Page 33 of Savage Claim

“Would you shut up?” Dorian snapped beside her. The facade of perfection around the former beta had completely vanished. His pale blond hair was a mess, and his clothes were wrinkled. Dark circles bruised beneath his bloodshot eyes. “No one is falling for your innocent act, Marissa, least of all Fane. You’re as much to blame as me.”

Reese glowered at Dorian, but before she could speak, Barric released a low, deadly growl.

“I will force all of you to be silent if I have to.” His alpha power throbbed in the room, and every wolf except Fane lowered in their seats from the weight of it.

How could they have this hearing without me? How could Fane not even tell me?

As his gaze began to move toward me, I forced my consciousness back into my body, stumbling into a wall. I didn’t give a damn if he’d sensed me. He should have told me the truth.

Well, fuck Fane and the rest of them. I had more important things to deal with.

So much for not being stupid. I was about to walk right into Venna’s trap.

Cold sweat trickled down my spine, soaking into my shirt as I ducked under the yellow caution tape at the construction site. I swallowed hard and tried to keep my breaths even while my boots moved over the recently poured concrete. Images from that night years ago rushed through my mind and tried to steal my focus.

Did Venna know she picked the very place my life had been turned upside down? Did she know I’d lost my last bit of light here when Jayla was ripped from my fingers and torn from the world?

The very place I’d killed my first demon.

Fane’s brother.

I shook the nightmarish memories off as best as I could and tried not to see the walls of the warehouse that weren’t there anymore. The city had it demolished.

But the ghosts of that night would always haunt it.

Metal framework and concrete pillars spotted the space, and when I turned a corner, Kortney came into view, still gagged and tied to a chair. Her dark eyes widened, and she mumbled under the piece of tape.

“Yeah, I know it’s a trap, Tran,” I said.

Venna emerged from the shadows, dressed in a curve-hugging black leather ensemble with a spiked collar and bracelets, giving a slow clap. “I’m surprised you showed without that irritating hybrid.”

I flipped her off. “Still sour that your spell couldn’t tear us apart?”

She gave a lazy shrug, her platinum hair flowing around her shoulders. “I have other things in store for you two. Don’t worry your little head.”

“Enough with the chitchat.” I jerked my chin toward the raven. “I’m here. Let Kortney go.”

Low laughter echoed from the darkness as Mykel stepped forward, his glamour gone, revealing the citrine irises and horns. “Did you really think it would be that easy, Tate?” His seven-foot frame loomed over Kortney like a monster about to strike. He dropped his massive hand on her shoulder, his fingers digging in until she squirmed. “The fun is just beginning.”

I cracked my neck and then rolled my shoulders. “Are we going to fight? Is that what you want?” The transformative hilt I’d plucked from one of the ravens’ many hiding spots in Savannah warmed in my pocket at the prospect of battle, but I’d started to lean more on my talons and teeth to fight. The blade was for Kortney.

“I like having a little caged birdie as a pet. I’m not done playing with it yet. We’ve barely begun the torture.” His smile had ice pouring down my back. “You remember how well I torture, don’t you, Tate? I loved hearing your screams.” He ripped the gag from Kortney’s mouth.

“Get out of here, Tate,” she blurted. “You shouldn’t have come. I can get out of this myself.”

Venna took a dagger from her belt, flipping it in the air. “You ravens are all the same, so confident and cocky. You have no idea who you’re dealing with, girl.” She dragged the tip of the blade down Kortney’s cheek without breaking skin. “You little birds come into our nightworlds and dictate how we live. I should kill every last one of you and the witches who give you power.” Her laughter rang through the dank, hollow space.

“That would be fantastic.” Mykel held Kortney’s head steady as Venna sliced the blade across her cheek, drawing blood this time. “Then we can go on a killing spree through the city.”

The royal demon chuckled. “As if we don’t already do that.”

“Enough!” My jaw clenched as my teeth ached to grow into sharp points. “I’m tired of listening to you two idiots. What do you want? Let’s get this over with.”

Venna whipped in my direction, her sheet of icy hair flying around her, and she tossed the dagger at me.

With my supernatural reflexes, I caught the knife in the air by the hilt before it stabbed my shoulder. But the satisfaction in her gaze told me she hadn’t meant for the blade to spear me.

“I want you to take that knife and slit your throat,” the demon princess said.

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