Page 18 of Savage Blood
“Maybe I will.” He rested his forehead on mine as his hands dragged down my sides, landing on my hips. “I love you.”
My sharp intake of air echoed between us, and bittersweet pangs whipped through my chest. “So I didn’t imagine that.”
“Sorry it took me so long to say it, fiera mika. I just…” He swallowed hard as agony twisted through him. “I’ve loved you for a long time, a lot longer than I can even remember, but I couldn’t fucking say it.”
My hand pressed into his cheek as I took his emotional pain. “Don’t be so hard on yourself, Fane. You didn’t have to say it. I felt it.”
Every touch, every kiss, and every time he moved inside of me, I felt his love.
“I would like nothing more than to lay you out on the damn pool table and bury myself deep inside of you, but figuring out a way to get to you is more important.” Fane brushed his lips against mine again. “You said you’re at Karn’s. How’s that possible when I destroyed the place the last time I had to rescue you?”
“Youhelpedme escape,” I corrected.
The demon shifter smirked. “Whatever you want to call it, Teague.”
“There’s a little problem with getting to me.” I inched back to put a little more space between us, so we wouldn’t start kissing again. “The Collective Nosterium—that’s what Barric’s inner circle is calling themselves—resurrected Karn’s manor, but to anyone not in the group, it looks like a pile of rubble. There’s no access to it.”
Fane rolled his neck. “Our connection might allow me to see it if you’re inside.”
“Not according to Roxie.” My stomach clenched when I looked over his shoulder at Saint as he leaned against the pool table, studying a map. “They have Enid.”
“Enid?”
Saint’s head snapped toward Fane—because the name had come out of his incorporeal form right in front of meandhis physical one.
“What about my mom?” Saint asked, worry lines developing across his forehead.
The demon shifter cursed and shook his head. “That’s my sign to return to my body.”
As Fane floated backward, he pulled me with him until his consciousness slipped back into his physical form, but before he could answer Saint, the alpha’s phone rang.
He pulled his cell out of his pocket, checked the screen, and answered it. “Dad, what’s wrong?” His silver gaze shot toward Fane. “What do you mean, missing?”
“The Collective has your mother,” Fane admitted.
“She’s okay,” I said. “Barric knows if he hurts her, I won’t cooperate.”
Fane’s brows slammed together. “Cooperate how?”
“What the fuck is she saying?” Saint snatched a pool ball, and if he gripped it any tighter, he’d shatter it into a million pieces.
“Your mom is fine.” Fane relayed my words, and then Saint spoke to his father, all the while a storm of rage flashing through the alpha’s silver irises.
Knots formed in my chest as Saint hung up and paced the room. The Collective Nosterium had captured his mother because of me.
Why did so many have to suffer because of me?
“Well, things are a little more complicated than we thought.” Hawk dragged his hand through his tousled dark blond strands. “They have Tate, and they have your mom, but all we’ve got to do is go into the Underworld and get them. Easy peasy.”
“Not exactly.” Fane told them about the Infernal Sol masking the location and cutting off access.
A feral growl tore out of Saint, and he launched the poolball through the air so hard it crashed through a wall and vanished somewhere in the hall.
Logan sighed. “Why does everyone have to demolish my things? I’m never letting you guys have a meeting in my room again.”
I inhaled a shaky breath, steadying my nerves. “That’s not all.”
Fane turned toward me, blinking. “There’s somethingworsethan The Collective having you and Enid?”
