Page 4 of Savage Fate

“Yes, Saint, I agree.” Valeria glared around the table, waiting for someone else to stick up for my deplorable father. “Instead of questioning Tatum, you should thank her for opening everyone’s eyes to the real Barric Hartwell.”

After a heavy pause, Ari cleared his throat and turned to Camus. “You’ve had no contact with your mate?”

The Mohan alpha grimaced at the subject change. “I’ve neither spoken with nor felt anything from Reese. She’s completely blocking me somehow.”

Fane’s thumb drew circles on the back of my hand. “Roman is with them. He may be casting a spell to keep you from connecting and discovering any vital information.”

“That’s possible.” Gareth, Jax’s former assistant, pressed his palms into the table. “Roman’s capable of powerful spells, but he can’t keep this up forever. He’ll burn out.”

Unless Roman wasn’t responsible for hiding Barric, Reese, and the other members. Fane and I traded glances, thinking the same thing. The Infernal Sol had powers I’d barely tapped into. No one really knew what the amulet was capable of, even in the hands of a shifter.

After sittingin the council room for an hour, I excused myself to get some fresh air before I went nuts pretending to be perfectly fine in front of everyone. As usual, Fane sensed something was off, but he didn’t press the issue. He would later when we were alone.

As I stepped into the courtyard and leaned my hip against one of the wrought iron tables, I inhaled a deep breath, hoping it would loosen the tightness in my chest. Maybe the Infernal Sol had stolen my sanity and tarnished me too much to ever return to normal.

I groaned and dragged my hand down my face. Maybe I was simply going crazy.

A full moon hung in the sky, so faint in the glow of city lights you could barely see it. But I sure as hell could feel it. My inner wolf wanted to push through and run free for hours.

“Tate?”

I spun as a blond female barreled into me and nearly popped my ribs from hugging me so tightly. “Uh, hey, Charla.”

She drew away, grinning from ear to ear. “I heard you were back.”

“I’m just visiting.” I extricated myself from her arms. “Fane and I came to the council meeting with Camus.”

Her smile dimmed. “Is it about that asshole Barric?”

“Kind of.”

Charla was doing well for someone who’d been in captivity not long ago. She looked much better than when I found her in that cell. Her face was still a little gaunt, and faint circles bruised beneath her eyes, but she wasn’t on the verge of passing out.

“I hope he’s imprisoned and tortured in a cell like we were.” She pushed her glasses up her nose, her grin returning. “I also heard you and Fane are officially mates.”

A flush rose into my cheeks simply thinking about the demon shifter. “Yep.”

Charla scoffed. “Yep? That’s all you have to say?” She leaned closer. “If you thought he was protective before he claimed you, just wait. Girl, you haven’t seen anything yet.”

“You aren’t mated, are you?” As far as I knew, she wasn’t.

She shook her head while dramatically fanning her face. “I’ve been around enough newly mated couples to know how it goes. And I bet you guys can’t keep your hands off each other.”

That would be the case if Fane’s stubborn ass wasn’t so worried about Kaspin’s spell.

Could I blame him?

Something terrible always seemed to ruin any peace or happiness we found.

A shrill scream suddenly tore through the quiet night, piercing my eardrums like a high-pitched whistle. I winced and clenched my teeth as my skull throbbed.

What the hell was going on now?

I whipped toward the brick wall enclosing the courtyard as a commotion erupted on the other side.

“That came from the street,” Charla said, lifting her nose and sniffing the air. “There’s blood.”

Chapter

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