Page 117 of Savage Fate

“Try anything, and he’ll kill you.”

Saint rolled his eyes. “I’m aware. Fane has reminded me a dozen times since he left.” He swallowed hard, and his expression softened. “Tate, I don’t want to worry you, but something is very wrong with you.”

“Tell me something I don’t know,” I muttered.

“I’m serious.” He rested his hand over his chest. “I can feel it inside of you, like poison.”

I pulled my knees up and rested my chin on one. “I haven’t been the same since the Infernal Sol was removed.” The sun tattoo on my abdomen throbbed, and the absence of that menacing power made me want to break down in tears.

“You want it back, don’t you?”

My head jerked in his direction. “Of course not.” But my denial was too quick. He wasn’t buying my bullshit.

“It won’t make you better,” he said. “It might take away these withdrawal symptoms, but it will only continue to poison you, like a drug addiction.”

“That doesn’t make this any easier.” He didn’t even know about the voice inside my head or my vision of the amulet. It called to me. It wanted me back too.

I was such a better vessel than Barric. Was the Infernal Sol really pleased with my biological father? Could Barric even feast on fears like I could? I bet he couldn’t suck down souls.

My brain had to stop traveling to the darkest places. It didn’t matter how much of a good host I was for the amulet. If I allowed it inside me again, I’d eventually lose myself. I had to learn to live without it.

“Can I see the tattoo?” Saint asked, yanking me from my spiraling thoughts.

When I looked down at the t-shirt, my brows knit. “Who the hell changed me?”

“My sister.” He shrugged. “It was either that or Hawk, and I didn’t think he’d survive Fane’s wrath if he undressed you.”

“Where is Hawk?”

“He left a little while ago. The raven captain wanted to speak to him about the mess in Wrath & Ruin.” He jerked his chin toward my torso. “So, the tattoo?”

I pulled the covers down to my waist, lifted the t-shirt—which had to be his because his masculine pine scent covered it—and unveiled the sun-shaped tattoo. Saint reached forward and rested his fingers on the ebony ink.

A strange tingle blossomed as he traced the lines. “There’s still power in this thing.”

“From the Infernal Sol?”

“Maybe it left a piece of it behind or something.” His mouth thinned into a tight line. “It’s hard to explain.”

“Why can’t I access that power? I feel nothing except the craving to have the stupid thing back.” I winced. “And the dizziness and shakes, of course.”

Saint pressed his whole palm on it. “A demon alchemist should look into this. Has Logan not examined you?”

“We didn’t think there was any point to it. The amulet was gone—or at least, we thought so.”

Was that why the urge for it was so strong? A piece of it was still inside me, and the stone wanted to be whole again?

He pulled his hand away and then leaned on the headboard. “But you do feel better when you’re with me?”

My lips pressed together as I stalled, hating to admit it. “Yeah. I guess.”

“Let me do what I can for you while you’re here.” He opened his arms and motioned for me to lie against him.

Unease twisted through my gut. Fane had me come here for this very reason, but I didn’t want to do anything that might stir unwanted feelings for Saint. He was hot, and we already had a bond. Spending time with him might not strengthen it, but it could bring us closer.

“Should we be doing this?” I nervously fiddled with the ends of my hair. “It feels like we’re asking for trouble.”

Saint gave a wry smile. “We’ll still reject the bond when this is all over, Tate. You and Fane are already mated, and your connection would never allow anything to destroy it. I can feel that when I’m in a room with you two.” He patted his tattooed chest. “Come here and let me hold you.”

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