Chapter 31

Chapter

Thirty-One

Wrath slammed on the brakes, the SUV screeching to a halt to avoid crashing into the sports car. Luckily, Fane caught me as I was thrown forward, or I would have crashed through the windshield. Violent throbs erupted in my body like fireworks, though, and I choked back a whimper.

When Wrath opened the door to get out, Fane grabbed his t-shirt. "What the hell are you doing?"

"It's not a shifter." Wrath plucked the material from Fane's grip before he shredded it. "We don't have time for games, so get the fuck out," he called to the driver.

The door flung open, and Ruin emerged, storming toward us. "You think everything is a game, don't you, Wrath?"

Fane opened his door and got out, so I did the same, much to his annoyance. He sharply sucked air at the blood running down my leg.

"I'm not sitting in the car," I gritted out.

He shook his head and slowed his steps to stay beside me. "We need to get out of here, Ruin. Do you know what happened? "

The high demon lord nodded, his gaze roaming over me, noticing Fane's shirt and then the blood from my fight with Barric and Jax. Anger flashed over his expression before he turned back to Fane. "I know there was an emergency at Silver Ridge, and they were chasing two enemies. Nik pulled footage from the street cameras and saw you and a black and red wolf—which we concluded was Tate—hauling ass out of the compound." His face softened as he looked at me again, a ghost of a smile on his lips. "Congratulations on shifting, but it appears it wasn't smooth sailing from all the blood on you."

I fought the urge to fidget under his intense stare, feeling naked in only Fane's shirt. "You know me. I can't do anything without causing a little trouble."

Ruin stepped closer and lightly touched my uninjured shoulder. "What the hell happened?"

"Don't tell them," Fane growled into my mind.

"Why? Ruin's our friend."

"And what about Wrath?"

I shrugged. "If he's friends with Valeria, he probably already knows."

Fane pinched the bridge of his nose, a barely audible rumble shaking his chest. "It's a bad idea."

Ruin cleared his throat. "I'm glad you two are getting along, but could you stop doing that silent communication thing right now? Time is of the essence."

"Barric is my father," I blurted, earning an exasperated groan from Fane. More words spewed out in a rush, explaining everything I'd learned tonight.

This was the first time I'd seen the high demon lord actually shocked, speechless even. He blinked and shook his head as if trying to clear the chaos from his mind. "Well, I wasn't expecting that. "

Wrath had no reaction, so he obviously knew the truth. Had he known I was Barric's daughter in Heldrok?

"No wonder he's in such a tizzy." Ruin rubbed the faint shadow of stubble beginning to coat his sharp chin. "If everyone finds out he killed his beloved fated mate and he's in this archaic hate group, he won't remain head alpha for long."

"And here we are, having a nice little chat about the whole thing." Wrath flicked his hand in the direction we were speeding away from. "We need to get a move on before they catch up to us."

Ruin jerked his thumb to his car. "Get in, guys. I'll keep you safe."

His twin scoffed. "Your house is the first place Barric will suspect."

"Then I'll take them somewhere else." Ruin's jaw tightened, sharpening the hard angles in his face. "They're not going with you."

"Barric probably already suspects you're involved in helping them. You haven't been shy about your friendship with Tate or Fane," Wrath pointed out. "If you disappear off the radar for even a few hours, the head alpha will be on your ass."

Ruin stepped toward his brother. "And you think you're the right person to help them? I'll call Logan." Tension thickened the air as the twins squared off, looking so similar yet so different.

"We don't have time. I already have a safe house set up." A roguish smile twisted Wrath's lips, taunting his twin. "What's the matter, brother? Don't you trust me?"

"No." Ruin cracked his neck. "But I guess I don't have a choice."

A low growl slithered between Fane's teeth. "As if either of you are actually deciding what we're doing." He ticked his head toward the back seat of the SUV. "I've already decided we're going with Wrath. He's right, Ruin. Barric will suspect you, and our best chance of getting out of here is with your brother. I don't like it any more than you do."

"It's settled then." Wrath slapped the hood. "I'll take you to the safe house."

"I want the location. Now ." Ruin's electric-blue eyes burned into the other high demon, a slew of threats bubbling underneath.

Wrath opened the driver's side door. "Fane can call you when we arrive and let you know I didn't toss them into a pit of agrigon demons or something equally horrendous."

Ruin's hands clenched into fists like he wanted to break his brother's bones. Instead, he marched toward me, giving Fane a knowing glance. "Be careful."

"We will," I said.

"Don't trust him," he whispered.

There was something strange about Wrath, and even though he knew Valeria, his motives were still unclear. He didn't allow Sorin to torture me in Heldrok, but he didn't stop Maddie's murder. He kept Fane and me there for nearly a year before he helped us escape, claiming he had no choice.

"I don't," I said. "Not by a long shot."

After traveling down a winding maze of country roads, Wrath turned into a long drive lined with massive oaks, bare branches ominously stretching out like skeletal arms. A historic white mansion with massive columns holding up the pitched roof, impressive stone steps, and black shutters came into view at the end, gas lanterns lighting up the front porch. As the enormous red door opened, Kesandra stepped out .

Fane's brows slammed down. "Why is my mother here?"

Wrath gave a lazy shrug. "I thought you'd be happy to see a familiar face."

"Cut the bullshit, Wrath."

The high demon sighed and parked the car. "Kesa helped me set this up. When I came to her, she couldn't say no to helping her baby boy and his girl."

I released the seat belt, wincing from the stiffness in my muscles. "How long have you been putting together a safe house?"

"A while." Wrath exited the car and shut the door, cutting off our conversation.

"This feels too easy," Fane mumbled, his burning gaze on mine as he opened the door. "Too convenient."

I hopped out of the car, choking back a groan when pain shot through my injured leg. Having felt it across the bond, Fane stepped closer, his nostrils flaring. Blood had soaked through his shirt at my shoulder, too, and dried bits of it flaked off my cheek.

"I'm fine," I muttered. "Don't even think about trying to carry me, Maverick."

"If you fall on your ass, it's your own fault then."

I flipped him off. "Nice to see that you care."

As we neared the porch with potted flowers and wrought iron furniture, their conversation halted, and Kesa gave us a beaming smile.

"I'm so glad to see you two." She pulled her son into a hug, looking so tiny and fragile next to him. "I was worried."

"We're fine, Mom." Fane glowered at Wrath. "But I don't understand how you can be fine with this asshole."

She sighed and pulled back, her long raven locks flowing down her back. "Wrath and I have already worked out our differences. What's done is done. We can't change the past. We can only move forward and make a better future."

Fane shook his head and stepped away from his mother, his body more rigid than the Greek columns running along the porch. "So much as hurt her feelings, and I'll skin you alive."

Wrath smirked as he leaned against the exterior wall. "I'd expect nothing else from you."

Kesa slipped past Fane and pulled me into a hug. I fought my instinct to push her off and wrapped my arms around her waist, hoping I didn't get blood all over her pink shirt. "I know things have been tough, but they'll get better, sweetie."

I blinked away the sudden onslaught of unshed tears. She reminded me of Nora, Fane's aunt. They both possessed that motherly touch I'd never had in my life—because Barric killed my mother.

"Thanks," I whispered and drew away.

Kesa gently ran her fingers over my cheek, hissing when she discovered all the dried blood. "Oh, goodness. What happened?"

"Barric." The name burst out of Fane's gritted teeth like a gunshot. "I need some bandages."

"Of course." Kesa ushered us inside the grand foyer and pointed to the winding staircase leading to the second level. "I'll show you to your room so you can get a change of clothes too."

Fane turned to Wrath. "And what will you be doing?"

The high demon didn't let Fane's clear distrust bother him. "I'll be making something to eat. I heard Tate's stomach growling from the back seat."

Heat rushed into my cheeks, and I flipped him off. "You should have had snacks. Everyone brings snacks on a road trip." At least, that was what I'd heard.

Wrath pressed his hand to his chest. "Please forgive me. Next time, I'll make sure the car is stocked. "

"There won't be a next time." Fane's upper lip curled back. "And stop flirting with her."

"So possessive, Maverick." He tsked. "How has my brother survived your fury because I know he's ten times worse than me?"

"Ruin's my friend," I said and grabbed Fane's arm before he could lunge at the high demon.

Wrath chuckled. "Fane, you and I both know if you weren't in the picture, he'd try charming her into his bed."

Fire blazed up my throat and into my cheeks because Wrath was partially correct. On many occasions, Ruin had made it clear that he'd love to have me in his bed. Hell, we almost slept together when I was a pseudo prisoner in his house.

"Ignore him." I tugged Fane toward the stairs as his mother waited on the landing. "He's trying to piss you off."

"It's working."

Kesa led us into a large room with a four-poster bed, a connecting bathroom, and a sitting area in front of a fireplace. As my feet sank into the plush carpet, I hoped like hell I wasn't getting blood on it. The burnished wood gleamed under the crystal chandelier dangling from the ceiling, and the luxurious gold and cream decor screamed expensive.

I did not belong in a place this nice.

"Thanks, Mom," Fane said as she handed him a first aid kit.

"Of course." She motioned to the dresser on the right side of the room and then to a set of French doors. "There are clothes that should fit you both."

The demon shifter's eyebrows lifted. "Wrath stocked the room with clothes for us too?"

Kesa's light laughter tinkled like wind chimes. " I did. This is my house."

Fane's head jerked back. "Really? "

"Don't worry. No one knows about it, and no one can trace it back to me." She circled her hand around. "I had this room set up, hoping you two would visit. And since you both have a habit of showing up with torn or bloody clothes, I figured having some fresh ones on hand was a good idea."

"That was very thoughtful, Mom," Fane said.

Kesa smiled and patted his shoulder. "Take care of Tate, and let me know if you need anything else."

Fane tilted his head toward the bathroom. "Come on. Let's see what we're dealing with."

While Fane cleaned the blood off me, I told him about The Collective Hunt's meeting in the basement of Lunar Souls. He wasn't surprised to discover Reese, Amelia, and Wes were in it. He also wasn't surprised I followed the trail of symbols and snuck into the basement where I would eventually get caught, but he didn't give me too much of a lecture. He probably let me off easy after the night I'd had.

I'd shifted for the first time, found out who my biological parents were, and discovered my father was a murderous, racist bastard.

I still couldn't believe I shifted. It only took the devastating news and Barric threatening Fane to make it happen. The warmth of my demon wolf still radiated in my chest, contently slumbering right next to the Infernal Sol.

If my life was in danger again, which one would heed my call?

"I still don't understand why Barric wanted you in Silver Ridge or why he protected you, a bitten wolf." Fane placed a bandage on my temple as we sat on the couch in front of the fire, cracks and pops echoing as flames licked within the hearth.

I shrugged, wincing from the dull throb in my shoulder. Fane had wrapped a bandage around it even though the slashes in my flesh were already healing. "Maybe it's because of the Infernal Sol."

"But what would a shifter want with a demon amulet?" Fane toyed with the piercing on his bottom lip, and I had to look away to keep from leaning over and licking the metal hoop myself.

I yawned and rested against the cushions. "No idea, but that's the only thing I can think of. When we fled the Silver Ridge compound, he made it clear not to kill me. You, on the other hand, were of no use to him."

A dark smile pulled his lips apart, flashing his white teeth. "I'm not easily killed." He patted his lap and then curled his tattooed fingers at me. "Let me see your leg."

Instead of arguing, I angled up to stretch my leg out for him. "I'm sure it'll heal in no time."

The low growl vibrating his throat told me he didn't care how quickly I healed. He still wanted to return to Silver Ridge to rip Barric's throat out. The thought of him wanting to slaughter the head alpha just for hurting me had butterflies swarming my stomach.

Feeling the sensations ripping through the bond, his gaze lifted to mine, drilling holes into my skull. The heat around us intensified, and a trickle of sweat leaked down my nape. I wanted nothing more than for him to close the gap between us and devour my lips in a soul-stealing kiss.

He suddenly shook his head and cleared his throat, breaking the haze descending over us. "How do you feel now that you've shifted?"

I looked away and tried not to think of those rough, calloused fingers gliding across my skin as he bandaged my calf. "Relieved, even if it means Barric knows who I really am." A combination of the spell and the demon amulet had kept me from shifting, but once I did, all bets were off. My father knew exactly who I was .

Thanks to my mother and Valeria, I remained hidden from Barric until now. He'd been expecting a human male to appear at his house to seek vengeance.

Instead, he got something much worse.

I yawned again, and my lids grew heavy.

Fane rubbed my leg, his touch shooting tiny sparks over me. "You should get some sleep. It's been a long day."

"I don't want to sleep now." Really, I didn't want to sleep alone .

As if the demon shifter read my mind—or more likely, I'd accidentally projected my thoughts—he sucked in a ragged breath. "Why aren't you the least bit worried I'll kill you in your sleep?"

I scoffed. "You wouldn't insist on staying with me if you really thought you'd hurt me in my sleep." He'd protected me more than anything since the night Dorian and Dominic almost killed me.

"Maybe I'm just being stupid and reckless," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "Maybe I just can't stay away."

His words had all the moisture evaporating from my mouth, and my breaths quickened. The urge to extinguish the distance between us and settle in his lap permeated my muscles. I wanted to be pressed against him, to inhale his scent and get drunk off him.

The same urge burned within Fane, and his last bit of control was on the verge of snapping like it had in Wrath & Ruin.