Page 125 of Savage Claim

Would Fane feel it when I took my last breath? Would he care?

A thunderous roar suddenly erupted, vibrating the debris scattered across the lab, and the glass fragments tinkled like tiny bells. It didn’t take long for that vicious battle cry to reach a crescendo, filling my soul with a breath of relief while it forced Barric to freeze.

Hope blossomed in my chest, and Death took a step back. No one else except Fane could have halted the head alpha right before a kill.

Fane strolled into the lab, harsh angles cutting into his face as the shadows crawled over it, his tattoos twitching, and eyes bloodred. “Back the fuck away from my mate.”

The words, the claim, sent a thrill through my veins even though I could die any moment.

“I’ll get you out of this, Teague.”

Fane’s voice in my head was a welcome balm soothing the pain and emptiness from the loss of the Infernal Sol.

Had the witches removed the spell? Fane and Logan couldn’t have possibly traveled to Illyria and had a complex enchantment performed.

Barric didn’t remove his claws from my throat. “Come any closer, and I’ll kill her.” He snorted. “It’s only fair. A mate for a mate, right?”

Black sickle talons extended from Fane’s fingertips. “Except I didn’t kill my mate like you did. And for that alone, I should shred your flesh from your bones and let demons feast on it while you watch. And then I’ll tear your throat out”

The picture Fane’s words painted sent my stomach roiling, but I wouldn’t mind watching Barric get what he deserved. Even if he wasn’t hell-bent on slaughtering me, he still killed his fated mate and tormented his own kind because he was a racist prick.

Knox had been right about Barric all along.

“You’re not going to do shit with my claws stuck in Tate’s throat.” Barric’s talons dug deeper, and I winced, more blood flowing down my neck. If I lost much more, I’d need a transfusion.

The red in Fane’s irises intensified as his power infiltrated the air, making my skin hum and muscles heat. Barric’s jaw clenched while he thrust his own alpha influence out, attempting to surpass the demon shifter.

Fane wasn’t an alpha, but he naturally had that power without the title or pack. The air thickened in the lab as the two battled for dominance, and somewhere the other occupants began to stir. The keening groan of metal echoed, and more glass shattered as someone crawled out from the wreckage.

“Hold still, fiera mika,” Fane said into my mind as Barric’s hold on my throat tightened. “If you move, he could cut you too deeply, and you’re already bleeding too much.”

As if Barric knew exactly how precarious my state was, a smile hitched the edges of his lips, sending my pulse racing. Would he really kill me and risk Fane’s wrath?

A faint whistle suddenly hit the air, and moments later, Barric staggered back, his claws falling from my throat.

“What the fuck?” He snarled at the arrow protruding from his shoulder.

My head snapped to the far right of the lab where Nik loaded his crossbow with another arrow.

A silver-tipped arrow.

Barric jumped, but Nik was the head of Ruin’s security team for a reason and anticipated the alpha’s move. The arrow struck Barric in the back, shooting through his chest. He staggered toward the other side of the lab for the stairs to escape.

But the silver permeating his bloodstream already impaired his movements. He fell to his knees and then collapsed on the white tiles.

Barric wasn’t dead, but if the arrows were left in, he would be.

Fane rushed to my side, his nostrils flaring as he realized just how much blood I’d lost. I was practically swimming in it. “You’re going to be fine.” His words came out in quick bursts, attempting to hide the worry curling around each syllable. He didn’t even hesitate to take away my pain, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

“The Infernal Sol…” My gaze drifted back to the amulet as it lay a few feet from Barric, Nik wrapping him in silver chains. I’d like to think the dux demon was doing it on my behalf, but it was most likely because Barric had killed Nadia.

“I know the amulet is out of you.” Fane found a few towels in a drawer and pressed them to my stomach. “I felt it.”

Did he also feel how much I wanted it back?

I licked my dry lips as Fane easily tore off the binds chaining me to the metal table. “Maybe it would heal me?—”

“Logan, help me!” he yelled as the high demon appeared in the lab, having entered through the door leading to Ruin’s secret lab.

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