Page 33 of Hunted By Fear

Damn this mortal.

“She kissed me. I knew now wasn’t a good time, so I left.”

The urge to reach out and pull his heart from his chest grates on my nerves.

I shouldn't care.

I don’t care! But even as I tell myself that, I know it's a lie.

Butwhydo I care?

I begin to walk away, unsure where I’m going but knowing that the distance between us is for the best. Bast wouldn’t die if I ripped his heart out; the most that would happen is he would be sent back down to his ring of Hell and have to climb his way back up. It would probably take a few days tops, but that’s time we don’t have to waste, and without him here, who would sit with the mortal?

I could.

No!

Beyond my own mental break, Bast didn’t actually do anything wrong. Just because my head is a mess is no reason to punish him.

I don’t make it far before a thought occurs to me and makes me pause.

Fuck.

I don’t like it, but…

“Maybe let it be like that?” I say without turning back to face him. The words taste bitter in my mouth, but even as I say it, I know this has a chance to work.

Mates are a tying of two souls after all; maybe his being close to her will help to coax that bond into existence?

“What?” Bast asks, and I whip around to find a look of confusion on his face. I can’t blame him; it’s not as if I’m being very forthcoming with the information, and my emotions are all over the place.

I take a breath to calm myself before I try again. “Perhaps being intimate with her will help to form a bond? Especially if it’s something she is comfortable initiating.” I swallow down thestrange feeling that saying those words makes me feel, watching Bast closely.

He nods, a smile pulling at his lips, and if he notices my discomfort, he doesn’t say anything.

“That would make sense. Maybe some kind of meaningful connection, which would explain why no demons have mates.” He’s excited by the idea, and I nod along. It does make sense, and I wish I could share in his excitement. “I’ll let you know if it works!”

And just like that, he’s off, dashing to the kitchen and quickly coming back out with a tray full of food, only to disappear from the hall, the smile never leaving his lips.

The faster we can free her from Rome, the better, because having the mortal here is slowly driving me to the brink of insanity.

I make my way through the hall and out into the courtyard, passing the imp on my way. Whatever she sees on my face is enough to have her running the other way.

If only the mortal had the same instincts.

Ifeel him even before he rounds the corner. A slimy feeling‌ coats my skin and makes my stomach turn.

Rome.

“Where is she?” he seethes as he makes his way around the car I’m currently underneath.

“Who?” I ask, not even bothering to tell him he can’t be back here. I know he won’t listen. Not to mention, I need the distraction while facing him; either that or I might just do something I’ll regret.

Or won’t regret, but will definitely get in trouble for.

“Don’t play stupid. It doesn’t suit you.” He grips my ankle, yanking me out from under the car on the creeper with enough force that he easily could have launched me halfway across the shop.

I yank my leg from his grasp with a huff. “Don’t touch me.”