Page 16 of Savage Blood (Den of Shadows #6)

Chapter

Eleven

My former friend turned enemy blocked our path to freedom as she loomed in the hallway, the flickering lantern lights on the rough-hewn wall gleaming on the transformative raven’s blade. Roxie’s malicious smile had chills raking down my spine.

Even though the Malbraxis manacles no longer restrained my power and I could take her easily, something about her grin was just unsettling, like she had a few tricks up her sleeve.

I stepped out of Ruin’s cell, leaving him still chained despite his grumble of protest. “Unfortunately for you, I’m at full power.”

Onyx talons sprouted from my fingertips as I felt my pupils thin to diamonds.

Roxie snorted and stepped forward, her skin-tight black pants hugging every curve while her crop top showed her toned abs. “You’re not really at full power, though, are you, Tate? Not with that pesky little speck of the Infernal Sol poisoning you. ”

My nostrils flared, knowing she was right.

Enid flanked my side, a growl vibrating her chest. “But I’m at full strength, and I’d love a chance to pay you back for some of that torture.”

Alicia’s lips curled into a savage grin. “And there’s only one of you.”

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.

“Tate!” Ruin jerked on his chains. “As much as I love seeing you indulge your dark side, we don’t have time for it right now.”

“Don’t worry, Ruin.” Roxie winked at the high demon. “I’ll play with you in a little bit.”

A laugh, terrifying and intoxicating in equal measure, spilled from the demon. “Oh, I can’t wait, little raven. But I get to be on top this time.”

Red flooded her cheeks as a wave of desire wafted off her. While she was distracted, I slammed my elbow into her ribs and struck her shin, forcing her to her knees. Roxie cursed and sliced her blade across my arm.

Searing pain spread over the cut, and I sucked in air. “Are you kidding me? You doused your blade in Devil’s Nightshade?”

“I’m not against cheating.” Roxie hopped back to her feet and charged me.

My heart crashed against my ribs as I spun to dodge her sword. “You can’t beat me without cheating. ”

Ruin yanked on his chains again, trying to rip them out of the wall. “At least toss me the damn key for these, Tate.”

I reached into my pocket to grab it, but the dungeon suddenly spun in a whirlwind of stone, iron, flickering lanterns, and grime.

Oh shit.

My subconscious tore from my body, zoomed through the manor at breakneck speed, and halted in the disheveled ritual room.

Well, this is bad.

I couldn’t leave my damn body in the middle of a fight!

Sub-demon parts littered the floor, and black blood splattered the scarlet walls, the gothic furniture, and nearly every surface. The Collective members had tossed off their cloaks and masks, looking like they’d just returned from battle.

“Where is she!” Barric stood in a circle of dead demons, his nostrils flaring and eyes darkening with every breath.

Roman curled his fingers into fists to banish the electric bolts of magic crackling on his palms. “You told me to get Tate out of here, so that’s what I did. I locked her in her room. You said nothing about Alicia.”

The former head alpha marched toward the empty table where Alicia had been, the chains dangling over the edges. “How did she get out?”

Roman shrugged. “How should I know? She was there when I left with Tate.”

Rage pulsated from Barric, and his muscles twitched, his wolf longing to tear free from his human form. His powerful, scarred hands gripped the table and flipped it over, the loud crash erupting through the room.

“Start searching the manor for Alicia,” he ordered his faithful followers. “She couldn’t have gone far. ”

Dread spiraled in my gut and stifled my breathing. Escaping would be even more difficult with members roaming the manor. They’d probably search the dungeon last, but we’d have to travel through the upper levels to access an exterior door.

“And will someone please kill that thing!” Barric motioned across the room to where the bull sub-demon struggled on the floor, wrapped in Roman’s Vulcrum ropes.

Puddles of black blood pooled in the area around the beast, glistening under the lights, but he was still bucking to get free.

“I’m trying,” Amelia shouted, a mixture of black and red coating her face and clothes. “He just won’t die.”

“Cut his fucking head off.” Barric dragged his fingers through his russet hair. “Where is Roxie with that damn sword?”

I stumbled back and then flew through the manor again, crashing into my body. My heart drummed out a frantic beat as sweat glided down my temples and into my hair. Blood perfumed the air.

Cold, hard stone pressed against my back.

How long was I gone? Did I fall, or did Roxie knock me down?

“Tate! Get up!” Ruin called, shaking the bars of his cell.

As my vision cleared, the pointy end of a blade arced toward my neck, Roxie’s fury-filled appearance looming above.

What the ever-loving hell!

I rolled over, and her sword stabbed the ground. Was she trying to kill me now? Did she forget Barric would slaughter her if she did?

A growl vibrated my throat while a streak of cold fear penetrated my veins. Time was running out. I couldn’t play with Roxie anymore .

I kicked her knee and then swept her legs out from under her. Her squeak of surprise reverberated through the dungeon as she hit the ground, her sword falling from her grip and tumbling across the stone.

“We’re done, Roxie.” The darkness emanating from the small remnants of the amulet clouded my mind, dimming my better judgment.

Roxie had to die. The world would be better off without her.

She’d caused enough trouble.

My lips curled back as my demon side took over, and fear eclipsed her eyes when she realized I no longer cared what killing her would do to my conscience.

“Tate, wait!” Roxie squirmed as I climbed on top of her. “You’re not really going to?—”

“Goodbye, Roxie.” I lifted my clawed hand, the ebony talons glistening like sharp blades.

Unyielding bands of steel lifted me from Roxie before my talons could slash her throat.

Son of a bitch!

“You can’t kill her, Tate.” Ruin held me against his bare chest, chains dangling from his bleeding wrists. “It’ll eat you alive, and I don’t want that for you.”

I inhaled a sharp breath. He’d ripped the chains right out of the stone wall, the iron anchor dragging behind him.

Roxie scrambled across the floor to grab her sword, but Enid kicked it away. When the former raven attempted to escape in the other direction, Alicia stepped in her path.