Page 43 of Savage Blood
Roxie laughed and flicked her long ponytail. “Who said I was alone?”
Two Collective Nosterium members—a male and a female—emerged into the corridor, their claws already extended and canines growing. My muscles tightened as frost crawled down my shoulders, the twisting flames from the lanterns highlighting the shiny scars stippling their toned arms.
They were fighters.
Being the mate of a former alpha and mother of the current one, Enid knew how to fight. Alicia’s mate had been imprisoned in an Underworld prison for years, so she had to be strong as hell to survive that. But she was still injured, with stab wounds peppering her arms and legs.
“Long time no see, Alicia.” The female Collective member cracked her knuckles and rolled her neck, tossing black curls around her shoulders.
“Not long enough,” Alicia muttered from my right side. “I always knew you were a psycho bitch, Tabitha.”
“Tate,” Ruin hissed. “Let me out of these fucking chains. I’ll take care of them in seconds.”
I peered over at him, his gaze hazy and a little manic. He could handle the two shifters and Roxie easily, even with the power-suppressing cuff on, but I wasn’t so sure freeing him while the Infernal Sol still polluted his mind from The Collective’s latest ritual was a good idea.
What if he got confused and killed Alicia or Enid?
What if he killed them on purpose?
The female shifter chuckled, seemingly unbothered by Alicia’s insult. “I heard Knox was out of prison. He’ll be heartbroken when he learns of your death. I should pay him a visit to comfort him.”
There was no mistaking the meaning beneath her words as she slowly licked her lips.
Alicia snarled at the female shifter’s threat. “He’d rather rip your throat out than screw you.”
The male panther shifter beside Tabitha swung his arms. “Can you girls stop yapping? Let’s get to fighting. I want a go at Saint’s mom. She’s a total MILF, even though she’s bitten.”
His leer made my skin prickle.
“And I want Tate.” Roxie pointed her sword in my direction.
Adrenaline pumped through my bloodstream, and my muscles coiled, poised for a fight. “Ask and you shall receive.”
I bolted for the former raven while Alicia and Enid engaged in their own battles. We didn’t have much time, so we needed to dispatch our three opponents as quickly as possible.
Maybe I should have let Ruin out after all.
Roxie pivoted to the left as I attacked, my hit grazing her shoulder. She spun, and her sword arced toward my leg.
My pulse spiked as I jumped, just missing her blade.
“You’re being sloppy,” I said as we circled each other, grunts and growls echoing from the fighting shifters. None of them had fully transformed, but they all sported claws, teeth, and patches of fur.
Roxie twirled her sword. “I’m not being sloppy. I’m just trying not to kill you. Barric would be a little pissed if I did.”
I bet he would.
“Don’t you hate that?” I swiped my talons through the air and tore into her arm.
Blood seeped from her wound and dripped onto the dirty stone ground.
“Yeah, actually, I do.” Roxie’s sword flashed as she jerked it toward my shoulder, missing as I leaped out of the way. “I’d love to kill you once and for all.”
“Tired of always living in my shadow?”
My words caught her off guard, and I crushed my fist into her jaw. Her head whipped back, her ponytail flying.
Roxie’s snarl almost made me laugh, and I shoved her into the wall, a cloud of dust rising.
