Page 138 of Savage Blood
“How could you?” The words tumbled from my mouth in barely more than a whisper.
His electric blue eyes swiveled in my direction, a frown turning the corners of his lips down. “Come on, beautiful. You had to guess this was coming.”
Actually, I hadn’t. After seeing him tormented and abused in Barric’s captivity, I’d thought the high demon had changed.
But I knew how duplicitous people could be. They could smile and tell you everything you needed to hear just to turn around and destroy you.
“You pathetic, lying piece of shit,” Fane hissed, struggling in the Vulcrum cords Roman had wrapped around him.
The demon shifter forgot about Barric, his focus locked onRuin. That look alone could melt the high demon into a pile of skin and bone.
“Fane planned to kill me after this was over.” Ruin smoothed his hand down his pristine ebony suit. “I’ve already died once. I don’t want to do it again.”
“So you struck a deal with your old ally?” I bit out.
Power and heat throbbed through the room as Barric transformed back into his human shape, his clothes in tattered scraps across the floor. The Infernal Sol pulsated on his bare, scarred chest.
“I found out about his little bond with Roxie.” Barric curled his fingers, and Ben scurried over with another pair of black pants and a shirt. “And she relayed a message to her master.”
Ruin chuckled. “We only had to get you here, and once the ritual was complete, I’d have Karn’s manor. As the most powerful demon around, I would receive the title of Lord of Vlehull.”
The bastard traded my life and the lives of thousands of innocent shifters for a title and a fancy home.
“You motherfucker!” Fane finally broke out of Roman’s magical bind. “No title will keep me from ripping your spine out of your mouth, Ruin.”
Before the demon shifter lunged at Ruin, Barric snapped, and the five Collective Nosterium members converged on Fane. He easily tossed the first two off, and when the next two tried to grab his arms, he released a hair-raising roar that gave them pause.
His demon wolf prowled right below the surface, longing to break free and tear into every last shifter standing in his way to Ruin.
“I wouldn’t start killing my friends,” Barric warned, nowfully dressed in black slacks and a button-down black shirt. “Tate might be upset when I have to retaliate.”
A door opened, and Roxie, in all-black raven gear, stomped across the marble, leading another figure bound in chains behind her.
An arctic blast of air crashed over me, and I stumbled back. Not only did she and Ruin trick us, but instead of helping Hawk, she held him captive.
“Hawk!” I tried to bolt for him, but Ruin stepped in my path and grabbed my shoulders.
“He’s fine, Tate.”
I jerked out of his hold and slapped him, the sharp sound ricocheting through the quiet room as the spectators watched. “Never touch me again.”
Hawk gave a crooked smirk. “Damn, that sounded painful.”
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“I’ve been better, but I’ve also been worse.” He flipped off Roxie. “Back when I was dating this psycho.”
“Let him go, Roxie.” My voice had become a deep growl, every syllable a sharp dagger ready to spill blood—especially hers.
Hawk wore a pair of clean jeans and a black t-shirt, and he looked relatively okay except for the circles beneath his eyes. Roman must have healed any injuries Hawk sustained during torture.
“Think of Hawk as an insurance policy.” Barric moved toward Roxie and smoothed his hand over her arm.
Ruin’s gaze darkened at that hand as his smile tightened against white teeth. He might have made a deal with Barric, but they were still enemies.
Barric angled in our direction and shook his finger at Fane. “If you try to intervene, Maverick, not only will I killyou, but I’ll make this ritual as painful—mentally, physically, and emotionally—for Tate as possible. I will draw it out and make you watch her suffer for so much longer than necessary.”
Fane’s nostrils flared like those of a wild beast on the verge of attacking. “I can’t wait to watch Tate tear you to pieces.”
