Page 56 of Savage Fate

“But something’s still there.” She crossed her arms. “You’ll understand soon enough now that you and Saint Grimstone have been revealed as fated mates.”

My jaw clenched as those words hit the air. “Fane and I are already mated, so there’s no bond with Saint.”

Her shrill laugh made me wince. “You have no idea of what’s coming, Tate. Just wait. A fated mate bond can’t be ignored no matter how much you wish it could. Trust me. I know.”

I yanked my shirt over my head, ignoring the sting from the shallow cuts on my shoulder. “You should also know how easily it can be broken.”

Something strange flashed over her expression, possibly regret. “Maybe it’s best if you let Fane go and stick with the one fate picked for you.”

“Fuck fate.” Not even a spell that made Fane lust for my death could prevent us from being together. This stupid fated mates crap was nothing in the grand scheme of things.

“Saint won’t be easily tossed aside.” Marissa tapped her long nails on her arms as she studied me, smirking. “He might seem calm and levelheaded, but he’s still an alpha, and he’ll want his mate.”

I shoved my feet into my boots and bent to tie them. “I’m not his mate. And why do you suddenly care?” Of course, I could already see where this was going.

Marissa gave a casual shrug. “Maybe this is the universe’s way of correcting things.”

Tremors laced my muscles as I held back the anger threatening to consume me. “Stay away from Fane, Marissa. You had your chance, and you tossed him away.”

She peered at her nails, picking at the dirt under them. “I might have been wrong. Besides, you don’t belong with Fane,and you’ll only hurt him when you start to fall for Saint. He’s your perfect match, and unlike with Fane and me, you don’t have people whispering in your ear.”

“If others influenced you to cast your fated mate away, you’re even weaker than I thought.” As I stepped toward her, her nonchalant stance vanished. “What Fane and I have is bigger than any fated mate bond, and if you try anything with him, Iwillrip your throat out.”

Marissa backed up. “Nature usually has a way of winning out.”

“And I usually have a way of defying the odds,” I countered. “I’m not letting some—” My words cut off as pain tore through my abdomen.

What in the hell?

I clutched a tree trunk to remain upright. As the throbbing agony faded into a hot ache, memories of the Infernal Sol flooded my mind.

A rush of dizzying sensations drowned me. I wanted the Infernal Sol back. I wanted to feel the high its dark power gave me.

Longing for the amulet washed over me, turning the forest white and then red. My thoughts focused on the power that had once flowed through my veins. Delicious wickedness had swarmed me like a comforting blanket, and I’d loved every minute.

Come find me. Unite us and see how powerful you can really be.

“What is wrong with you?”

Marissa’s snarky voice yanked me out of the hypnotic haze but didn’t stop the yearning twisting through me.

Don’t you want to feast on fears and make the world fall to its knees?

The urge to breach Marissa’s mind and inhale her fears poured wonderful images through my mind. I’d make her beg and scream for mercy I’d never grant.

I wanted that so much it hurt.

“Are you going to pass out?” she asked, her top lip curling in a sneer.

A tugging feeling hit my gut, and I spun, marching away without another word. The Infernal Sol was calling me. I knew it would never be satisfied with Barric.

My fast gait turned into a full-on run, trees whipping by and branches snagging my clothes. Deep down, I realized how bad this was. If the Infernal Sol was near, so was Barric.

Unless the amulet had managed to get away from him and convince some poor sap to bring it to me.

A smile curved my lips.

That had to be it.

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