Page 134 of Savage Fate

Why hadn’t he tried to attack me yet?

I shook the unnerving thought off and reached Roxie, the wind from the portal tossing my hair and shaking nearby branches. My sword sliced through the air, and I carved into the zubrek’s hard brown exoskeleton.

As he screeched, her foot fell from his mouth, and she scrambled away on her hands and knees. His attention swiveled to me, his sharp teeth shining ruby red.

He was a nasty critter.

I kicked the joint on one of his legs, forcing him to jerk forward, and then my blade impaled his chest. The zubrek roared and stumbled back into the swirling portal, vanishing into the Underworld.

“Thanks,” Roxie muttered, sitting back on her haunches, panting.

Blood coated her leg, but at least her foot was still attached to her body. The sub-demon could have easily bitten it off.

I reached my hand out, and she grabbed it, standing. “You’re welcome.” I gave her an overly sweet smile. “Besides, you wouldn’t last long in the Underworld.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that.” She dusted the grass and dirt from her pants. “I’ve been there a few times, and I rather enjoy it.”

The cold unease returned and slid around my throat like a noose. “Why would you?—”

A bruising grip suddenly wrapped around my arm, and Barric appeared beside me.

“Thanks for your help, Roxie. You were right.” His grin had frost crystallizing through my veins. “Tate just can’t resist saving someone.”

Chapter

Thirty-Nine

Panic cascaded down my back,yanking the air from my lungs as Barric’s rough, thick fingers dug into my arm like steel bars. The Underworld portal swirled in front of us, still open after I kicked the zubrek through to save Roxie.

Apparently, she had never been in mortal peril. It was all part of my father’s nefarious plan.

“You set me up, Roxie.” The words burst between my clenched teeth as rage hemorrhaged through my bloodstream.

How could I have been so stupid?

Time and again, Roxie had screwed others over to get what she wanted.

What the hell was she getting from Barric?

As hot fury filled my muscles, I swung my fist toward her face. Instead of attempting a block or even ducking, Roxie allowed the hit to connect.

Again, I should have suspected something from her conniving ass.

As soon as the satisfying crack of my knuckles against her jaw sounded, she gripped my hand and locked a vibrating circlet of metal around my wrist.

What the ever-loving hell!

My energy instantly drained, and the adrenaline pumping through my veins sheered off like something had sucked it all out.

Something had.

Magic.

I staggered back into Barric’s broad chest, his fingers still clutching my bicep. Glee sparked in Roxie’s blue gaze as she fastened the second cuff around my other wrist and secured my hands at my front.

The mystical handcuffs not only siphoned my energy, but they cut off my connection to my demon and shifter sides.

“Let her go!” Fane broke out of Roman’s magical binds again and sprinted in our direction, his mouth twisted in a snarl.

---