Savage Fate (Den of Shadows #5)

Chapter 26

Chapter

Twenty-Six

I sat up in bed, searching the room for any sign of Fane’s things. Had last night’s incident been the last straw? Was he too afraid to be around me now?

Pangs assaulted my heart. It must have taken a lot of strength to leave me in Blackwater Falls.

It would have taken even more to stay.

I forced back the unshed tears, closed my eyes, and willed my consciousness to leave my body to find him. The prick could have at least left a note.

The bond had no problem dragging my incorporeal form through the air at warp speed until I plopped down in the back seat of Fane’s Dodge Charger. Sensing my presence, his gaze lifted to the rearview mirror, cursing as his fingers tightened on the steering wheel.

“Did you really think you could just leave me?” I leaned between the seats, glaring. “Is that your plan? To leave me in Blackwater Falls with Saint so I decide to be with him instead?”

“No!”

Logan stiffened in the passenger seat, almost spilling his soda. “What’s wrong?” He peered out the windows at the scenic view of trees on either side of the road. “Is something out there?”

“Nothing. I just…” Fane angled his head to look at me. “Tate is pissed.”

The high demon let out a loud laugh. “As she should be. Kind of a dick move, Mav. Wait…” Logan peered into the seemingly empty backseat. “Is she here? Can you see her?”

“She’s in the back seat.” Fane rolled his shoulders, trying to release the tension. “Staring daggers at me.”

Logan fully angled toward the back, grinning. “Hey, roomie. This wasn’t my idea. I told him to bring you with us, but you know how stubborn he is.”

“You’re smarter than Fane. He should listen to you.”

“Well, what is she saying?” Logan asked.

“She says hi.”

I flicked Fane’s bicep. “I said a little more than that.”

The demon shifter jammed his fingers through his hair, his mismatched eyes swiveling between the road and me. “I’m sorry, Teague. I just needed to do this without you.”

“And what exactly are you doing?”

A long pause stretched before he answered. “We’re going to Illyria. The witches can try to break Kaspin’s enchantment now.”

My heart jumped into my throat, and I lurched forward, nearly crawling into the front seat. “Why didn’t you tell me? And why wouldn’t you let me come?”

“Because I don’t know what will happen.” His nostrils flared. “This might not even work.”

It had to work.

After last night, Fane was even more reluctant to be near me. He’d probably mandate supervised visits soon.

“You should have told me, Maverick. In case you forgot, we’re mates now, and we’re supposed to be in this together.” Instead of coming out angry, pain infiltrated my words. “I should be there for you.”

He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat. “It’s safer if you stay in Blackwater Falls.”

“Witches are going to attempt to break a powerful spell around you. Don’t you think I’ll feel it through the bond? And being separated will make it worse.”

“If I’m far away in another realm, you shouldn’t feel the effects as much.”

“Shouldn’t?” A manic laugh burst from my mouth. “We’re talking about you and me. When has our link ever played by the rules, Maverick?”

Lines developed across Fane’s forehead and his shoulders drooped as he seemed to suddenly doubt his theory. “I’m sure you’ll be fine. I’ll try to block you so?—”

I slapped the back of his seat. “You don’t get it! Instead of thinking you need to do everything alone, use your brain and remember that I exist.”

His jaw dropped, and he spoke—more like shouted—into my mind. “You’re all I think about, Tate! I’m doing this for you.”

“You should have done it with me.”

Before he could say anything else, I willed my consciousness back to my body and returned to my room at Blackwater Falls. Rage and adrenaline pumped through my bloodstream, and I yanked the covers off, scrambling out of the bed.

Clearly, Fane forgot how stubborn I could be. I didn’t need his permission to travel to the witch realm. I just needed a car.

After getting dressed, I crept downstairs in search of the garage. The sun was barely up, so most of the house was asleep. Thankfully. I didn’t want to run into anyone, especially since I was about to steal a car.

Borrow a car. I’d return it.

At least thirty minutes passed before I finally stumbled on the colossal garage and found twelve cars, all mine for the taking. And as luck would have it, a cabinet on the left held the keys, so I didn’t need to waste time hot-wiring a ride.

I ran my finger along the rows of keys. I didn’t have my license, but I’d driven plenty of times before.

“I’m sure Saint would let you borrow a car if you asked.”

I jumped and spun around as Enid lingered in front of the door. “I, uh, was just looking…”

Her lips curved into a smile. “Oh, honey, I’m a mom. You can’t lie to me.” She descended the steps and meandered toward the cabinet. “Are you experienced in driving on mountain roads with wintery conditions?”

I shoved my hands into my jean pockets and shrugged. “Define experienced?” Was there any point in lying to her if she could apparently spot it a mile away?

“I’ll take that as a no.” She tapped her chin as she studied me. “Saint wouldn’t be happy if I let you drive out of here only to end up going off the mountainside. Again.”

My shoulders slumped as my chances to follow Fane to Illyria dwindled. “What about a ride to Mohan Wilds?” If I got a car there, I could still make it to Fane before the witches started the spell.

Maybe.

Hopefully.

Enid closed the cabinet and leaned against it, attempting to hide a smirk. “Saint would probably take you anywhere you wanted to go. All you’d have to do is ask.”

I propped my hands on my hips. “I know what you’re doing.”

She gave an innocent shrug. “You seem like you want to go somewhere, so I’m helping.”

“As lovely as your son is, spending time with him won’t make me change my mind and break my bond with Fane.”

“Then what’s the harm in spending time with Saint if it won’t change how you feel?” She ticked her head toward the door, blond curls bouncing across her cheek. “You can find him in the music room. I can take you there if you’d like.”

Enid loved her son and would do anything to make him happy, so I couldn’t blame her for the sneaky tactics. I just wished her son had another girl she could play matchmaker with.

“I can find it.” At least, I hoped. “But thanks for your help .”

She winked. “Anytime.”

I jogged up the stairs and into the house to search for the music room. Fane would be pissed if I showed up with Saint.

Too bad. He shouldn’t have left me in Blackwater Falls.

It took a few minutes of wandering the oak hallways to locate the music room, where the faint crashing of drums echoed. Obviously, the walls were soundproof, or my shifter hearing would have picked up on the melody minutes ago.

As I opened the door and stepped inside, my jaw almost hit the floor.

Saint sat behind a drum set, easily wielding his sticks to create the slow, sultry rhythm that pulsated through the room. His eyes were closed, and his body moved with the beat, totally lost in the music.

He was shirtless, displaying an array of colorful tattoos that not only slinked down his arms but covered his hard, shredded torso. A fine layer of sweat clung to his hairline, those black strands wild around his chiseled face.

The air catapulted from my lungs as I watched him, and a trail of heat blazed down my spine. Saint Grimstone could rival a rockstar for sex appeal. Hell, he looked like a rock god playing on a stage for millions of people.

This man could have a dozen girlfriends begging to please him, and Sadie would be the first in line.

Hoping for his fated mate turned out to be a monumental mistake. The poor guy waited for a dream but got a nightmare instead.

His eyes opened—those molten silver orbs burning through thick, sooty lashes—and my damn knees wobbled. He stopped playing, letting the sudden heavy silence fill the room as his expression remained unreadable.

Maybe he was still angry and wouldn’t take me anywhere despite what Enid claimed. She probably didn’t know about our fight.

“Tate.” Saint lowered the drumsticks to his lap. “I wasn’t sure you’d want to see me after last night.”

I nervously fiddled with the ends of my hair. “Oh, well, your mom said you were in here.”

“You know I was just looking out for you, right? My instincts took over, and I’m sorry if I upset you.” He used his arm to wipe his forehead and then smoothed back his hair. “Actually, no, I’m not sorry for anything. I was trying to protect you. Simple as that.”

“That’s fair.” I crossed my arms over my chest, chewing on my bottom lip as I considered my words. Now that I was in front of him and he was a little more broody than usual, my bravery began to fold.

This was a bad idea.

Saint stood from the drum set and trekked toward a table on the right to grab a water bottle. “I know you think I crossed a line, but I couldn’t help it. Being an alpha only intensifies my protective nature. And when I realized what was happening, that Fane was the one hurting you, I lost it.”

“You still seemed pretty levelheaded last night, for the most part, anyway.” Maybe Fane and I just had such volatile personalities that our definition of losing control severely differed from Saint’s.

“I was barely hanging on. Trust me.” He rolled his shoulders. “If I’d shown too much aggression, Fane would have snapped, and Avery and other pack members would have gotten involved. That was the last thing we needed.”

I meandered around the room, avoiding his intense gaze, and stopped in front of a shelf with a collection of musical items and trinkets. “I guess that’s why you’re an alpha.”

“That’s why I’m a good alpha,” he said. “Plenty of shifters can have power over others, but it takes hard work to keep a peaceful pack.”

I hated myself just a little more for being the worst fated mate ever. Saint deserved so much better than he got.

“My father taught me that.”

I jumped when I realized he only stood a few inches away, his scent of pine mixed with sweat creating a mouthwatering flavor.

“He’s a wise man.” My fingers absentmindedly toyed with a stack of sheet music, all those curvy symbols gibberish to me.

“He is.”

Saint’s presence filled every breath I took, and I was beginning to think being in a car with him for hours might not be the best idea.

“What do you need, Tate?”

I turned to him, my mouth parted. “Huh?”

“You hunted me down for a reason, and it wasn’t to talk about being an alpha.”

“Oh. Right.” I shook the haze from my mind. What the hell was wrong with me? “Fane left.”

Saint nodded and raked his fingers through his damp hair, keeping the strands out of his face. “He woke me up early this morning to tell me. He also warned me of your temper, but you don’t seem that pissed.”

That little bastard.

“I’m saving all my wrath for Fane. You’re lucky you didn’t encounter a furious me when I had the demon amulet.” I reached up and tapped his forehead. “I would have dug out your worst fears and played them for you.”

His brow furrowed as he took my hand in his. “One of my darkest fears has already come true.”

“I’m sorry.” Pangs whipped through my chest, and I wanted to hide under the table in the corner. He obviously meant finally finding his fated only to have her already mated and in love with someone else.

“No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.” He sighed and released my hand. “What can I do for you? I’m assuming it has something to do with Fane.”

“Did he tell you he was going to Illyria to get this enchantment removed?”

When he nodded, I mashed my teeth. Of course Fane told him.

“Any chance I could get a ride to the closest door to the witch realm?”

“That’s in Charleston, right?”

“You can drop me off at the door, and I’ll find my way through Illyria.” I shoved my hands in my pockets to keep from fidgeting. “I was going to steal a car, but your mom talked me out of it.”

His eyes widened. “Do you even have a license?”

“Not exactly, but I can manage.”

A few curses fell from his lips as he shook his head. “I’ll take you. But I’m not dropping you off. I’ll go to Illyria with you.”

“You don’t have?—”

Saint pressed his finger to my lips to silence me. I would have slapped the shit out of most people for doing that.

“I want to.” A ghost of a smile tugged at his mouth, lighting up those silver orbs again. “Besides, Fane also warned me that you’re a magnet for trouble.”

Again, that bastard.

“Did he?”

“So, I intend to stay glued to you from Blackwater Falls all the way into the witch realm until we find him.”

“Thanks,” I muttered, hoping he couldn’t hear the trepidation in my voice.

Spending all this time with him wouldn’t make the bond grow any deeper. Right?