Page 11 of Savage Blood (Den of Shadows #6)

Chapter

Eight

Cold panic ripped a hole through my chest, and tremors raced through my limbs as primal hunger throbbed from Torin. Like looking into the face of a monster before it struck, my instincts screamed for me to run.

But to where? Enemies filled the mansion, ambling around and just waiting to crush me.

The feral growl seething between Torin’s sharp teeth spread goose bumps along my flesh.

He sounded more demon than shifter.

My boots squeaked on the glossy tiles as I backed up. “Torin, whatever is happening, you can?—”

The shifter lunged for me, his claws swiping across my arm.

A burst of adrenaline erupted through my veins, and I spun, speeding down the opulent ebony corridor. My arms pumped and limbs burned, all the while his hot breath ghosted down my nape.

He was too damn close for comfort.

Torin was a threat all on his own, but add this freaky demon thing controlling him, and he was twice as dangerous—if not more. He wanted to hunt me down and do worse than simply kill me.

I turned the corner, his creepy laughter echoing behind me and bouncing against the slick floor and shiny walls.

“Run all you want,” he called out. “But I will catch you. And when I do…”

Yeah. I got it.

Sweat slinked down my back, soaking into my shirt. He could easily follow my unwashed scent. I’d love a hot shower and fresh clothes. At least in Heldrok, we were allowed shower time. Usually.

I tugged at the Malbraxis manacles on my wrists. If these stupid things weren’t weakening me, I could outrun his ass in no time.

Torin’s laughter skated across my spine again, and in a panic, I tried a few doors, but they were all locked. The move only slowed me down.

My heart pulverized my rib cage as his presence burned my back. I snatched a bronze vase off a table, pivoted, and slammed it against his face. The force of the hit sent vibrations up my arms, and Torin stumbled back, gripping his nose.

“You’re going to pay for that.” The metallic scent of blood perfumed the air, and fury burned in his eerily dark eyes.

“Not likely,” I gritted out.

When he lowered his hands, crimson poured out of his nostrils.

My grip on the vase tightened, and I swung it again, cracking it into his skull so hard the metal dented. This time, I didn’t wait for his reaction. I sped down the corridor, my pulse hammering, hoping the strike had rattled his brain and maybe knocked the sense back into him .

Torin’s footsteps didn’t sound behind me, and when I peeked over my shoulder, no one was there.

A ragged breath burst from my lips, but I kept running.

Escaping this place was a real possibility now. None of the other Collective members had appeared since Torin escorted me to the second level. Were they all out, maybe hunting another innocent bitten shifter to sacrifice?

All I had to do was find an exterior door or climb out of a window.

But I couldn’t leave Enid or Alicia in this hellhole. Plus, if I fled now, it would only lower my chances of stealing the Infernal Sol from Barric and saving bitten shifters.

I just had to get away from Torin until he returned to normal or find another member who wouldn’t allow him to harm me.

I clenched my fists, feeling weak for needing to rely on an enemy to save me.

A hard grip latched onto my arm and jerked me around. Air fled my lungs as Torin slammed me against the wall so hard a framed painting crashed to the floor.

My pulse spiked through the stratosphere.

Son of a bitch!

Stars popped in my vision, and his face blurred while blood coated the back of my mouth.

“I can’t wait to break you in, Tate.” His rough hand dragged down my cheek and then my throat. “I won’t take it soft or slow. You’re going to scream from the pain.”

“Torin, I know you’re a creepy asshole, but this isn’t you.” I tried to break his hold, but his fingers dug into my arm, the slashes from his claws dripping blood to the reflective floor. “Fight this.”

His unnerving chuckle pickled my scalp. “This will be so much fun.”

Terror clawed at my chest as his fingers tightened around my throat, cutting off my circulation. Black spots popped along the edges of my vision.

Would he choke me out? What would he do while I was unconscious?

The images of what he’d probably do had bile shooting up my esophagus.

As my head spun and my knees weakened, Torin’s grip on my throat vanished. I greedily sucked air into my lungs, choking and gasping as I slumped against the wall.

“What did I tell you, Torin?” Barric loomed over the younger shifter, forcing him to his knees with an alpha growl that had the hair on my body lifting. “Tate is off-limits.”

Torin blinked the shadows from his caramel eyes and looked around, his brow furrowing. “I-I don’t remember getting here.”

Barric raised his hand as claws extended from his fingers. “Perhaps I should tear off one of your hands. Maybe then you’ll take my commands seriously.”

The other shifter shook his head, tossing tawny curls. “I was bringing her up here like you asked. And then I…” He trailed off and peered at me, pleading for help.

My teeth ground, and I already hated myself for what I was about to do. “It’s not entirely his fault.”

Speaking even just those few words had pain lancing through my throat. I should have let Barric punish Torin, but the little angel on my shoulder was currently louder than the devil on my other side.

“ Something took him over.” I coughed and pushed off the wall, my attention falling to the gold chain around Barric’s neck, the amulet tucked into his sage button-down shirt.

The former head alpha’s clawed hand moved away from Torin and hovered over his own chest. He had to know the demon amulet was doing more than giving extra power to The Collective Nosterium.

“On your feet, Torin,” he demanded, a hint of alpha power weaving through his rough voice.

Torin scrambled up, his head bowed and shoulders drawn in. Gone was the psycho amulet-influenced guy and the arrogant shifter I’d met in Silver Ridge. Torin hadn’t even looked this submissive—almost pathetic—when Barric reprimanded him and his friends for attacking me.

But Barric wasn’t just his head alpha anymore. With the Infernal Sol, he was nearly unstoppable.

“If I catch you disobeying my orders again”—Barric leaned toward him as shadows crossed his amber eyes—“I’ll make an example out of you. Am I clear?”

All the blood drained from Torn’s cheeks, and he nodded. “Yes, Alpha.”

Torin kept his head bowed as he hurried down the hall and vanished around the corner, leaving me alone with my father.

“Well, Tate, as usual, I find you in the middle of a commotion.”

My jaw dropped. “How is this my fault? I didn’t ask him to attack me, and I didn’t try to escape. I was more than happy to talk to you.”

He chuckled and dragged his hand through his russet hair. “Of course you weren’t trying to escape. You’d never leave Saint’s mother behind.”

Barric had taken Enid for that very reason. He knew he could control me through her .

“Let’s go.” Barric motioned with his hand for me to follow, obviously not the least bit worried I’d fight or try to run.

Once we reached his private quarters, the same place I saw in my vision, Barric disappeared through a large, intricately carved door.

Frost crept down my arms at the sight of the slick red walls.

The fireplace was lit, casting ominous shadows across the black leather furniture and burnished coffee table.

A painting of The Collective Hunt’s symbol—created with delicate flicks of a brush dipped in burgundy—now hung above the mantel.

Fane would have done a better job.

When I rubbed my arms to melt the chill, I winced at the sting from the gashes Torin had given me. Warm liquid oozed over my fingers.

The sound of rushing water turned on, and Barric reappeared in his living room. “Take a shower.”

My muscles locked up as panic seeped into my bloodstream. “Why?”

Naked and vulnerable was the last thing I wanted to be.

His top lip curled into a sneer. “I know what set Torin off, and I can’t have you walking around a bunch of male shifters, reeking of sex.”

Oh my god.

Blood rushed into my face, and if I’d eaten more than a few bites of food recently, I would have puked.

Barric snorted and absentmindedly rubbed the amulet beneath his shirt. “I know about your ability to visit Fane. I would have thought you’d use that time with him to devise an escape plan, but maybe you realize any plan is futile.”

Bastard .

“We haven’t been officially mated that long.” I gave a noncommittal shrug. “We have a habit of forgetting everything else when we’re together.”

He nodded, his expression softening. “I remember.”

Cautiously, I marched by him toward the room. “Can I shut the door?”

“No.”

My brows slammed down. “Then I’m not taking a shower.”

“You may close the bathroom door, but don’t lock it,” he said. “No one will interrupt you.”

The thought of taking a hot shower and washing the filth off me sounded like a dream—and too good to be true.

Barric sighed. “You have five minutes, Tate. Time is ticking.”

Fuck it.

I hurried into the bedroom and straight into the luxurious bathroom. Steam floated around the gray and black marble surroundings.

Barric wasn’t kidding about my time limit. He pounded on the door when I had thirty seconds left and threatened to barge in if I didn’t emerge soon. I quickly finished rinsing my long hair and shut off the water.

The blood stopped dripping from the cuts in my arm, but I found a roll of gauze and tape in the drawer to wrap the wounds. Since I couldn’t shift, I wasn’t healing as fast as usual. Still quicker than any human, though.

Barric had placed a pair of leggings, underwear, a sports bra, and a cropped hoodie on the counter. Roxie’s scent permeated the material, but she’d stolen the clothes from my closet at Corvin Manor.

After slipping on my boots and grabbing a comb to rake through my tangled strands, I marched into the living room.

The savory aroma of rosemary, lemon, and butter wafted in the air as Barric sat at a round wooden table on the left with two steaming plates of food. My mouth watered.

If this was a form of torment—having to watch Barric chow down—I’d lose my mind.

The former head alpha motioned to the other plate. “Eat.”

I inched toward the table, running the comb through my wet hair. “What kind of meat is that?”

Hell, I might still eat it no matter where it came from.

“Relax. It’s chicken.”

“From Earth?”

His chuckle was too smooth. “Of course.”

I crossed my arms, shaking my head. “Why are you being so nice?”

“I’m not being nice.” He picked up a glistening, juicy chicken leg, inhaling the scent. “I’m bored, and your ever-suspicious behavior is entertaining.”

That was total bullshit. I wasn’t stupid. Barric got me out of my cell for a reason, but I wouldn’t pass up the chance to regain a little strength with a full meal of chicken, potatoes, spinach, and garlic bread.

I sat across from him and dug in, moaning as the buttery flavors exploded over my tongue.

Oh hell, the food was so good I could cry.

Throwing manners to the wayside, I ate like I had as a starving runaway who’d finally scored a hot meal after days of dumpster diving.

“You’re going to choke,” Barric said, humor coiling around his words. “I can’t have you dying on me so soon.”

Of course not. He needed me for the Admordum Nexia Covenant.

Once I was so full my stomach threatened to pop, I looked up and pushed the nearly empty plate away. Barric watched me as he stroked the amulet beneath his shirt again.

He treated that thing like a beloved pet.

“Do you ever take the Infernal Sol off?” I asked.

Barric dropped his gaze and stabbed a potato with his fork. “Occasionally.”

“Can I see it?” I blurted. “Please.”

The craving for the amulet twisted around me, and even though I could ignore it, I let it wash through my veins, exaggerating the effects for show. I rubbed my hands together and gnawed on my bottom lip, trembling like I needed a fix.

Maybe I did. Just a little.

Believing my lie, Barric smirked and drew the amulet out of his shirt, the blood-red stone blazing in the firelight.

A hot tingle raked down my scalp, and I reached out to touch the Infernal Sol but Barric’s expression hardened, and I dropped my hand.

“It’s so…”

“Impressive.” Barric became transfixed on the glittering amulet, hypnotized by the power throbbing within.

Come back to me. I’m a better vessel than Barric. I’ll take you within me, and we can live as one. Just give me another chance.

My chest wanted to cave in when the Infernal Sol didn’t respond, remaining just as cold and indifferent as a jewel plucked out of the earth.

Had I ever mattered to it? Did our bond mean anything?

Clearly not.

“The amulet has told me many things, Tate.” Barric’s unnerving words tore my attention from the Infernal Sol, and my pulse spiked. “Lots of things about you.”

My spine straightened as the dread I’d been waiting for finally infiltrated my veins. “Like what?”

A knock sounded at the door, and the smile spreading Barric’s mouth made frost crystallize over every inch of my body.

“Come in.”

Amelia emerged from the doorway, barely masking her eerie grin. “I’ve brought your special guest.”

When she shoved a young human girl—around twelve or thirteen—through the doorway, all the food I’d just inhaled threatened to shoot back up.

“Thank you, Amelia.” Barric waved them over. “Come join us, both of you.”

The girl trembled as Amelia pushed her forward. Raven curls twisted around her soft, innocent face, and those eyes, pools of obsidian, ripped the air from my lungs.

Blood thundered in my ears as I shot to my unsteady feet, the room spinning. “What the hell is going on?”

She looked so much like Jayla I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.

I wasn’t.

An invisible poker, lit orange by hellfire, buried into my heart, and my knees almost buckled from the agony erupting through my chest. The sinister expression Barric and Amelia shared had warnings blaring in my head.

Barric had found a new form of torture to rain down on me.