Page 135 of Savage Fate

Barric’s relentless grip dug deeper as he yanked me toward the churning portal. “We better make our exit, dear daughter, before your pesky mate catches us.”

Roots exploded from the ground and wrapped around Fane’s legs to stop his approach. Roman stood a few feet away, his irises glowing violet and lips moving as he cast the enchantment.

My heels dug into the soft grass, stalling. “Fane will just follow us into the gateway.”

The former head alpha’s low chuckle had goose bumps prickling my flesh. “Thanks to Roman and a little help from my wonderful amulet, after we step through, the portal will temporarily close.”

A lump of concrete sank to the bottom of my stomach, and dread twisted around my throat, cutting off my air supply.

He’d planned this whole thing just to capture me. Once Barric appeared in the cemetery, I knew we’d been lured into a trap, but it was much more intricate than I’d imagined.

Barric really did have endless opportunities for chaos with the Infernal Sol.

“Tate!” Fane’s talons tore through the roots only to have more appear with each step he took, trapping him again and again. Sweat glistened on his skin as his muscles strained against Roman’s magic.

“Come on, sweetheart.” Barric dragged me to the portal, Roxie smirking as she vanished into the swirling magic.

As I peered over my shoulder, the mystical wind whipping my long hair around, the fear in Fane’s eyes gutted me. Somehow, he knew that once I stepped into the portal, he wouldn’t be able to follow.

Maybe he heard the conversation or sensed the storm of trepidation bleeding out of me.

Had I worn the same look when Mykel yanked him back across that bridge to Heldrok?

“I will survive this,”I whispered into Fane’s mind as purple and magenta lights engulfed me.

A savage roar—full of heartbreaking anguish—followed me through the portal, ripping my insides apart.

Fane’s voice swirled into my mind, so faint it was barely more than a whisper.“I love you.”

Hot tears blurred my vision as we stepped out of the portal into the unnerving Underworld forest. My boots barely made a dent in the hard, cracked soil, and the trees were black and barren as if burnt.

Did Fane really just tell me he loved me?

I should have been floating at finally hearing those words from him, but fate ripped us apart once again. Now I was trapped in the Underworld with my enemy.

When I used to fantasize about my parents, I never dreamed my own father would become my biggest threat.

“This was almost too easy, Tate. You’re so gullible.” Barric finally released my arm, bruises already forming across my tender flesh. “You get that from your mother.”

“You’re the gullible one if Tamara not only tricked you into thinking she was pregnant with a shifter but that I was a boy.”

His hand jerked back, and he slapped me across my cheek so hard stars popped in my vision. Blood spilled into my mouth, coating my teeth when I laughed.

“Is that all you got, Dad?”

It probably wasn’t in my best interest to goad the psycho, demon-influenced shifter.

Roxie gripped my hair and yanked my head back. “Want me to knock her out?” Her nostrils flared, and manic energy scented the air around her. “It would be my pleasure.”

The way she’d said pleasure had my stomach roiling.

Ugh, please tell me she’s not screwing him.

Barric gave her a placating smile and patted her cheek. “I don’t think that’s necessary.”

Roxie released me and fluttered her long lashes at him. “Just let me know if you need me to. I’m more than happy to please you, Barric.”

His chuckle made me want to hurl.

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