"No, she won't. I know her and I know that tone. She'll never forgive me for this."
Fang bent his knees until he was eye level with her. "You know you're not alone. So long as I have shelter . . ."
Aimee clung to him then, needing that security even though part of her wanted to shove him away and condemn him for doing this to her.
But for him . . .
No. Fang hadn't done this. He'd been there by her side every step of the way these last few years. She'd made the decision to go save him regardless of consequence-even death-and Maman had cut the cord.
The only thing he'd done was try to protect her and Vane and Fury and their families.
And with those thoughts came another realization of something that she'd almost missed earlier. "What did Savitar mean about you selling your soul?"
He stepped away. His demeanor was now closed and reserved.
But she wasn't about to leave it at that. "Fang? Tell me the truth. Please."
She saw the regret in his eyes. The shame. And when he spoke, his voice was tight with emotion. "You've asked me repeatedly about the sign on my shoulder . . . it's a mark of ownership. When you and Dev were in the alley and the Daimons attacked, I sold my soul to a demon to keep you safe."
Aimee gaped at the last thing she'd expected him to say. He'd sold his soul for her. . . .
"Why would you do that?"
He swallowed hard before he answered. "Because I'd rather be damned than see you dead."
Overwhelmed by his devotion and loyalty, she took his hand into hers . . . the hand that should have borne their mating mark, and kissed his knuckles. "All I wanted was to keep you safe and now . . . I've endangered every member of my family. All of them."
"We can try to petition Savitar when he calms down. He's not entirely unreasonable."
She gave him an arch stare. Was he out of his mind? Savitar not unreasonable? "He killed off an entire species because they angered him. He's not exactly forgiving."
"I said entirely." His eyes turned dark and hopeful. "C'mon, Aim, have faith. Sanctuary is legendary. Your mother is resourceful. Somehow all of this will work out. I know it."
"I wish I could believe that, but I don't know. I have such a bad feeling."
Fang hesitated. So did he, but he didn't want to worry her. Even though he wasn't the most intuitive person in the universe, he knew deep inside that something much worse was going to happen. He just didn't know what.
Damn, Savitar, that was harsh."
Savitar stiffened as Thorn appeared by his side. "What are you still doing here?"
"Wanted to make sure you didn't skewer my wolf. For all the aggravation, he still belongs to me and I don't want him skinned quite yet."
"Then you better keep him out of my way."
"Noted. But what you did . . ." Thorn shook his head. "Harsh, and coming from me that means something."
Yes, it was, and Savitar already regretted it. But he couldn't have the Were-Hunters second-guessing him. The one thing he'd learned the hard way was that without fear, there was no control. And without control, the Were-Hunters would destroy one another. He had to give them a bigger enemy to fear than one another.
Himself.
But none of that was Thorn's concern. "You know something, don't you?"
Thorn gave him a calculating look. "Did you not see what will happen because of your decree?"
A tic worked in Savitar's jaw at what he had to admit to a man of undefinable loyalty. "Only a glimpse and I was too angry to pay attention."
"Then it's probably for the best."