Page 133 of Savage Fate

Slick black walls,a crackling fire, and the scent of fear unfolded around me.

“You will do as I command.” Barric loomed over Roman, who was strapped to a chair by mystical restraints. The shifter held the amulet over the witch as it glowed from the fire.

Roman breathed heavily, sweat dampening his pale-blond hair. “This is not what I signed up for, Barric.”

The former head alpha grabbed the witch’s throat, baring his teeth. “That’s too bad, because this is what’s happening. And you can either be on my side, or I can lock you up and torture you with your fears. You’ll wish for death long before I grant it.”

A manic look flickered over Barric’s face as his eyes darkened, becoming as black as an impenetrable abyss…

The scene Romanforced into my mind faded, and the cemetery returned, Fane cursing up a storm as he ripped the magical strands apart one by one.

“Please help me,” the witch whispered.

Roman’s flesh was pale, sickly even, and dark circles underscored his tired, nearly lifeless eyes. He was a far cry from the cocky witch who’d helped Barric escape Ruin’s lab months ago.

How many others were in Roman’s shoes, forced to do Barric’s bidding?

“Stop fooling around, Roman,” Barric barked. “Get up and keep him occupied.”

Trepidation slid over my spine. Why did Barric need to keep Fane occupied?

To get to me, obviously, but what about the others? They could interfere with Barric attempting to take me or kill me as much as Fane.

The ground rumbled, angel statues trembling and branches shaking, as three huge zubrek demons scuttled through the area on spindly legs.

A string of curses fell off my tongue as more chaos unfolded in Bonaventure Cemetery.

Fane finally broke out of Roman’s spell, dropped from the tree, and stormed toward the witch as he sluggishly climbed to his feet.

“Don’t hurt him,”I spoke into Fane’s mind.“Barric is forcing him to do this.”

Fane grabbed Roman by the shirt and yanked him into the air.“He broke into Ruin’s lab and helped Barric escape of his own free will.”

Before I could explain, a familiar scream exploded in the air.

A zubrek demon, over seven feet tall, had Roxie’s foot in his mouth, dragging her toward the portal to the Underworld. His three neon-yellow eyes burned brighter the more she struggled.

“Tate, help!” Her voice shook with panic as she flailed in the air, unable to break out of the demon’s grip without severing her foot.

The atmosphere between the archways shimmered as the doorway activated.

If he dragged her into the Underworld, he could burrow into a hole, and she’d be gone forever.

Roxie had been horrible. She’d betrayed me and let Hawk stew in his own depression and anger. She’d tried to kill me once before in this very spot when she left me to fend for myself against a whole swarm of dragos.

But the difference between Roxie and me was that I couldn’t let someone die just because I hated them.

“Tate, don’t you dare go through that portal after her,” Fane demanded, finally dropping Roman.

As soon as the witch’s feet touched the ground, he let his power loose on Fane again, throwing purple strands around him at rapid fire.

Fane tore them off, but Roman wouldn’t relent.

“I should have ripped his throat out when I had the chance, fiera mika.”

I ignored Fane’s fury and rushed toward Roxie, catching sight of Barric still sitting on the tombstone, watching the bedlam play out.

His inaction left me unsettled.

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