AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Fane left a little while ago without telling me where he was going. The sun shining outside already began its trajectory across the sky. Soon, it would dip behind the trees, and night would fall. I hadn’t left his room all day, too afraid to face the Anders after last night.
My throat closed as I recalled the tears in Dylan’s eyes when he saw what happened to his brother. What was wrong with me? My behavior couldn’t all be blamed on the Infernal Sol. I already had darkness in me. The amulet just magnified and distorted it.
It chose me to burrow inside of for a reason, and it wasn’t my beaming innocence.
Like I’d predicted, Fane and I pretended that little moment between us last night never happened. How could he be glad I didn’t die when he’d hunted me for years to avenge his brother’s death?
Maybe it was the same way I could want him so badly even though his brother was the one who ripped Jayla and my friends from this world.
A knock echoed on the door, and I stiffened, frozen on the bed like a statue. While my brain malfunctioned, a creak sounded, and a head popped in.
“I haven’t seen you all day.” Preston didn’t wait for an invitation and simply walked in like I hadn’t tried to claw his skin off last night. He plopped on the edge of the bed, jostling me. “Aren’t you hungry?” His gaze flicked to the uneaten sandwich Fane had made me.
I gave a noncommittal shrug. My appetite had vanished since last night. “Are you sure you want to be this close to me?”
He scoffed. “I’m fine.”
“I attacked you, Preston.” I jerked my chin toward his chest. “You were bleeding.”
“Oh, that?” He lifted his shirt to show faint pink scratches were all that remained of the cuts I’d carved into him. “I’m healed.”
I scooted into a sitting position and drew my knees up. “It could have been worse.”
A wry grin crossed Preston’s mouth, and his head tilted. “I’m a shifter, babe. I would have fought back harder if I’d been in real danger.”
Fane had said as much, but I didn’t think either guy understood how fucked up I was last night. Preston wouldn’t have been able to stop me from killing him, not by himself.
Preston laid his hand on my ankle and wiggled my leg. “I grew up with Fane. He’s had his fair share of iffy moments. I’m used to it. And my parents expected you to have the same trouble at some point since he’s the one who bit you. You’ve taken on some of his demon qualities too.”
The Anders had no idea I’d freaked out last night because I harbored a dangerous demon amulet. It had nothing to do with any demon aspects Fane’s bite passed to me.
Hell, maybe it did. I had no idea how any of this worked. Fane wasn’t a normal shifter.
“I’m sorry, Preston.” The words barely made it out, so soft they were only a whisper. “I would never hurt you on purpose.”
He waved his hand in the air. “Stop apologizing. I’m fine. Besides, I came home from UGA this weekend to have some fun, and you helped kick off my visit with a bang.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Getting attacked by your cousin’s, uh, friend, isn’t a fun time.”
“My cousin’s, uh, friend?” His laughter bounced against the sage walls. “Yeah, right. When I got home last night, Fane met me at the door and told me to keep my hands to myself.”
Heat crawled into my cheeks. “He did not.”
“He did too.”
“Tate!” Dylan rushed in with a small plate in his hands, his hazel eyes bright. “I made this for you.” He bounced on the edge of the bed, grinning.
I swallowed hard as he handed me the plate with a brownie in the center. Why wasn’t this kid afraid of me? Why would his parents let him near me after last night? “What is it?”
“Mom made the brownie, but I came up with the special topping.” He pointed to the crunchy bits. “It’s candied bacon and habanero peppers.”
Preston made a face. “That sounds disgusting.”
“Nuh-uh.” Dylan flipped his brother off. “Not to Tate.”
“I’m sure it’s good.” I bit my bottom lip and attempted to breathe through the lump in my throat that kept growing every second.
Dylan nudged me. “Go ahead and try it.”
