Page 90 of Savage Fate

“I’m just anxious.” I chewed on my bottom lip. “Do you think it’s because Fane is in a different realm? We haven’t been separated that long, so it shouldn’t be this intense.”

Saint rubbed his jaw as he contemplated my words. “It’s possible. But being with me should ease it a little.”

“What do you mean?”

He gave a noncommittal shrug. “Since we’re still fated mates and haven’t rejected the bond, my presence should alleviate some of your stress. Or, at the very least, it should distract you.”

I gave a humorless laugh. “I don’t think it’s working.”

Saint grabbed my hand, weaving our fingers together. “What about now?”

My whole body tensed at his touch, not because it felt bad but because it wasn’t Fane. “Not helping,” I muttered, pulling my hand out of his and crossing my arms.

He gripped the steering wheel. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

Heat bloomed in my cheeks, and I wanted to crawl under the seat. “It’s just… I feel guilty if I hold your hand. It’s too romantic or something.”

“You and Fane do a lot of hand-holding?”

I scoffed. “Not really. We do a lot more annoying each other.”

“Sweet and romantic is definitely not your love language.” He gave a crooked grin. “And that’s okay. Everyone’s different.”

“Fane can be sweet.” I realized I was tapping my thighs again, so I pressed my palms into them. “I just prefer spice over sugar.”

Saint’s deep, smooth laughter filled the car. “You have a high tolerance for spicy food, especially for a shifter. Our taste buds are usually sensitive.”

“My craving for it developed when I was a kid and was fed bland, tasteless crap in foster homes.” At one point, I wasn’t even sure there was a flavor difference between canned green beans and corn. “If I added hot sauce or crushed pepper flakes, I could at least tastesomething.”

Saint’s silvery eyes drilled into me, and I sensed the sympathy pulsating from him. “Your childhood wasn’t the greatest.”

I shook my head and fiddled with a hole in my jeans at the kneecap. “Not really.”

“Do you know what happened to your real parents?”

A flood of anger rushed through my veins, and the words burst out of my mouth before I could stop them. “My father killed my mother.”

If I wasn’t careful, I’d spill all my secrets to Saint.

“I’m sorry.” He turned back to the road, his brow furrowed and fingers gripping the steering wheel.

There was no way he could put two and two together and figure out I was Barric’s daughter. The whole world believed he’d had a son who died, and they all thought I was a bitten shifter.

After a few moments of awkward silence, Saint cleared his throat. “I still can’t believe Barric was that bold to sneak into Mohan Wilds and abduct you.” The tiny muscles in his face twitched as he clenched his jaw. “Could the amulet affect his mind?”

A laugh slipped out. “A hundred percent. You don’t even want to know how dark and twisted I got with that thing inside of me.”

“You seemed pretty normal to me.” He shrugged, the winter sun hitting the ring on his index finger. “I didn’t sense any sinister or threatening intentions.”

“You weren’t around me when it was in control.” I’d created a riot in Heldrok, for shit’s sake. I’d also toyed with a whole party of demons on Venna’s request, feasting on their fears and sucking down their life forces.

A shiver raked over my spine as those memories and the delicious sensations I’d felt bubbled forward. That amulet had turned me into an addict in more ways than one.

“I’m glad it’s out of you,” Saint said, yanking me from the ominous memories.

“Me too.” I rubbed my thighs and started tapping them again. “How much longer?”

Saint gave a wry smile. “It’s going to be a while.” He jerked his head toward the back seat. “I brought a pillow and blanket. Why don’t you get some rest?”

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