Page 41 of Savage Claim

“What about that royal, Princess Venna?” Kortney asked from my other side. “She seems like the type to concoct a nefarious plan.”

Tasha, the gorgeous Amazonian and Kortney’s best friend, nodded next to her. “She sent her minions to capture Kort to get to Tate all because she killed her sister?” She shook her head, her blond waves dancing around her shoulders. “I’m not buying it. I think the princess has other plans. Maybe that was just a distraction for something else.”

Barric swiveled in his seat, his brow arching in my direction.

Shit. I was hoping no one would mention that little incident during the meeting.

He took a deep, calming breath and turned back around, shaking his head. Jax smirked at me and mouthed, “You’re in trouble.”

“Barric is going to give me a full-time guard or lock me in my damn room,” I muttered to Fane through our link.

He snorted. “I doubt he’ll lock you up, but the guard is a real possibility.”

“From what I know, Venna is a petty royal who bounces from one thing to another,” Coltrane said, stopping my spiraling thoughts. “She’s never had any real aspirations other than taking control of Vlehull, and even that she’s abandoned.”

After scribbling a few notes while ignoring Roxie’s attempts to steal his attention, Hawk cleared his throat. “Venna and her sidekick, that giant dux demon, have been causing enough trouble to warrant further investigation. I’ve followed them and witnessed their damage. They have no regard for human life or other nightworlders.”

Coltrane shook her head and turned to the board to write something, disregarding her nephew’s concerns. An angry flush crept all the way to the tips of his ears.

“The culprit behind the disappearing shifters is someone in a higher seat of power here in Savannah. The high demon lord is cunning, calculating, intelligent, and extremely dangerous.” Coltrane wrote his name on the board and circled it. “Lord Ruin Bacchus has the means to pull off something as widespread and large as abducting and possibly killing shifters across the entire state of Georgia.”

“Why are you so quick to blame Ruin?” I blurted as hot anger inundated my bloodstream.

Her dark eyes narrowed. “Why are you so quick to defend Lord Ruin? How well do you know him, Tate?”

“Well enough to know he’s not involved in this.” My talons threatened to burst through my fingertips, so I dragged my hands into my lap.

As every raven’s heavy stare weighed on me, Coltrane sneered. “I’ve known the high demon lord longer than you have, but it seems like his charms have clouded your judgment. Perhaps you’re too close to see the truth. I’ve heard many men and women defend him over the years after falling into his bed.”

Flames rushed into my cheeks at her insinuation, and I shot to my feet. “I’m not sleeping with Ruin.”

“Captain Coltrane,” Barric warned, his broad shoulders stiffening under his red-and-blue flannel. “Don’t be disrespectful to one of my wolves.”

She gave a noncommittal shrug as the tension in the air swelled. “She’s not in your pack, Alpha Barric. There’s no need to defend her honor.”

I couldn’t believe this was the same woman I’d idolized for years, the same woman who treated me like family and taught me to become a top-notch fighter. She was nothing but a bitter, closed-minded, cynical jerk.

“Keep talking to her like that, and I’ll remind you of how much power you don’t have, Captain.” The voice coming out of Fane wasn’t a growl or a yell but a low cadence that pulsated with power. He didn’t even need to stand to be the most intimidating creature in the room, and the head alpha was a few seats away.

The raven captain cocked her head, nervously crossing her arms against her chest. She was definitely afraid of Fane, but she refused to back down. “Don’t get angry with me because the girl you turned into a shifter has interests in another nightworlder. She clearly isn’t loyal to you.”

My jaw dropped. Coltrane might as well have called me a slut.

A bone-chilling laugh rumbled out of Fane, and everyone in the room leaned away from him except me. “Tate is loyal to those who earn it. Ruin has earned it, and not with tricks in the bedroom.” Fane slowly rose to his feet, the power surrounding him choking the room. “She isn’t just some girl I bit either. She’s a warrior who you once considered the best. Don’t belittle her because she’s become something you will never understand. And I can smell the fucking jealousy all over you.”

Her head snapped back as if he’d slapped her. “Jealousy? Why would I ever be jealous of a creature like her?”

“That’s enough.” Barric slammed his hand against the table he and Jax were at, rattling phones and water bottles. “We’re on your turf, Captain Coltrane, but I won’t stand for you insulting a shifter under my care.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t have brought her, considering her connection with the ravens.” The captain turned her back and set the maker on the shelf beneath the whiteboard.

“That’s the reason I brought her,” Barric said. “Most of you know Tate and how much she fought for your cause. She nearly died for it and was turned into a shifter to save her life. How can you treat her with such blatant disrespect?”

My throat tightened, and unshed tears burned my eyes. It was so strange that the people I thought were my family for years were the ones bashing me while nightworlders defended me. Fane wanted to kill me, and part of him despised me for my role in his brother’s death, but he wouldn’t let Coltrane insult me. And Barric? He could very well be a closet racist who might have something to do with the missing shifters, and he still defended me.

“I need some air.” I marched toward the door, catching Gia’s gaze. She looked torn, sympathetic even. But she didn’t stand up for me or follow.

Fane did.

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