Page 22 of Savage Claim

“Not that bad,” I lied anyway.

My gaze tracked to the alley across the street, the figure gone. Had that really been Mykel, or had I imagined him? Either way, I had no plans to tell Fane. He’d alert Barric, and I’d never be allowed out of the compound.

Fane picked me up and marched toward the bar. “Out of my way!”

Shifters parted for him, and when Dante saw the wound in my leg, blood oozing down my jeans, he ushered us to the back.

“Take her to the employee lounge. I’ll get some towels and water.”

Fane stormed into a small room with exposed brick walls and scuffed hardwoods and laid me on a leather chaise, his concern throbbing within our link. “How did that sub-demon catch you off guard?”

I shrugged, wincing from the sharp pain in my leg. “I thought they were all gone.”

His brows slammed together at the lie. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“Nothing. I just wasn’t paying attention.”

“Here.” Dante returned with some rags and a bucket. “I’m assuming you’re going to suck the venom out.”

Fane gave a sharp nod and snatched the bottle of water the bartender offered. He unbuttoned my jeans but stopped before pulling them down and glanced over his shoulder at Dante who lingered in the middle of the room. “Get the fuck out.”

“Oh, sure.” He spun and dashed out, closing the door behind him.

“Stop being so mean to him,” I hissed as Fane carefully drew my jeans to my knees, revealing the puncture wound from the maltera’s horn. “He didn’t do anything.”

The demon shifter scoffed. “He did plenty, Teague. And you’re the one who almost ripped that female shifter to pieces for talking to me.”

A wave of hot anger washed over me at the memories of Greta’s hands on him. “That bitch had the nerve to touch you even after I told her to back off.”

“You’re adorable when you’re jealous.” The edges of his lips twitched into the ghost of a smile, his lip ring shining under the soft overhead lights.

“I’ll be real adorable when I’m ripping her throat out and—” Another hiss shot from my mouth as Fane dipped forward and latched onto my thigh, sucking hard to pull the venom out.

My nails dug into the arms of the chair as I gritted my teeth against the pain. Fane drew away and spit into the bucket before returning to my leg. After a few more times, the burn from the poison lessened, leaving behind a stinging ache.

“I think that’s all.” Fane gargled water and spit it into the bucket. The wet rag he used to carefully clean the wound gently glided over my skin, sending shivers over my spine. He suddenly looked up, blinking. “I—this seems familiar. Déjà vu, I guess.”

My heart rate doubled as invisible bands tightened around my chest. Was he remembering? “This has kind of happened before.”

He cocked his head. “What are you talking about?”

“A poisonous agrigon demon bit me on the leg once, and you took me to Logan’s apartment.” A sad smile curved my lips. “You sucked the venom out, too, even though you would have rather I died at that point.”

“I don’t remember.” Fane drew away, examining my leg but not really looking at it. “You had the Infernal Sol, so I probably didn’t have a choice.”

“You didn’t have a choice in saving me, but you sure as hell had a choice in giving me an orgasm.”

Fane’s fingers tightened on my thigh. “Excuse me?”

Heat flowed over me as hyperdetailed memories resurfaced. Fane had used the phantom touch we’d just discovered to make me fall apart in the chair with Logan a few feet away in the kitchen, no less. “You only did it to torment me, or at least you claimed that. I think you just wanted to watch me shatter from your touch.”

A low hum vibrated his throat, and those phantom fingers suddenly detached from him, running between my legs. My jaw clenched against the moan that wanted to burst out, but he felt my desire anyway, embers stoked into flames with each pass of his fingers.

“You’re really going to tease me right now?” I tried to steady my breathing as my pulse hammered. “I’ve already had a shitty day. I don’t need you messing with my head to top it off.”

Fane leaned forward, his nostrils flaring as he scented my arousal. He bared his teeth, and the veins in his neck protruded. “Maybe I like messing with you, Teague.” His head dipped forward, his tongue licking the sensitive flesh close to my aching center.

My back arched, and I squirmed, flames lapping everywhere. “Don’t mess with me like this, Fane. I’m not in the mood for your hot and cold bullshit, so if you’re not?—”

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