Page 52 of Savage Hunt

“Maybe you don’t, but the real Tate does.”

“I am Tate.” The sooner he understood that the easier this would be.

Would it, though? This ancient power had lived through eons, yet it was perplexed by the emotions still coursing through this body. I felt them even when the other me tried to pull them into her so I could do my job.

We had to do this to keep that little wolf on Earth safe.

Dylan. I’d sliced his brother up, but the child still liked me. So did the brother.

Strange family.

“Bring back the Tate I know.” His teeth clenched. “I want to speak with her.”

My lips hitched into a wicked smile. “She’s not in right now, but you can leave a message.”

The beast jerked the chains. “I know you can hear me, Tate! Take control. Don’t let the amulet’s power win.”

A wild laugh burst out of my mouth. “She relinquished control the day she first tortured you with your fears.” I stood and crossed the small room to the corner. “She dropped to the ground here and asked for help as she buried herself far inside to hide with her pain and sorrow.”

“She wasn’t thinking clearly,” he said. “The amulet has warped her mind.”

I shook my finger and tsked. “That power has saved her more times than you have. You knew there was a price when you asked her to use it. You knew it would open the doorway just a little more each time. Now it’s wide open, and the power roams free.”

A snarl slithered between his sharpening teeth. “But it doesn’t roam free, not with that sigil.” He jerked his chin to my arm.

I unbuttoned the black jumpsuit, rolled it down, and tied the sleeves around my waist. The dampening sigil searing my skin was like a muzzle that kept my true power at bay. I could play with fears all I wanted, but I couldn’t unleash the real monster within. The shifter inside could barely poke through the cage.

My lips thinned. “This is annoying.”

“I bet you can find a way to remove it.” His head tilted toward his bicep that bared the same mark. “You could get mine off too, and then we could have some real fun in this place.” A grin that had my blood pumping tugged at his mouth.

The beast’s lure pulled me from the corner, and I stalked toward him as images of us rolling in the blood of our victims assaulted my mind. If I didn’t have this sigil, I would rip Mykel’s head off and use it to bash in the royal’s face. Then I’d make her worst fears materialize.

My lids fluttered. Her screams would be so delicious.

I swayed in front of the beast, humming a song from deep in my memories. The words came to me in a distorted mess, but the melody was the same. “Have you eaten the souls of John. Bones and flesh and the organs gone. Wouldn’t it be lovely to bathe in blood?”

My head craned toward the ceiling as my pulse pounded with each new horrible fantasy that unfolded. Heldrok would fall to its knees if I could unbridle this mass of ancient magic from the Infernal Sol. Every guard and prisoner would kneel and worship me. This could be my kingdom in the Underworld, my savage castle on the edge of a rocky mountain.

The mere whisper of my name would strike terror in the black hearts of everyone. I would reign with a crown of thorns and bones. And the beast would be beside me.

As my head lowered and my eyes opened, the creature’s look of concern shattered the wonderful fantasy.

He would never be with me. Not like this. He only wanted her.

Once he used this power to free himself of that symbol, he’d shove me far down to return her.

A growl rattled up my throat. “Tricky beast, but I see through your pretty lies. You can’t fool what knows your insides.”

“You really want to continue letting Venna force your hand?” He scoffed. “Are you too weak? Too scared to fight?”

I raked my talons down his chest, drawing blood. “I’m not afraid to fight. I’m just smart enough to know you would use me to get what you want and then force me away.”

I didn’t want to hide anymore. She should stay below while I handled things. “Her mind is too fragile, and her emotions, especially for you, make her unstable.”

His laughter bounced through the room. “Unstable? You’re the one who speaks in strange riddles and nonsense.”

Fire sped through my veins, and I snatched a knife, putting it to his throat. “Careful how you speak to me, demon shifter. I am in control of this. I am the torturer. Not you.”

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