Savage Fate (Den of Shadows #5)

Chapter 32

Chapter

Thirty-Two

A blood-curdling scream burst out of my own mouth as I returned to my body. I fought the arms surrounding me, fear still penetrating my very soul.

“Tate! It’s me.”

They tightened the more I bucked.

“It’s me. Fane.”

My shrieks faded, but my mind wouldn’t release the sensations and pain I’d experienced in the vision. It had felt so damn real. My hands frantically searched my chest for stab wounds.

Was my heart still there?

“Tate, it was a vision.” Fane’s gruff voice, full of worry, tried to comfort me. “You’re safe. I promise.”

“But they’re not,” I muttered, my gaze landing on Saint, who kneeled a few feet away. Somehow, I’d ended up on the floor in Camus’s meeting room.

The blood drained from Saint’s cheeks. “What did you see?”

“He cut out their hearts.” A hot tear brimmed over. “Bonnie and Josh.”

Saint fell back on his ass, his expression stricken. “Are you sure? Could it have been their future? Maybe we have time to save them.”

I shook my head, my bottom lip trembling. This horrific event had already occurred. I felt it in my bones. “It’s too late for them.” My blood boiled hot as the last few moments returned. “But that’s not the worst of it.”

Fane pulled me into him as he felt tremors overtake me. “What did you see?”

“It’s not the Nosterium—or demons at all—doing this.” I angrily wiped the moisture from my face. “It’s The Collective Hunt.”

A ripple of curses and growls echoed from the council members.

“That doesn’t make sense.”

“Why would shifters run around in cloaks and masks?”

“Why would they cut out hearts?”

Camus kneeled on my other side, a gold sheen spilling into his irises as his wolf scratched at the surface. “Are you sure?”

“Barric took the mask off as he was cutting out my—Josh’s—heart.”

Fane flinched when he realized I’d suffered the horror through Josh’s eyes and had felt all his agony.

“Why all these demonic-like rituals?” Camus asked. “None of this sounds like shifter behavior, not even for psychopaths like The Collective.”

This had everything to do with the Infernal Sol. I didn’t even need to say the words in Fane’s mind for him to know what I was thinking. Even Saint knew.

For a moment, I thought Saint would blurt out the truth in his grief, but his lips formed a tight line, keeping my secret.

For now.

Acid suddenly shot up my throat, and I scrambled off the floor, making a mad dash for the bathroom. I slammed the door shut, and my knees hit the tiles moments before my stomach emptied into the toilet.

Sweat beaded my forehead, and the small room spun.

I’d been living the last fearful moments of these shifters’ lives as The Collective Hunt chased and tortured them. They weren’t just killing them. They were mutilating them and cutting out their hearts.

What was Barric’s endgame? Why would he perform demonic rituals?

The door opened, and I groaned as Fane’s presence descended over my back. I flushed the toilet so he didn’t see the disgusting crap, but he could no doubt smell it.

“Why can’t you just leave me alone while my head is stuck in the toilet?”

Fane grabbed a hand towel off the counter, wet it, and kneeled behind me. “It’s my nature to be stuck up your ass when you’re not feeling well.” Fane drew my hair back and pressed the cold, damp cloth to my neck. “There’s no getting rid of me.”

I leaned into his touch. “So I noticed. I guess we’re the same in that way.”

He stood and filled a paper cup with water, passing it to me. I rinsed my mouth, but it wasn’t enough to wash the foul taste away. Knowing what I needed—as usual—Fane filled the cup with mouthwash.

“Thank you,” I muttered before swishing, spitting it into the toilet, and flushing again. I closed the lid and leaned my forehead on the cold porcelain.

Fane placed the rag on my neck and gently stroked my back. I wanted to curl into a ball and pass out, but there was no time. Now that I’d finally seen the monsters behind the masks, I couldn’t allow these shifters to die in vain.

We had to do something.

“Barric had the Infernal Sol around his neck,” I murmured.

Seeing the amulet again, even in a vision, had heat pumping through my bloodstream. The urge to feel that menacing power twisting around me intensified.

Fuck.

I wanted to inhale delicious fear and make an entire room erupt in chaos.

“There’s no telling what kind of effect the demon amulet has on him,” Fane said, yanking me out of my dangerous thoughts. “It has to be the reason he’s gone quasi-demon, but what kind of ritual is he actually performing and why?”

A knock rapped on the door, and Saint’s head popped in, which earned a low grumble from Fane. “I brought some water. Can I come in?” He didn’t wait for us to respond and entered, closing the door behind him.

I took the glass with shaky hands, nearly spilling it as I brought it to my mouth. The cold water soothed my raw throat. “I’m sorry about Bonnie and Josh,” I muttered.

He sat on the ground across from us. “It’s not your fault. Don’t shoulder that blame.”

“She has a tendency to do that,” Fane said.

If I’d had more energy, I would have flipped him off.

Saint jammed his fingers through his dark locks, worry streaking his gaze. “This doesn’t sound like the same group that almost killed my mother. This is full-on demon cult shit. And why are demons dropping off the bodies or at least found near them?”

“And why are sub-demons showing up around shifter packs?” Fane asked.

“It’s got to be the Infernal Sol’s influence, at least on Barric.” I rubbed my temples as a headache formed. “I know how twisted the amulet’s power is. It made me do unthinkable things.” I’d sucked down the life essence of a couple demons, including Mykel.

Dizziness hit me, and I closed my eyes, groaning as the bathroom spun. I hoped I didn’t start puking my guts out again. Fane vanished from my side, and a protest was on the tip of my tongue when his warmth returned.

It took me a few seconds to realize the body snuggling mine wasn’t Fane.

My eyelids snapped open as Saint settled beside me and pulled my hand into his lap. The dizziness faded.

“What the hell are you doing?” I turned to find Fane standing at the sink, rewetting the cloth, his shoulders so tight they threatened to tear right out of his long-sleeved Henley.

“I’m just making sure you’re okay.” Saint gave a weird smile that didn’t reach his eyes. He lifted the glass and passed it to me. “Have some more water.”

I took a few sips and set it down as Fane kneeled on the ground in front of me to lay the rag back on my neck. “What are you two doing?” I asked through our mental link. “And don’t act like Saint sitting next to me, holding my hand, isn’t weird.”

“We’re just helping you,” Fane said. “That’s all.”

Their odd behavior was almost enough to distract me from the wicked voice suddenly whispering in my mind.

You miss me. Don’t you want to come find me?

Seeing the Infernal Sol up close and personal in the vision had reignited the cravings, and the urge to find Barric and steal it burned through me with renewed vigor.

“I’m honored you asked me on this recon mission, Strawberry Shortcake,” Hawk said over the thundering music in Wrath & Ruin. “I’m surprised you didn’t invite your new best friend, Saint.”

I shot him an incredulous look. “What are you talking about?”

“Even Fane lets the guy hang around you without scowling and growling now.”

“That’s not true.”

“Well, he still scowls.” Hawk flashed a grin as we pushed deeper into the club.

After getting sick at Camus’s, Fane had taken me home while Saint accompanied us. Saint had stayed the night, and I was pretty sure I’d felt his overwhelming sadness for the loss of his pack members. He was taking it hard.

But in the last week, the Blackwater Falls alpha had been back to Mohan Wilds twice. Not to visit Camus but to see me. And Fane didn’t seem to have a problem with it.

I would have been more suspicious if I hadn’t been so distracted by the Infernal Sol.

My body ached to have the stone back inside of me, where it belonged.

I shoved my trembling hands into my pockets before Hawk noticed. Maybe a drink would take the edge off.

A dark voice in my head laughed.

Nothing will ease your insatiable hunger except me.

I hated the demon amulet as much as I wanted it back.

“I hope Wrath can give us some information,” Hawk said. “He’s got to know more about this demon amulet than most. His brother was totally obsessed with it.”

Fane left Mohan Wilds to track down a lead on the demon rituals The Collective was performing while Hawk and I paid Wrath a visit.

“Let’s go find him.” I grabbed Hawk’s hand and towed him toward a door leading to a private balcony where Ruin used to perch and watch the dance floor.

Colorful lights reflected off slick tables, glistening geodes decorating the walls, and numerous waterfalls. The club’s cave-like décor was like no other. The place was fascinating and a little creepy. What had inspired Ruin to create this concept?

I probably didn’t want to know.

When we reached the door, a familiar silver-haired demon appeared in front of it, his jaw dropping at my appearance.

“Who the hell let you in here?” I snarled.

Perry, Ruin’s assistant, showed his palms. “Logan and Wrath let me stay.”

“Bullshit!” My talons pushed against my fingertips. “You helped Ruin torture shifters and demons. And you lied to all of us about it.”

The high demon shook his head. “I didn’t have a choice. Ruin would have killed me if I spilled his secrets.” He gave a one-shoulder shrug. “Who do you think gave Wrath access to the other lab and distracted Ruin so you could uncover the truth?”

Hawk crossed his arms and glared at the demon guarding the door. “Is Wrath up there?”

When Perry nodded, I pushed past him, opened the door, and bolted up the narrow flight of stairs with Hawk on my tail. Before my claustrophobia could suffocate me, we busted into the lounge where I first fought Venna.

Such lovely memories.

Logan and Wrath stood by the small bar, their expressions tense while they hovered over a tablet. It only took a few moments for them to notice us.

A smile broke over Logan’s face. “Roomie!” He met me in the center of the room and pulled me into a bear hug so tight I could hardly breathe. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

“I’m always glad to see you.” My voice was muffled in his chest. “But you’re going to have to let me go so I can breathe.”

He withdrew and allowed me to untangle from his embrace. “Fane told us you were coming.” He nodded toward Hawk. “And how’s my favorite raven? Get that fiery Mina on a date yet?”

Hawk grinned. “It’s only a matter of time.”

Wrath set the tablet down and strode behind the small bar, where bottles clinked as he whipped up some drinks. “Thank you for the interruption. I couldn’t take much more of Logan’s incessant nagging.”

The other high demon flipped him off. “You say nagging. I say helping.” He turned to me. “I want to create my own version of Soulvation but with consent from everyone involved.”

My smile vanished. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea, Logan. Plus, you don’t have the Infernal Sol, and neither do I.”

“But I already have some samples of your soul when you had the amulet and all of Ruin’s research.” His eyes grew wild with excitement, but something else was also there. Hope. “I’m an alchemist and a damn good one. I have to at least try.”

“I doubt you’ll find any willing shifters to offer up a sample of their soul.” Wrath passed Hawk and me colorful cocktails, jalapenos dancing in the bottom of mine. “And you’d have to find demons willing to be kept under observation for an extended period.”

Hawk sipped his drink. “It definitely sounds like an uphill battle. But if it leads to demons coexisting safely with humans, I’m on board. The ravens would back this.”

Logan playfully poked Hawk’s shoulder. “Thank you. I knew there was a reason I liked you other than your sexy boy-next-door looks.”

The raven fluttered his lashes. “I am quite a handsome specimen.”

“You two are the biggest flirts,” Wrath said as he rounded the bar. “I’d like to conduct an experiment to see who could pick up the most numbers in my club one night.”

“Me!”

I snorted on a laugh as Hawk and Logan simultaneously shouted.

Wrath reached his arm around my shoulders and clinked his glass against mine. “You and I are really the hottest.”

“Of course.”

“Now, let’s discuss why you’re here as these two bicker over who’s the smoothest pickup artist.” He pulled me toward a tall cocktail table, grimacing. “Fane got me up to speed on your latest vision. The Collective Hunt has definitely taken a page from the demon handbook.”

I set my glass on the table. “Could the Infernal Sol drive them to do this? Could it change them? Make them darker?”

Wrath rubbed his chin. “The amulet has been known to cause psychosis, but I’ve never heard of it influencing shifters to act like demons.”

“What about controlling demons?” I tapped my fingers on the glossy surface of the table. “Could it allow Barric to manipulate demons into doing his dirty work?”

There had to be a reason sub-demons were hanging around shifter territories and why demons were dropping off The Collective’s discarded sacrifices.

The lights bounced over Wrath’s blue eyes as he pensively stared off into space. “Sub-demons are more like wild animals and hard to control. Dux demons would fight any sort of control tooth and claw.” He dragged his hand through his blue hair. “The Collective could be paying dux demons, though. They don’t mind collecting coin or other forms of payments for jobs.”

“Other forms of payment?” Was Barric letting them suck on shifter souls before killing them?

My jaw clenched so hard my teeth threatened to crack. This was all because of the Infernal Sol. If Barric hadn’t taken it, The Collective would probably be hiding in the shadows and licking their wounds after we outed them.

Instead, they became an even bigger threat, and we had no idea what they were capable of or what they were planning.

All because of that damn amulet.

Oh, don’t be bitter, Tate. You know you want me back.

I jammed my fingers into my hair as the voice continued to torment me. It had barely left me alone since that vision at Camus’s.

The lounge suddenly blurred out of focus, and as the vision pulled me under, a chill skated down my back and unease twisted in my gut at what was to come…

I stood in a dimly lit room with shining black walls and the scent of blood choking the air.

But when I looked down at my body and inspected my hands, they were my own. This wasn’t a fear vision.

Plus, my heart wasn’t pounding nor were adrenaline and terror pumping through my veins.

So where the hell was I?

Indecipherable whispers spun around the room even though no one else was there, not that I could see.

My brow furrowed. Actually, I couldn’t see much at all.

Shadows covered half of the room, and the other half held nothing but a table and a small decorative chest.

A heartbeat joined the array of whispers.

Thump-thump. Thump-thump.

It came from the chest.

Before I made a conscious decision to move, my feet carried me toward the table, and I reached my trembling hand out to lift the chest’s lid.

Thump-thump. Thump-thump.

All the moisture zapped from my mouth, and anticipation pulsated around me.

I knew what I’d find.

It called to me like a beacon of delicious, intoxicating evil that wanted to infect my veins again.

My lips curled in a savage grin. I wanted that power back.

I flipped open the lid, and the glimmering crimson stone, set in a golden sun medallion, was nestled in black velvet.

That’s right, Tatum. Here I am. And I’m all yours for the taking.