Savage Fate (Den of Shadows #5)

Chapter 20

Chapter

Twenty

A rush of heat descended over my back as Saint’s words sank in. To heal me, he’d have to lick me.

The thought of his tongue gliding over my skin had my heart sputtering and flames leaping across my chest.

“No, thanks.” I cleared my throat when my voice squeaked.

A wry grin tugged at his mouth. “Let me know if you change your mind.”

“Sure.”

When hell freezes over.

I bent to pull my boots off but hissed as pain shot through my middle.

Saint was in front of me in seconds, pushing me into the chair in the corner. “Let me help.”

“I can—” My words cut off when he gave me a penetrating glare that almost rivaled Fane’s. “Okay. Whatever.”

The young alpha carefully pried my boots off, water dripping from them as he then tossed them to the floor. “What happened? How did The Collective grab you, and how the hell did you end up at my pack?”

“Barric lured me out of Mohan territory and attacked me.” Since Saint knew about the Infernal Sol, I revealed that the former head alpha used it to set a trap. “I was stupid to fall for it.”

Saint helped me stand. “Why would Barric come out of hiding just to take you? He could have sent anyone.”

I gave a noncommittal shrug. “He probably has it out for me since I was the one to reveal his involvement in The Collective Hunt and the missing shifters.”

Or because I was his daughter and he blamed me for the betrayal and death of his mate.

“I guess.” He rubbed the stubble darkening his jaw. “I’m just surprised he risked getting caught for you.”

Saint already knew too much. I couldn’t tell him that Barric was my father.

Would he look at me differently knowing I came from such a sadistic asshole?

I flicked open the button on my jeans, ready to peel them off. “Mind turning around while I change? I’m not into giving peep shows.”

“Oh. Sorry.” He spun, palming his nape. “Of course, I wouldn’t oppose a peep show if you were ever in the giving mood.”

Guys .

“Don’t let Fane hear you say that.” I clenched my teeth as sharp pangs crackled over my side while I pried my jeans off. I definitely hit a few rocks rolling around in that damn freezing river. “He’d rip your face off.”

Saint shrugged. “Might be worth it. I’d still have a hot bod without a face.”

I couldn’t stop the laugh from slipping out as I drew the sweatpants up my legs. “Wow, is this comedy hour? Should I pay for a ticket?”

“You can pay with a peep show.”

“I’d do more than rip his face off.”

My head snapped around as Fane leaned against the wooden dresser in the corner with a scowl, arms folded over his chest.

“Fane!”

I bolted across the room and crashed into him, his ghostly form feeling as real as his physical one. He even smelled real.

“I’m going to go out on a limb and say Fane left his body to pay you a visit.” Saint’s gaze burned into my back. “Or did you hit your head when you fell off that cliff?”

Fane’s lips thinned into a tight line. “Maybe you should put on a shirt. I’d hate for Saint to think you were planning a show for him.”

A blush ran over my skin.

Shit. I was still in my bra.

“Yeah, Fane’s here.” I hurried back to the chair as fast as my sore legs could carry me and shoved the gray tank top over my head.

Saint rocked back on his heels as he perused the room, searching for the invisible demon shifter. “How long has he been here?”

“Long enough.” The lethal tone of Fane’s voice had goose bumps rising across my flesh. His pupils elongated into diamonds as he glared at the young alpha.

Thankfully, Saint couldn’t see him.

“Where are you, Fane?” I asked, threading my arms through the hoodie’s sleeves and yanking it over my head.

Now that I wasn’t fighting for my life or freezing to death, the separation anxiety from the bond registered, and nervous energy ricocheted within me. It would only get worse.

“I’m in the car with Hawk.” He finally tore his attention from Saint and returned to me. “We’re on the way.”

As relief hit me, I dropped onto the edge of the bed, and Fane closed the distance between us.

“I’ll be there soon, fiera mika.” He dragged his thumb over my cheekbone before vanishing.

Saint crossed his arms and scowled at the spot Fane had just been. “I wasn’t serious about the whole peep show thing. It was just a joke.”

I snorted. “He’s gone.”

“Oh.” His shoulders relaxed, and a ghost of a smile pulled at his lips. “In that case, I did mean it.”

A knock rapped on the door, and Avery poked his head in. “We have Hailey. She’s okay.”

I bolted up and headed toward him. “Where is she? I want to see her.”

Avery led us down the long hall with oak walls and a soft carpet runner muting our steps. Once we turned a corner, he knocked on a door. My heart lurched when a soft voice answered.

“Come in.”

Hailey was perched on a mountain of pillows in a large bed against the farthest wall. Her brown eyes were glassy and tired, and bandages wrapped her wrists where the silver chains had been, but she smiled when I entered.

“I’m glad you’re okay, Tate.” She smoothed blond locks from her face. “I was so worried when you fell off that cliff.”

I perched on the edge of her bed. “It’s going to take a lot more than a little dive off a cliff into an icy river to get rid of me.”

She laughed and then winced, grabbing her torso. Those assholes had hit her a few times.

“Here.” A guy with cropped copper hair handed Hailey an ice pack. “You should get some rest.”

“We just want to talk to her for a minute, Josh.” Saint rested his hand on the other shifter’s shoulder. “I promise not to harass your patient too much.”

Josh gave a soft smile and nodded. “Make sure you drink that, Hailey.” He pointed to a glass of murky green liquid on the nightstand. “All of it.”

She grimaced. “If I wasn’t a healer myself and knew how much Consano Remedy sped up the healing process, I’d throw that crap down the drain.”

He chuckled and walked toward the door. “It’s disgusting, but it works.”

“Are you really okay?” I asked. “No major injuries or anything?”

Hailey shook her head. “Just some cuts and bruises. Superficial things.” Her gaze lowered while she anxiously twisted the green-and-blue flannel blanket between her fingers. “I wish I could erase these memories, though. I’d rather not relive the terror I felt when I woke up in that basement bound in silver.”

An invisible fist gripped my heart at the pain in her voice. “What happened, Hailey? How did The Collective get you?”

Avery sat on the leather chair in the corner while Saint leaned against the wall, focusing on the two of us. Instead of demanding answers from Hailey or even leading the conversation like most alphas would, he allowed me to take the reins.

Maybe he sensed that Hailey wasn’t as strong as she was pretending to be, mentally, anyway. It was easier for her to address to me since we’d been in that van together.

She swallowed hard and reached for the glass of murky liquid, staring at it as she spoke. “I was leaving my home in Mohan Wilds, headed to the healers for work, when this strange sensation came over me.”

My eyebrow arched as unease filled my gut. “Strange sensation?”

“Like a tugging.” She sipped the tonic and shuddered. “It lured me away from the center of the pack territory, and when I reached the edge, everything went black. The next thing I know, I’m waking up in this dank, dark basement with silver chains on me.”

Had Roman cast a spell to draw Hailey away from safety? The Infernal Sol had been my undoing, but I wasn’t sure the amulet could lure anyone like it had me.

“Did you see Barric or any Collective members?” I asked, my fingers curling into fists.

Hailey gave a jerky nod as her nostrils flared. “Amelia was there. She even taunted me over saving you after Fane killed her son Dominic. She told me if I’d let you die, she might have left me alone even though I’m a bitten wolf.”

A low rumble erupted from Saint, and gold flashed in his irises. “I never trusted Amelia, and I could never fathom why Camus allowed her on his council.”

“Reese probably talked him into it.” Hailey took a sip of the concoction, grimacing as she choked it down. “Tom and Jeff were also there. And you.”

My skin crawled at the thought of being unconscious in the hands of so many enemies. They could have done anything to me, violated me like my foster brothers did in Darla’s home. “How long we were there?”

She shrugged. “I passed out again shortly after they brought you in, and then I woke up in the van.”

Where were they going? Why wait a full day before leaving, running the risk of Fane finding us?

And more importantly, what had they planned on doing with us?

“Do you remember Tom and Jeff’s conversation?” Hailey asked, interrupting my spiraling thoughts.

An icy chill slinked down my spine as their words drifted back. “They were discussing Barric’s plan to cleanse the pack lines.”

Avery sat up straight. “Like what? Killing every bitten shifter?” He scoffed. “That would take decades, if possible at all.”

Saint and I traded quick glances. Was he thinking the same thing? Could Barric somehow use the Infernal Sol to locate, separate, and kill bitten shifters?

My heart crashed into my ribs at a frantic pace while my breath created clouds of steam. I peered over my shoulder as I ran through the forest, thick underbrush tripping me. The full moon hung high in the sky, but it barely penetrated the shadows between trees.

Something was chasing me. Or rather, multiple somethings.

Sinister laughter echoed, and another layer of fright wrapped around me. How could I get away when there were so many of them?

Tears burned in my eyes, blurring the forest. If I could shift, I could outrun them.

Why couldn’t I shift? Why couldn’t I reach my inner panther?

Wait. Panther?

I didn’t shift into a panther. I was a wolf.

Ominous figures moved through trees, and flashes of flowing black robes nearly stopped my pulse. I quickened my pace, pumping my limbs as hard as possible. Branches slashed at my cheeks and tore at my clothes.

More laughter sounded, and my chest tightened as fear coiled around my throat like a noose. Cold sweat leaked down my forehead, and as I wiped it away, I caught sight of my long scarlet nails.

These aren’t my nails.

A fallen log caught my leg, and I fell, smashing my forehead against a rock. Briny blood scented the air.

Footsteps hit the ground like a herd of elephants moments away from trampling me. I scrambled up, my limbs shaking and teeth chattering. My fear was so thick and heavy it threatened to drown me.

I’d rather face a herd of elephants than the monsters chasing me. If they got me tonight, I’d never see the light of day again…

My eyelids snapped open to unfamiliar tan walls and frost crystallizing on the windowpanes that framed a wintery forest. The scent of pine hung heavily in the air, and a comforting presence lingered.

As I turned to the left, I expected to see Fane, but a shock jolted me when Saint was the one sitting by my bedside, watching over me.

Ice slid through my veins as the realization hit me. I’d never felt as safe and comforted by anyone except Fane Maverick.

Until now.

Was the fated mate bond working its magic on me?