Page 27 of Savage Fate

“Never say never.” Dimples chased his smile.

Marissa motioned her drink toward Hawk. “Why is he here? He’s not even a shifter.”

Mina’s brows met. “He’s a raven representative, right? They’re involved in this too.”

Hawk and I traded covert glances. He would be perfect for the role. It didn’t matter that Captain Gia hadn’t officially appointed him. They didn’t have to know that.

“Exactly,” Hawk said. “Thank you, Mina, for that astute observation.”

“Hawk! How’s it going?” Will, Mina’s twin, strolled up and gave the raven a fist bump. “Did you catch that game last night?”

My friend beamed when sports became the topic of conversation. “Hell yeah! That buzzer-beater shot at the end was epic.”

Mina scowled. “Since when are you two friends?”

“Since I met Hawk at the sandwich shop the other day,” Will said.

The energy in the room heightened when Camus walked in, nodding at a few members as he passed by. The light caught the gray strands threading his dark hair, and there seemed to be more than when I first met him.

“We’ll start in about five minutes, so you might want to find a seat,” he announced.

Fane hadn’t arrived yet, but Nora stood on the left side of the room, talking with a few female shifters.

“It’s always a pleasure to see you, Tate,” Will said, pulling my focus from Nora. “Especially without your intimidating shadow.”

I snorted. “I’m sure he’ll be here soon.”

Marissa’s lips curled into a sneer. “Of course. Neither of you can survive more than five minutes without the other.”

Before I could respond to her snarky comment, Will piped in.

“Jealous much?” He lifted his drink to his mouth. “Maybe you should try to mend your relationship with Dorian instead of wasting time picking on other, more successful mate bonds.”

Scarlet bled into Marissa’s cheeks, and regret flashed through her eyes so quickly it might have been a trick of the light. “Mind your own damn business, Will, and stop sticking up for Tate. You’re pathetic.”

“I’mpathetic?” He pointed across the room to a mirror on the wall. “Honey, go look in that if you want to see a prime example of pathetic.”

Crackles tickled over my neck tattoo as Fane walked into the room, drawing interest as usual. Some looked on in fear while others had desire or envy written on their faces.

Me?

Fire twisted through my belly, and my knees literally weakened.

How could one person have such an effect on me?

“Don’t worry, fiera mika, you do ridiculous things to my body too.”Fane’s hard expression didn’t change, but heat filled those mismatched irises.

“Stop reading my mind, Maverick.”

“Kind of hard when you’re screaming at me.”

I wanted to simultaneously punch and kiss him.

“Fane.” Marissa gave a sultry smile that made my talons push against my fingertips.

His brow arched at her flirty tone, but she only got a nod in response.

Hawk snorted under his breath. “I’m going to get a snack before this thing starts.”

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