Page 42 of Savage Hunt

“What happened to you being cooperative, Maverick?”

He cracked his neck. “This is about as cooperative as I can be when they touch you like that.”

“And don’t think I didn’t notice the mine part.”

Fane’s mouth hitched into a feral smile. “I don’t hear you complaining about it.”

“Are you refusing to fight, prisoner 487331?” The warden’s deep, silky voice broke my silent communication with Fane. Shadows roiled in Demarcus’s eyes, and even though he looked like a delicious snack, a monster hid behind that pretty facade.

I lifted my chin. “I’m not fighting her.”

A breath of relief poured out of Maddie, and her shoulders slumped.

Demarcus motioned to one of the guards, and he marched toward Maddie, hopefully to return her to our cell. But as the dux demon reached for something on his belt, my stomach bottomed out, and every drop of blood in me froze. Maddie tensed, and her raven training took over, preparing for a fight.

She wasn’t quick enough, though.

I took one step toward her just as the CO lifted the gun and shot her in the forehead.

Crimson sprayed the ground, and Maddie dropped to the concrete.

The sounds of the arena faded as her lifeless gaze stared at the ceiling. Air whooshed out of my lungs while weakness wrapped my legs, threatening to drop me. Another person fell victim to the storm of destruction surrounding me. Another person lost their life.

Maddie never would have been in this position if not for me.

I bolted toward the CO who shot her as a wave of darkness rushed through my veins like an intravenous drug, but a figure slammed into me, halting my strike.

“Don’t attack him, Teague.” Fane’s hot breath rushed over my nape as his muscular arms pinned me against him.

My muscles slackened at the contact we’d been deprived of, and the tattoo on my neck crackled. Even the Infernal Sol purred at being reunited with him.

Warden Demarcus wrapped his long fingers around the steel railing. “You either fight your next opponent or end up like your cellmate.”

My pupils thinned as my senses sharpened, the beast inside me pushing against the dampening sigil. I wouldn’t be at full power, but it was enough to do some damage. “Can we kill him?”

A growl rolled between Fane’s teeth. “Maybe later.”

The warden didn’t even bat an eye at our conversation. He probably thought he was safe in Heldrok surrounded by his guards.

“You can release her, Fane,” he said. “You’ll fight later. And don’t intervene, or there will be consequences.”

Hot rage pulsated from the demon shifter as he shot a vicious scowl at Demarcus. “I won’t be the only one to suffer the consequences.” Fane’s arms reluctantly slipped away, and he stepped back. “Do anything to win, Teague. Anything.”

Fane meant use the Infernal Sol’s powers if I had to.

I gave a jerky nod, and my fists clenched, waiting on my next victim.

Blood ran down my chin, but it wasn’t my own. It belonged to the demon falling to the ground after I ripped his throat out. He had me on my knees a moment ago, ready to break my neck, when I reached for the Infernal Sol.

As soon as the dark power twisted through my muscles, my teeth sharpened and talons grew. The demon only lasted a few more minutes before I savagely killed him.

I spat on the grimy ground, trying to ignore Maddie’s blood still glistening under the lights where her body had been. The memory of her death clung to the room like a ghost.

This is fun, right?

While the Infernal Sol wasn’t in the driver’s seat, it pumped strength, anger, and power through me and thoroughly enjoyed the show. The voice inside my head came from the version of me when the amulet was in full control.

Most of the guards on the balcony groaned, having placed their bets on the other guy. The warden, however, almost smiled.

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