Page 124 of Savage Claim

A wave of panic crashed over me once I realized Nadia’s spell was actually affecting the Infernal Sol. Soon, the amulet would rear its crimson head.

I thought you wanted to stay with me!

My chest heaved, waiting for its response. What would happen to me without the Infernal Sol? Would I still be strong enough to fight my enemies? Would I still be strong enough to match Fane’s power?

I wanted to punch myself. When did I become dependent upon this horrifying demon talisman? I was strong long before the Infernal Sol chose my body to inhabit.

Perhaps I’ll find a better deal with the witch. She’s not as headstrong as you. She won’t fight me like you do.

A manic laugh slipped out of me, pulling Nadia’s brows together as she continued to cast her spell. And here I thought you liked a challenge. Apparently, I’m too tough for you to handle.

What the hell was wrong with me? Why was I goading this thing?

Oh, sweet child. I do love a challenge. That’s why we must part.

“No!” I cried out as the stone breached the surface and floated right out of my open wound. Hot tears slid down my cheeks as betrayal coiled around my chest, stealing my breath.

Nadia’s smile spread unnaturally wide, something right out of a horror movie, as she guided the stone into the medallion where it fused to the setting. “A perfect fit.” She stroked the amulet, smearing my blood around.

My nails dug into the metal table, barely scratching it. Nadia’s potion, the spell, and the blood loss prevented me from even growing as much as one talon. The emptiness nearly drowned me. I felt like I was swimming in a murky lake without a single speck of sunlight to find my way back to the surface.

“Finally,” Nadia whispered, the chain swinging from her finger.

Obviously, she’d never been loyal to Ruin. She’d wanted the Infernal Sol for herself the whole time.

But what the hell did she plan to do with it?

“Now that I have this?—”

A pair of claws suddenly tore across her throat, spilling crimson down her chest, and Barric emerged behind her.

“You won’t be doing a damn thing, witch.” The head alpha dropped Nadia to the ground, and the Infernal Sol slid across the lab, smacking into a stainless-steel cabinet. She continued to choke on her own blood as it pooled beneath her until her every ounce of life faded from her eyes.

Barric loomed over me, a snarl curling his lips. “Ruin’s not here to protect you anymore, Tate.” His luminescent gaze lowered to the wound in my gut. “That might not even matter. You won’t last much longer if you don’t take care of that nasty thing.”

“Go to hell,” I hissed, struggling against the binds. Unfortunately, my asshole father was right. This gash left unchecked for much longer would kill me, especially now that I didn’t have the demon amulet.

I peered around him, glaring daggers at the stone set in the golden sun medallion as if it betrayed me.

It did betray me. If I could just get it to come back to me…

Barric’s cruel laugh jerked my attention to him.

“Are you feeling a little less powerful without the help of that amulet?” He stroked the sweaty strands of hair from my cheek, making my skin crawl. “I bet you can’t even come close to matching my power now. It was all the Infernal Sol’s doing.”

The chains dug into my arms, cutting my flesh as fury burned through my veins even though I feared he was right. “I’m an alpha’s daughter, and Fane turned me. I’ve still got plenty of power, Barric. Why don’t you release me so I can show you?”

He smirked. “I think not, Tatum.” His fingers dug into my jaw as he forced me to look at him when my attention wandered to the amulet again. “You are the reason my fated mate is dead. Your existence ruined everything, and I’m going to rip you from this world like you should have been before even being born.”

I could do nothing as Barric lifted his hand—his lethal claws still stained red with Nadia’s blood—and pressed those sharp points into my neck. His intentions were perfectly clear.

He was going to rip my throat out. And revel in my death.

Chapter

Forty-Four

As hot blood bubbled across my neck and pain hit my nerve endings, Death’s blade dragged across my heart. Was this it? Had the Grim Reaper finally caught up to me, ready to escort me to hell to be punished for all my bad deeds?

---