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Finally, he shook his head and released me from his hold. “Go back to sleep.” Fane marched out of the room and slammed the door so hard the paintings clattered on the walls.
I collapsed back on the pillows, trying to catch my breath. Fane didn’t believe me, but he couldn’t prove it.
How the hell had I been able to disconnect from my body and project myself into another room? I yanked the covers down and lifted the t-shirt Logan loaned me to study the swirling sun tattoo. Was I already suffering side effects from the Infernal Sol’s magic?
* * *
The bellover the door jingled as we stepped inside the small, second-hand bookstore, my nose scrunching at the musty scent. A worn, cushy leather couch and two chairs created a sitting area in front of one of the large windows overlooking Jefferson Street. An antique trunk used as a table held a few stacks of vintage books.
According to Fane, his friend who owned the shop might have some information about ancient demon artifacts.
How could the demon shifter manage to have not one but two friends? He was such a pleasant guy to be around.
My sarcasm knew no bounds.
I flipped the sleeveless jacket’s hood down now that we weren’t out in the open for anyone to recognize me. “Don’t you think we should stay out of Savannah? Karn’s minions will be crawling all over the place to find us.” Thanks to Ziva, they knew we’d both been after the Infernal Sol.
Fane explored the heavy wooden bookshelves filling the shop. “Ruin runs Savannah, and Karn’s guys know better than to conduct any business out in the open without permission. And Karn would never let Ruin know the amulet was floating around his city.”
Furichadmentioned how much the two demon lords hated each other.
“In a way, Savannah is safer for us than most places.” Fane pointed to a chair near the register. “Stay there and don’t move.”
“Try again, prick.” I slipped out of his reach and meandered to a shelf where the books were turned around, hiding their spines. The section was markedMystery. “I’m not a dog, and you are certainly not my owner.”
After spending another night in the Underworld, Fane and I escaped to Savannah without running into Karn’s underlings. When Coltrane recruited me for the ravens, I’d stowed a bag of clothes and a few other essentials in a locker at the train station in case I needed to bolt. The key remained hidden these two years behind a loose brick in an alley near River Street.
Thankfully, the jeans were made of stretchy material, or my ass would have busted the seams. I hadn’t been that skinny at seventeen, but I’d definitely packed on some muscle since then.
Being back in Savannah and so close to Corvin Manor, the only real home I ever had, made my heart ache. How would Captain Coltrane react if I returned, and she discovered I’d been bitten? Would she immediately kick me out of the ravens, or would she allow me to stay on since these were extenuating circumstances?
I was one of the best. She said it herself. Would she really want to lose me? I could still be a valuable part of the team. And what about Hawk? Would he cast me aside because I might be a little different now? I was still me, wasn’t I?
My fingers ran over the tattoo on my neck. Would this really change me so much that my best friend wouldn’t want me anymore?
None of the other ravens would be too keen on having a shifter in their midst.
“Fane Maverick.” A willowy fae slinked from the back, her gossamer skirt fluttering behind her, settling against her calves as she stopped at the register. “When you popped up on the security camera, I did a double take. I haven’t seen you since that one time…” She bit her lip as her emerald gaze trailed his body.
A sneer pulled at my mouth. He might as well be naked from the stare down she gave him.
“Hello, Gerri.” Fane’s charming smile made me want to hurl. “I was hoping you might be able to help me with something.”
Did he save all his animosity and hate just for me?
She slinked across the maple hardwoods and threw her arms around Fane’s neck, pressing a kiss to his cheek. “Anything for you. I’m always willing to help if I can.”
I blinked away her glamours, and her rounded ears elongated, and delicate wings sprouted from the back of her gauzy, petal pink tank top.
Finally noticing that someone else stood in the room, she pulled back from the demon shifter and scrutinized me. “Who might this lovely creature be?” Gerri toyed with one of her long, blonde braids as she licked her lips. “Any friend of Fane’s is a friend of mine.”
Fane scowled. “She’s not a friend.”
His sudden harsh tone didn’t faze the pixie. “Well, she can bemyfriend.” Gerri darted forward and hugged me.
My muscles locked up, and sirens shrieked in my head. I didn’t like to be touched by most people, but having a nightworlder crush me into her had my fight-or-flight reflexes kicking in.
Fane intervened and tugged Gerri away before I could snap her neck and dash out of the store. “She doesn’t like strangers in her space, Ger.”
