Page 51 of Savage Fate

“You may think that now, but just wait.” He reached past me and snatched the drink even as I tried to push it farther away. He was too fast. “Now that the bond has presented itself, you’ll start to feel things for Saint.”

I crossed my arms and flicked my hair over my shoulder. “What a load of bullshit. I’ve talked to Saint plenty, and I don’t feel a thing.”

“So nothing strange happened with you two while you were alone at the house last night?”

Of course he had to go back to that.

“Why would you even think that?”

Fane arched a skeptical eyebrow. “You told him about the Infernal Sol and that Barric has it.”

I chewed on my bottom lip as my gaze fell to the bar, studying the claw marks carved into the glossy wood. “He won’t tell anyone. He promised.”

Those mismatched orbs—currently as hard as gemstones—drilled into me, his whole form vibrating with pent-up rage. “It’s already starting.” His mouth curved into a disgusted leer. “The bond has forced you to spill secrets to your fated mate, and he, of course, is willing to keep them from his own pack just because you asked.”

“Nothing is starting, Maverick.” My tone, while fury laced each syllable, still couldn’t match his. “And he’s not my anything.Youare my mate, at least you’re supposed to be, but you’re being a prick right now.”

“Sorry I’m not your perfect, dutiful mate.” He downed the rest of his drink and then gave a savage smile. “You have Saint for that. I’m sure he’ll be everything you need in a mate and more. He’ll give you anything you want and do anything you ask. In fact, why don’t you go find him and tell him I hurt your feelings so he can comfort you?”

A flood of pain and rage filled my veins, and it took every ounce of control I had not to slap the shit out of him. He flinched from the flare of emotions in the bond.

“You’re an asshole.” The words burst out, and just as unshed tears blurred the bar, I hopped off the stool and stormed toward the back where the restrooms were.

I barely shut the door when it swung open and Fane barged in, his nostrils flaring and irises glowing. “You’re not getting away that easily.”

Chapter

Sixteen

Fane’s intimidatingpresence choked the bathroom, and heat swelled against the gray walls and white tiles. His anger zipped back and forth through the bond, intensifying my own.

“Get out,” I growled, my pupils thinning into black diamonds.

Fane ignored me and stalked in my direction until my back hit the edge of the counter. Thankfully, the three stalls lining the opposite wall were empty, so no one would witness the fight brewing on the horizon.

“You can’t just run away when I say something you don’t like, Teague.” His lips curled back, showing his teeth. “And I only said the truth. I’ll never be the perfect mate, while I’m sure Saint is very capable of that.”

I shoved his hard chest, but he didn’t move. “Who said I wanted perfect, Maverick? Hell, I’m far from it, so why would I expect that from you?”

He gave a lazy shrug even as the tension in his shoulders grew. “Maybe you’ve been settling with me, and now that Saint is your fated, you’ll see just how lacking I am.”

I seriously couldn’t believe the bullshit coming out of his mouth. We’d been through so much, fought so damn hard,and he really thought I wanted someone else. He might not remember our first year together, but he felt my emotions. He knew very damn well how deep my feelings for him ran.

I loved him, for shit’s sake. He knew that.

So why would he say these things?

A dark and twisted thought occurred to me, sending an invisible fist into my gut. Was he doing this on purpose?

He only claimed me to save me. He didn’t do it because he wanted to be with me so badly that he couldn’t stand the thought of losing me.

“I’m beginning to think this is your way of getting out of the bond.”

His brow arched. “How’s that?”

“Now that Saint is my fated, you figured this is your shot to break our connection and finally be rid of me.” This time when I shoved him, he took a few steps back. “You never wanted this, and now you have a way out.”

Fane’s irises began to shrink into impenetrable black lines. “You think I want to leave you? You think I want to give you up?”

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