Page 22 of Savage Blood
Enid and I shared a knowing look. Maybe Ruin’s charm had already worked its magic on Roxie. Watching him hurt himself had gotten to her.
She reached into her pocket and withdrew something plastic,the sound of it crinkling within the dungeon. “Eat this, but make sure you hide the wrapper in your pocket so I can grab it later. Understand?”
Her whisper wasn’t as soft as she’d thought, not for shifters. The mystical cuffs didn’t dull my hearing that much.
Ruin took the power bar and slipped it into his pocket. “Thank you.”
As footsteps echoed, Roxie shot to her feet, and Wes and a female Collective Nosterium member dragged an unconscious shifter between them.
The woman’s eerie grin had cool air drifting over my wet skin. “We brought some more company.”
My stomach lurched as they tossed the female shifter into the cell on my other side, a groan tumbling from her mouth. Coils of golden-brown hair slid from her face, but I didn’t recognize her. The bitten wolf shifter looked young, maybe in her early twenties.
Was she their next sacrifice?
“What’s the matter, Tate?” Wes leaned his forehead against the bars of my cell. “You can’t save her. She’s ours now.”
I climbed slowly to my feet, even though I should have conserved my energy. “What’s the matter, Wes? Sad Barric made you sit out during the last ritual?”
His gold irises flared like a bright light hit them. “He asked me to sit out as a favor. It’s an honor.”
My laughter made his top lip curl in disgust. “Or he just thinks you’re weak and unable to handle Ruin’s power.”
Wes jerked on the bars, and the door swung open, spiking my pulse.
Shit.
I forgot Roxie hadn’t locked it.
His manic smile poured frost down my spine, and he stormed into my cell. Before I could lift my hands to defend myself, his body pressed into mine and trapped me against the stone wall.
“Not so tough now, are you, Tate?” His breath reeked of whiskey and meat.
“I’m plenty tough.” I tried to force him off, but all that did was point out his hardening length.
Bile collected in the back of my mouth. His son had the same sick, sadistic tendencies.
“Would Fane be angry if I fucked you?”
“What do you think?” I ground out, my gut twisting.
He shrugged. “He won’t be able to get to me. I have the power of The Collective Nosterium behind me.”
“Don’t be so sure.” My head spun as he ground against me, a ruby tinge blazing around my vision.
A long time ago, I swore never to be weak and vulnerable in a position like this again. And I didn’t intend to break that oath.
I’d rather rip my flesh and break my wrists to remove the Malbraxis manacles than let this sick fuck steal anything from me, especially my consent.
“Get off of her, Wes!” Enid snarled, shaking the bars of her cell. “Fane won’t be the only one after you if you hurt her.”
Sneering, he raked his hand through his hair. “You all act as if she’s something special. She’s nothing but a piece of trash.”
“A piece of trash you want to use,” I pointed out. “Don’t you have a mate?”
“I’mhis mate.” The female Collective member flicked sleek dirty blonde hair over her shoulder while she watched her mate assault me. “We have an open relationship.”
They obviously weren’t fated. Even Barric had probablybeen faithful to Tamara before he slaughtered her in cold blood.
