Page 159 of Savage Blood
“Not yet.” At least I hoped not.
Was death really just darkness and nothing else? Weren’t you supposed to be with your loved ones who crossed over?
And then it dawned on me.
I was inside Fane’s mind, deeper than I’d ever been before. This was one of his worst fears—that he would spend eternity alone.
How did he become trapped in a fear? Did the mystical properties of Coltrane’s bullet cause this? Or was this the work of the ancient demon power within me attempting to save Fane’s life?
Maybe breaking him out of this fear trance was all I had to do to save him.
“You don’t belong here, Fane.”
His head lowered, black hair falling across his face. “Of course I do. This is where I go when I die.”
I shook him. “You’re not dead yet. You’re trapped in a fear.”
“Fear. Yes. Iamafraid.” He explored the black ground, an impenetrable veil of darkness.
Sharp, agonizing pain sliced my heart open as he fell further into his fear. All the hope and light drained out of him, leaving only despair and anguish.
This wouldnotbe his end. I wouldn’t allow it.
Fury swelled through my system, melting the ice and bringing fire to my veins. Crying wouldn’t snap Fane out of this nightmare beforehe died.
“You promised you would never leave me.” My teeth gritted, and I grabbed his jaw, forcing him to meet my stare. “Are you going to break your promise, Maverick?”
A tiny ember of anger crackled inside him. “I don’twantto leave you, but I don’t have a choice.”
I swallowed hard, my fingers digging into his chin. “You promised you’d always be with me to make sure I didn’t fall too far, that I didn’t lose myself to the power now flowing through me.”
Fane snatched my hand off his face and jerked me so hard I fell into his lap. “How am I supposed to get out of here? I don’t even know where here is.”
My pulse spiked as the life slowly returned to him, his rage pushing more of the despair and fear to the background.
That’s it, Fane. Keep fighting.
I kissed him, nibbling hard on his bottom lip until he groaned, and I tasted blood. “Take my hand, Maverick. I’ll lead you out.”
“And if it doesn’t work?” he asked, his breaths quickening and desire mixing with the anger.
“Then I’ll stay here in the dark with you forever.”
From the moment Fane Maverick bit me, I knew we would never be alone, not even in death. If he was trapped in this fear for eternity, then I would be too.
But that didn’t mean I’d stop trying.
I climbed out of his lap and offered my hand to him, my heart thundering again. “What’s it going to be, Maverick?”
As I held my breath, the air crackling and hope bubbling in my center, I poured all my love and strength into the bond. His mismatched eyes drilled into mine, his soul clinging to every ounce of courage flowingbetween us.
For once, I could be his savior, his beacon guiding the way to safety through a violent tempest. This time, I found him, and I would never let go.
Fane stood, a terrifying and intoxicating mix of beauty and pain, and he wrapped his hand around mine. “Lead the way, fiera mika.”
Epilogue
Music pulsed through Wrath& Ruin as I stood on the balcony overlooking the dance floor. A collection of nightworlders and humans filled the club tonight, and not one ounce of fear permeated the atmosphere.
