifted out. “I can’t keep apologizing for it. I thought I’d die with him, but my hell just continued on Earth.”

“Let’s say you did kill Warin in self-defense, and I was forced to save you and the Infernal Sol by turning you.” Fane let the bloodstone fall against his chest. “It still doesn’t explain why I would ever let myself have feelings for you. I would never betray my brother like that.”

“And I would never betray the little girl he killed by falling for a nightworlder, but here I am.” When Fane stopped me from sneaking out of Mohan Wilds last year, we confronted those fears. Our relationship would never be perfect or last, but these feelings were drowning us like river rapids, pushing us toward a waterfall with sharp boulders at the bottom. “We tried to stay apart, Maverick. Neither one of us wanted this.”

Fane leaned back in the chair, the wood creaking from his weight. “I know every scar you have and how you got it. The thought of anyone hurting you like that makes me see red. I thirst for those humans’ blood, especially that disgusting man in the pool house.” His teeth bared and pupils thinned as his beast stalked closer to the surface. “I will feel his life fade as I rip his throat apart.”

I turned on my back and studied the white ceiling to avoid his gaze. Having Fane know the ugliest secrets of my past always made me want to hide. Him knowing it now when he longed to kill me made the humiliation worse.

“What happened to Dorian and Marissa?” I asked, changing the subject.

He sucked his bottom lip into his mouth and toyed with the hoop piercing. “They’re in the council’s custody. Camus can’t let this go. Even if Dorian claimed you provoked him, there’s no excuse for any of them having a silver knife or Demise.”

I wouldn’t be surprised if they tried to blame it all on me and my crazy demon side. The Infernal Sol had begun to take control but only after the former beta stabbed me.

Fane palmed the back of his neck and stared out the window as rain fell. “I was only talking to Marissa to keep some distance between you and me. I never would have done anything. She has a mate.”

“Could have fooled me.” I yanked the covers off and swung my legs to the ground.

Fane shot to his feet. “Where are you going?”

“To the bathroom. Hopefully, I can find a toothbrush because my mouth tastes like something died in it after puking black sludge.”

He frowned. “Can you even stand on your own? A few hours ago, you were knocking on Death’s door.”

“I’m always knocking on Death’s door. He refuses to answer.” I was beginning to think he was avoiding me.

As soon as I stood, my knees buckled. If Fane hadn’t caught me, I would have dropped to the ground like a bag of bricks.

The demon shifter cursed and helped me stand. “Before you go walking around, make sure your legs are working properly. I’m not in the mood to keep saving you.”

I flipped him off. “No one asked you to save me.”

He scoffed. “I’m pretty sure I was asked to save your ass last night by donating my blood.”

I pushed out of his grasp, standing on my own. “And I’m pretty sure you volunteered for the blood transfusion. In fact, Preston offered, but you demanded that it be you.”

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