Page 74 of Savage Claim

Coltrane grabbed the needle she’d dropped and carefully approached the cell. “Do as I asked, Tate. I don’t want to force you.”

The underlying meaning in her words was clear. She’d hurt Hawk to force my hand.

Hawk slipped in front of the cell to block her path. “Stay away from her, Aunt Anna.” The sudden fury in his tone starkly contrasted with the worried one he’d had a few moments ago. “I found the files on those ravens, including Tate, and all of your research notes on the Infernal Sol. There’s no denying it.”

The captain scoffed and lifted her chin, smoothing back the blonde strands that had come undone from her ponytail during her struggle. “I’m your family, Hawk. You wouldn’t want to do anything to jeopardize the life we’ve built, right? We’re doing good in this world. Let’s keep it that way.”

Tension wrapped his shoulders beneath the tight black shirt as he refused to move. “You’re right. We need to keep doing good.” Coltrane gave a triumphant smile until Hawk continued. “And stopping you from doing any more damage will keep it that way.”

Shadows crawled over the captain’s face, and that smile became a vicious snarl. “Do you really think you, of all people, will stop me, Hawk? You’ve always been an unfocused screwup, and now you’re even worse, barely maintaining your sanity all because she was turned into a nightworlder.”

My mouth dropped as she spewed the toxic dribble on her nephew. I wanted to reach through the bars, grab her ponytail, and slam her head against the metal poles.

“Thanks for showing your true colors, Aunt Anna. It reaffirms my decision.” Instead of letting his aunt’s words hurt him, Hawk stood his ground. “I’ve made a few phone calls.”

Fury lashed through her harsh brown eyes. “Who did you call?”

Shouts sounded, and footsteps suddenly struck the concrete before several figures filed into the underground room. The tingle on my neck registered as Fane emerged with Barric behind him.

“Let her out,” the demon shifter demanded, his intimidating presence choking the atmosphere.

Coltrane backed away from him, her muscles so tensed they shook. “How did you get in here? The wards should have kept you both out.”

“I let them in.” Gia stepped forward, her voice calm but her expression severe. “You can’t keep a nightworlder detained in the basement without probable cause, Captain.”

She scoffed. “I have plenty of cause for concern with Tate.”

Barric approached Coltrane, a small dose of his alpha power filling the air. His tan leather jacket and jeans strained against his thick muscles with every move he made. “This looks like a personal vendetta. You’ve had something against Tate from the moment she was turned. Did you forget that as head alpha, she’s under my authority—and protection? You have no right to detain her without consulting me first.”

“This is a raven matter, and?—”

“You are breaking the accords, Captain.” Gia stood beside Barric and jerked her chin to the cell, her caramel braids swaying against her back. “And this isn’t the first time. Release Tate or explain yourself before this goes any further.”

The captain ground her teeth as her hands curled into fists, dying to punch someone, probably me. Revealing why she had me in a cell would open a whole new can of worms, eventually leading to her demise. If her superiors knew she’d been sending ravens on secret, personal missions, she’d be fired and stripped of the Calling spell.

“I don’t give a fuck what reason she has.” Fane pushed his way through Gia and Barric to tower over the captain, his body trembling with the effort it took to maintain his human form. “I’ll give you ten seconds to open this door before I start breaking bones.”

A thrill zipped through my stomach at the violence he wanted to rain down on her—because of me.

“Is that a threat?” Some of Coltrane’s bravado faltered. “Threatening the leader of the ravens is breaking the accords and is cause for?—”

“Enough, Aunt Anna.” Hawk stepped forward and nudged himself between Fane and the captain. “Let Tate go. It’s over.”

Her mouth curved into a contemptuous sneer, finally removing her mask in front of everyone. “I can’t believe you betrayed me after all I’ve done for you.” She shook her head, her nose wrinkling like she smelled something foul. “You aren’t raven material. I’m ordering the Calling spell be removed immediately.”

“That’s not happening, Coltrane,” Gia said, shoving her phone back into her pocket. “I have enough complaints and evidence to order an investigation into you and how you’ve been running this operation, which I’ve just sent to the heads in Chicago.”

The blood drained from Coltrane’s face, and she staggered back, hitting the cell bars with a clank. “You did what?”

“Someone will be here tomorrow to conduct phase one.” Gia opened her palm. “Now give me the key.”

After several tense moments, Coltrane dug into her pocket and slapped the key in Gia’s hand. “You will regret this.”

“I already regret not doing it sooner.” The raven, one of my former mentors, used the key to unlock my cell and opened the door. “I’m really sorry about this, Tate.”

I nodded and slipped out, my legs pulling me to Fane’s side. “You should probably put a guard on the captain. She seems like a flight risk.”

Fane pulled me closer until I was tucked against his side. “Let’s get out of here.” His attention landed on Hawk, a low growl vibrating the back of his throat. “If you expect a thank you for calling Barric, you can forget it. You’re the reason she was down here in the first place.”

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