Page 46 of Savage Claim

My legs were stiff as I crossed them to sit, inhaling a shaky breath, completely drained of energy.

I wiped the dampness from my face with my hands and then dried them on my jeans. The urge to curl up and take a nap wrapped my muscles, but I felt guilty leaving, no matter how much time I’d spent here. It wasn’t enough.

“I think I’m done crying for now, Jayla bear.” I stroked the soft lily petals. “I’ll try not to do that again.”

Jayla had rarely seen me cry, and even then, it was only watery eyes or a few stray tears. Nothing like this.

“I’m still getting into trouble, as usual.” As an icy wind whipped through the cemetery, I twisted my hair back. “The guy I like wants to kill me—or at least he did. I’m not sure what’s going on with him now.”

When I told Fane about Coltrane’s files of other runaways she sent on secret missions, he was certain her intentions with the Infernal Sol weren’t as noble as she claimed. He didn’t want me anywhere near her alone. He actually demanded it.

“Stay the fuck away from that woman. I don’t trust her.”

His words played through my mind again, so harsh and biting, but worry had laced each syllable. He couldn’t hide it.

He also couldn’t hide the concern when I shared what Coltrane told me about The Collective Hunt. Fane suspected there was more to the story, though. My parents went through a lot of trouble to hide my existence for years.

My nape suddenly prickled, and alarms blared through my head. Someone was creeping up on me.

“Look who’s all alone.”

Mykel’s baritone voice had my head snapping around, and the sole of his boot brushed my nose as I narrowly dodged a kick to my face.

Chapter

Seventeen

My heart slammed against my ribs as I rolled across the soft ground and onto my feet, hitting a fighting stance that had been ingrained in me for years. Mykel stood in his usual black suit, his muscles bulging against the material and ebony hair slicked back. His glamour was down, showcasing those muddy yellow eyes with slitted pupils and the blunt horns on his knuckles.

All of his knuckles.

He raised his right hand, the one that Kortney had cut off. “Like it? Having a witch spell it back for me cost a pretty penny.” His mouth curved into a snarl, baring jagged teeth. “I’d like to recoup the costs by crushing your skull between my hands.”

“Or maybe I’ll just cut your head off,” I said as we circled each other. “I don’t think a witch can grow that back for you.”

“You’re going to be an ugly pile of flesh and bone.” His smile sent shivers down my spine. “Not even Fane will be able to save you. Of course, he won’t do shit if he decides to stop fighting Kaspin’s spell. Too bad you can’t break it without the witch.”

Fury erupted within me, savage flames spreading through my veins like wildfire. “You’re going to pay for what you did. You and Venna both.”

Mykel’s laughter echoed through Rosewood Cemetery. “What are you going to do, half-breed? The only real power in you is that amulet, and it’ll make you go crazy soon enough.”

He was probably right, but I didn’t give a damn. I’d take any amount of psychosis if it meant ridding the world of this waste of space.

“I’m pretty sure I can kill you without the amulet.” Talons sprouted from my fingertips, and my teeth sharpened.

“Aw, a little puppy wants to play?”

Invisible bugs crawled down my back, and I shuffled to the side as Venna slinked through the headstones toward us. Her black leather dominatrix ensemble blended in with the shadows, leaving her pale complexion and icy hair to stand out.

“You can’t take both of us, Tate.” Her blood-red lips curved into a smile. “You’re out here all alone and outnumbered. I don’t think you’ll be walking away alive this time.”

“You thought wrong.”

A pit of dread tore open in my gut as Hawk marched out of the woods on the left. “What are you doing here?” I screeched.

Harsh lines carved into his expression, and his amber eyes were devoid of the humor they once held. “I’ve been secretly tracking these two.”

Venna’s head tilted back as laughter pealed from her mouth. “Oh, honey, you haven’t been doing anything in secret. I knew you were there.” She licked her lips. “I thought you might make a fun snack.”

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