Page 229 of Primal Bonds

She’d hated Corban, but he’d still been her cousin. And a member of the clan.

She closed her eyes and breathed in Fane’s clean scent. “I wish…”

He nodded against her hair. “Me, too.”

“Why the hell did I have to meet you? I was doing just fine without you.”

“I know you were.”

“No, I wasn’t,” she contradicted. “I was going feral. I am going feral. It’s just too fucking hard to be a human.”

And then she was blubbering like a baby. Deep, wrenching sobs that felt like she was being turned inside out.

“Hush, now.” Fane rubbed her back. “It’s okay, love. It’s okay.”

She cried harder. Because it wasn’t okay, and it hadn’t been for a long time. The Darktime had taken her mom and dad, and good friends like Jace’s sister Takira.

And although the Darktime was supposed to be over, bad things just kept happening.

“I’m…so tired,” she said on a sob. “So fucking tired. Of all the killing. And I can barely control my animal anymore. It wants out, and I’m not sure why I shouldn’t let it.”

“Oh, love.” Fane rocked her back and forth like she was a child. “I’m so sorry. Your cougar is beautiful, but so is the human part of you.”

Her breath rasped in. “But it’s so…hard to be human,” she said to his chest.

The cat was so much less complicated. Straightforward. Basic. Mess with it, and it would rip out your throat and not lose a moment’s sleep.

“I know.” Soft lips brushed over her temple. “But you’re not an animal, you’re a fada. And I’m pretty sure that means accepting every part of you. Woman. Cougar. Even that small part of you that’s fae.”

She took another rasping breath and nodded. He was right. She’d just been trying to forget it.

“And you know what?” He pressed a kiss to each of her eyes. “I want to learn every part of you. Everything. Because that’s what makes you who you are.”

His words were balm to her broken soul. For so long, rage had been a bitter black knot in her chest.

Now, the knot slowly unclenched. Her sobs slowed until she hung in Fane’s arms, drained.

“I love you.” Fane stroked a hand over her head. “Whatever happens, remember that, okay?” He waited until she nodded before saying, “Stars, I hate to say this—but we have to go. The geas is pulling on me. And if we stay here much longer, that bitch might come back.”

“Okay. Okay.” She took a deep breath and then pushed away from him. She scrubbed at her face, knowing she must look like shit. And why did she care? But she did. Fane made her care about things like that.

He took her by the arm. “You all right?”

“Yeah.” She took a last look at Corban. The lines of pain bracketing his mouth had smoothed. He looked almost peaceful. That was something, anyway.

Her jaw tightened. “You know what? I hope it pisses off Lady B to find him dead. The woman’s a monster.”

His smile held absolutely no humor. “It will. That, I can guarantee.”

He reached for her, but she shook her head. “Let me wash first.” Crossing the room to the kitchenette, she turned on the faucet as hot as she could stand and scrubbed her hands and arms.

As she watched the blood-stained water swirl down the drain, the shadows in the tower thickened. Her fangs pricked her gums.

She washed the tears from her face and strode back to Fane. “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”

“Yeah.” He twined his fingers through hers, and together, they headed down the stairs.

Chapter 30

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