Chapter 24

Chapter

Twenty-Four

Fane's soul seeped into every corner of my body, and I reveled in the pleasure of it, never wanting to let it go.

I was consuming his soul like a demon.

The realization shattered the cloud of bliss trapping me. "No!" I scrambled as far away as possible with the chains still trapping me. "Get away."

Fane sat up, regarding me with wide eyes. "There's more going on than the amulet. You are not just a wolf shifter."

My manic laugh turned into a sob as a tear slid down my cheek. "Blood pooled in the church, and the sun wasn't finished with me. You wanted it, but I couldn't find peace in the dark. Pain and fire in my veins. The sun will never leave me be."

The Infernal Sol wasn't in complete control, but it had me talking in riddles, sounding like a lunatic.

I squeezed my lids shut, trying to find my way out of the fog. My trembling hand lifted, pressing into the swirling tattoo on my neck. "A bite to give you time, and it only tethered so tightly a coil around enemies. Unbreakable and unforgettable. Maybe not so much. Just remember when you can. I'll be here. Don't fret, beast."

Warm fingers pried my hand off my throat and then tilted my chin. A curse shot out of Fane, and my lids lifted to find him glaring at the mark he'd given me. "What the fuck is that?"

"From your bite."

The blood drained from his cheeks as he shook his head. "I didn't bite you."

"The beast sank his teeth inside and showed me all the pain, sorrow, and loneliness he hides." I cursed and tried to shove back the haze blurring my thoughts. "I know I'm not making any sense."

"No, you're not." Fane bolted off the bed. "Nothing about you makes sense." He pivoted and stormed out in a cloud of confusion and fury.

Another sob broke free, and I sank into the mattress. I just fucking sucked on Fane's soul. Was the Infernal Sol slowly turning me into a demon? Would the wolf inside me forever remain trapped while this darkness prevailed?

I probably shouldn't call on this power ever again, but that wouldn't happen. I needed it.

Maybe I was addicted to it.

The burn of the cigarette cherry against my side made me scream into the dingy brown carpet as Wyatt held me down. Mildew and stale beer infiltrated my nostrils, now mixing with the acrid scent of my burning flesh.

"You're a bad girl, Tate, and you need to be taught a lesson." Carter, my other foster brother, removed the cigarette from my skin and took a drag, the crackle of the cherry so loud it could have been right next to my ear.

I struggled against Wyatt's hold, but he was two years older than me and twice as big. "Please! I'm sorry I told on you. I didn't have a choice." My voice cracked, and hot tears streaked my cheeks. "Please stop. It hurts."

Wyatt's cruel laugh bounced through the cramped living room with damaged furniture and smoke-stained walls. "She makes this funny sound when you burn her. Do it again."

Carter held the cigarette between his teeth, gripping my hair to tilt my head back. "Maybe I should mark her face. That would really hurt."

"No!" I fought their hold, but Wyatt crushed his knee into my back, bruising my spine.

"Better not," he said. "Darla or someone at school will notice that. Just stick to her side."

Carter shrugged and released his grip, my head bouncing on the threadbare carpet. "Whatever." He plucked the cigarette from his teeth, flicked the ash, and pressed the tip against my side again."

Fire erupted over my ribs, and I cried out, my throat tearing in half. The room blurred, and black spots popped around the edges of my vision. Soon, I'd pass out, and there was no telling what they'd do to me while unconscious…

I gasped awake, the memories of that foster home still clawing at my mind and trying to drag me back. Phantom pain throbbed on my side where those circle scars spotted my ribs. Bile oozed into the back of my throat as I tried to shove those images back into their cage in the depths of my mind where I kept the nightmares that haunted me.

Where the hell am I?

Fancy gold and black wallpaper stretched above glossy wainscoting, and shiny hardwoods gleamed in the crimson streetlights pouring in through the windows. A blood-red velvet couch sat in front of an unlit fireplace.

As I tried to turn, chains rattled and cold metal pressed against my ankles and one of my wrists.

A giant boulder plummeted to the bottom of my stomach as memories floated to the surface. Fane had captured me and brought me to Venna's house in Vlehull. The thought of the demon shifter had my body vibrating, and a sudden prickle registered over my neck tattoo.

My head swiveled to the right, and I flinched as Fane loomed by the edge of the large bed, glaring down at me with glowing eyes full of loathing. "What are you doing?" I rasped, my throat scratchy from screaming in my sleep.

Harsh lines cut into his face as he glared down at me. "What the fuck was that?"

I brushed the hair away from my sweaty cheeks with my free hand, the chain sliding across the soft covers. "Can you be more specific, Maverick?"

"Those two boys attacking you." His lip curled into a sneer. "What was that? How did that get into my head." He crushed two fingers into his temple.

"Oh, that." I yawned and turned on my back, staring at the tray ceiling. "You can see my nightmares."

Fane's brows slammed together. "Why?"

"Like I said, we have a bond because you fucking bit me." I angled my head to show him the mark that matched his tattoos. "You've been able to get inside my head and see shit I'd rather you not since you turned me into a shifter."

A shifter who couldn't change.

"Stop lying." As he leaned over, that warm spice and leather scent permeated the air I breathed. "The Infernal Sol is screwing with my mind."

A bitter laugh slipped out. "The Infernal Sol is the cause for a lot of the craziness in my life, but it can't fake a connection. I know you feel it." I tried to reach for him, but the chain kept me from getting more than a few inches away. "We wanted to hate each other. It didn't work. The rage and anger between us weren't enough."

His movements were a blur as he jumped onto the bed and straddled me. "I wouldn't bite you and would never allow a connection to form."

"I didn't want this any more than you did," I hissed. "I was a raven, and you destroyed my life when you bit me—against my will."

Fane curled his fingers around my throat as his head lowered. "If you don't start making some sense, I'll choke the life out of you, my payment to Venna be damned."

"We both broke into Karn's to steal the Infernal Sol, but I snagged it while you were preoccupied." Acid shot up my throat as images of Ziva seductively running her hands over him sped through my mind. "Long story short, you found me bleeding to death in a temple in the Underworld, but before you could get the amulet, it burrowed inside of me."

He shook his head and rapidly blinked like he was trying to sort through chaotic thoughts. "None of that happened. Why would I want the Infernal Sol? "

"Ruin hired you to find it in exchange for breaking your mother out of Heldrok," I said. "He did that. Not Venna."

A low snarl curled out of him, and his pupils lengthened. "You're lying. I'd remember making a deal with Ruin."

Not if a powerful witch spelled him.

"I was still dying, so you bit me to keep me alive and save the Infernal Sol." I bared my teeth as hot fury laced my veins. "You turned me into a demon shifter hybrid. The Infernal Sol isn't the only demon magic in me. Thanks to you, I have lots."

Fane ripped my shirt up, snapping his teeth as he ran his fingers over the scars Warin gave me. "You deserve to suffer for killing Warin."

The damn spell kept him from connecting the dots. Venna's twisted tale didn't make sense, but he refused to see the obvious picture my words painted.

"Warin attacked me!" I bucked my hips against the unmovable mountain of solid muscle and raw power of the demon shifter. "He'd already killed four of my friends, and I walked in on him sucking the soul out of the little girl I was supposed to protect. I didn't know what he was, and I didn't care. I went into survival mode because that's all I knew. Survive ."

"Warin would never hurt anyone." His brows furrowed. "And if you were a raven, you would have known exactly what my brother was. You just concocted a reason to kill him."

Fire bubbled through my bloodstream, and the urge to smack the sense back into Fane slid around my muscles. "I was a seventeen-year-old homeless teenager! I didn't know jack about demons, shifters, or any nightworlders until your brother lifted his face and stared at me with those black eyes as he sucked that little girl's life away." My chest heaved, forcing his fingers still resting over the claw marks to rub against my skin. "It was either him or me, and I chose me. I won't keep apologizing for it."

Fane opened his mouth, but no words came out. What could he say? That I made it all up? That I was trying to trick him?

What good would lying to him do? He was dead set on killing me anyway.

"I should just end you now. Fuck waiting on Venna to cut out the Infernal Sol."

I grabbed his other hand with my free one and rested it on my throat. "Do it. Then no one can use the Infernal Sol to do unspeakable things. And that damn amulet can't make me hurt anyone else either."

"You would wish for death?" Fane's grip slid around my neck.

"If it means saving innocent people from whatever evil that bitch wants the Infernal Sol for, then yes."

As the demon shifter studied me, some of the rage crashing around him cooled, and his head cocked to the side. He leaned forward, his attention focused on my ribs. "What is…" He released my throat and traced the circular scars on my side. "Did that really happen? Those boys attacking you in your nightmare?"

"Yes." Compared to some of my memories, that was pretty tame. He had no idea of the real horrors in my past, at least not with this spell screwing up his mind.

He shook his head. "You were just a kid."

My bitter laugh bounced against the opulent walls of the room. "Monsters don't care how old you are. "

His hand splayed on my ribs while his thumb stroked back and forth in a soothing manner. The hardness evaporated from his face, and warmth flowed from him as he surveyed the marks. The frost melted from his eyes, returning him to the Fane I last saw before Mykel dragged him across the bridge to Heldrok.

He released a soft sigh. "Fiera mika."

Air stuck in my throat as the nickname crossed his lips. "Little rebel." Was I getting through to him?

Fane jerked back and yanked his hand off me, his nostrils flaring. "What was that? Why did I say that?" He grabbed his head as confusion throbbed off him.

If I took his emotional pain, it would lessen the turmoil. I reached forward and rested my hand on his forearm, but before I could attempt anything, he bolted off the bed.

"Don't fucking touch me." His teeth sharpened, and talons sprouted from his fingertips. "Next time you do, it'll be your last."

Fane stormed out of the room, slamming the door so hard a picture frame fell off the wall, the glass shattering into a thousand pieces.

I took a shuddering breath. That spell hadn't entirely wiped away his memories. Since Venna didn't know about our strange bond, Kaspin couldn't have accounted for that in his incantation. The truth was buried deep within Fane. And I'd do anything to get him back.

Fane had to see who the real villain was. He had to know that Venna was pulling his strings to make him her puppet.

I concentrated on the demon shifter, and tingles rushed over me as my consciousness disconnected from my body. The luxurious halls of Venna's mansion zoomed by until I ended up in a large sitting room with shiny black walls, silver trim, and plush velvet furniture.

"You said I could have my revenge once I brought her to you." Fane folded his arms and loomed at the edge of the black leather couch Venna lounged on, sipping red wine.

The royal demon rested the glass on the chrome coffee table and grabbed a grape from the silver platter. "You will. Once I remove the Infernal Sol, you can tear her apart to your heart's content."

"Why haven't you done it yet?"

Her eyebrow lifted at Fane's harsh tone. "Because it's not that simple. I can't just cut it out of her."

Mykel pushed away from the wall, his onyx hair slicked from his cruel face. "Don't disrespect Princess Venna. You'll get your revenge when she's done with the girl."

Fane's top lip curled into a snarl. "Was I talking to you, minion?"

The dux demon's eyes glowed yellow as his glamour faded. "I was talking to you, mutt."

Venna lifted a hand to shush them. "If you two want to fight, take it outside. I'm not interested in having the room demolished when I just refinished it."

Fane opened his mouth, but his gaze swiveled in my direction. "Wh?—"

I shook my head. "Don't say anything. They can't see me."

Venna peered at Fane and then followed his eyeline. "What's the problem now?"

The demon shifter pried his attention from me to analyze Venna and then Mykel, realizing he was the only one who could see me. "Nothing. Never mind. "

"Don't trust her," I warned. "She only wants the Infernal Sol, and if she gets it, she'll kill both of us."

Fane dragged his fingers through his black hair, tousling the strands. "I won't wait much longer, Venna."

"That's Princess Venna to you." Mykel glowered at Fane like he was mud on his shoe.

Fane flipped him off. "One of these days, you and I are going to fight, and I'll rip those little horns right off your head and blind you with them." He pivoted and marched out of the room.

I followed him down the long hallway of gold and black, his reflection cast on the glossy floor while mine remained invisible. Once we turned a corner, Fane snatched my arm and shoved me against a wall.

"How is this possible?" His palm dragged over my cheek, and then he squeezed my bicep to make sure I was real and not an apparition. "I can hear, see, and touch you, but you're not actually here. Fuck, I can even smell you." He inhaled deeply as he ran his nose along my hair.

Heat swam in my belly as he pressed into me. "I've told you a dozen times. It's the bond. You can leave your body and visit me too. Why don't you try it?"

Fane drew away. "What kind of bond could we possibly have? It's not a fated mate bond."

A humorless laugh burst out of me. "I've met that horrible piece of trash Marissa."

"What?" His head jerked back. "When? Why?"

"Not important." I shivered as his fingers absentmindedly traced circles on my arms. "But we visited Cirilla at Mohan Wilds to find out if there was a way to sever this connection. "

Fane dropped his hold and put more space between us, taking away his warmth. "You were in Mohan Wilds?"

"According to her, there's nothing we can do to break this." I crossed my arms and shrugged.

He massaged his temples with his fingertips, gritting his teeth. "I don't remember any of that. I'd just returned to Savannah when Venna called me to Heldrok and offered to help me find my brother's killer."

"Ruin, Logan, Nik, and Nadia busted us out of Heldrok that night. Oh, and Wrath, Ruin's twin, helped."

His head cocked to the side. "Wrath? He's dead."

"Apparently not. He's been masquerading as Demarcus, the warden of Heldrok." I probably shouldn't have told him that. "Don't say anything to Venna about him because?—"

An invisible tug pulled on my center, and I cursed. "I need to go." The words barely dropped from my mouth before I zoomed away and crashed back into my body just as Venna marched into the room.

Her stilettos clashed on the hardwoods until she stopped a few feet from the foot of the bed, raising an eyebrow when she noticed I broke one of the chains off the headboard. "I didn't think you were that strong."

I snorted. "You do tend to underestimate me, Venna."

Her blood-red lips twisted into a sneer. "I can't wait to let that overgrown mutt rip you to pieces. Once you take your last breath, it'll break the spell." Her cruel laugh pummeled my skull like an invisible hammer. "I hope I get to watch when he realizes he killed his lover. It'll be fantastic."

"That won't happen." Firey rage poured through my veins, and I tugged on the restraints, wishing I could rip them off and wrap them around her throat. "You won't get the Infernal Sol out of me either."

"We'll see about that, precious. But in the meantime…" She clapped, and three female demons strolled in with a rack of clothes. "You need a dress."

"A dress for what?"

The three women scurried around the room, and one went into the bathroom to cut on the shower.

"I'm having a party soon." The demon princess's smile had ghostly fingers dragging down my spine. "And you're my special guest."