Chapter 26

Chapter

Twenty-Six

The demon shifter forced me through a maze of back hallways as the rage pummeling him intensified. He wanted to kill me. He longed for it, actually.

But could my beautiful beast really rip the last breath from my lungs?

Once he shoved me through an exterior door, Fane dragged me into an alley and slammed me into the wall of Venna's mansion so hard stars burst in my vision.

"I am going to kill you." His teeth elongated, and black talons grew from his fingers. "I've waited long enough."

"Then you better go ahead. When Venna notices I'm gone, she'll send the cavalry after me."

Fane's talons pressed into my throat, drawing blood but barely splitting the skin. His lips curled back as he snarled. "I'm just—" He shook his head. "This is for my brother. You deserve to die."

He couldn't do it. I saw it in those glowing eyes. Confusion too. He didn't understand why he couldn't kill the creature that took his brother's life.

My fingers twisted around his, and I drew his hand away from my neck, blood dripping onto my chest. "You can't kill me, beast. You never could. And it has nothing to do with the Infernal Sol."

Fane yanked out of my grip and stepped back, his nostrils flaring. "I don't know what the fuck is wrong with me."

"It's the bond." I rubbed the tattoo on my neck, and his head jerked in my direction as if he felt it. "No matter how much you think you hate me, you don't."

His shoulders swelled, and the tattoos on his arms trembled as his demon wolf neared the surface. "I will kill you. Just give me time."

"Time is not something either of us have. When Venna finds out you tried to kill me, she'll never allow you around me alone again."

He moved so fast I gasped as he slapped his hands on either side of my head, his body crushing mine. "Run. And when my head is clear, I'll hunt you down and take my revenge."

That sounded like a fun game.

"I'll run, and you'll chase me, but my death won't follow when you catch me." I slowly lifted my hands and cradled his face, lowering it toward mine. "I only submitted to the demon princess's demands because she threatened your life."

My words hit Fane with a surge of confusion, and I took the chance to press my lips to his, savoring his tangy, cinnamon flavor. While he was distracted, I shoved him off and sprinted down the alley.

"I'll be eagerly waiting for you to hunt me down."

I kicked those uncomfortable heels off and ran through the cobblestone streets toward the exit of Vlehull. The portal to Earth was just beyond the forest surrounding the city. I'd be free once I got through and stepped into Bonaventure Cemetery.

The energy from consuming fears and demon life forces still buzzed within me, pumping adrenaline through my limbs. The Infernal Sol vibrated, happy and willing to take full control at the tiniest sign of my submission.

Not yet. I barely had any say in my actions now. The other me was in charge while the level-headed me drifted in the background, hoping I didn't do anything stupid.

A presence emerged, so I stopped and pressed against the wall of a dilapidated stone building, slowing my breaths. That evil royal bitch could have already sent guards after me. Maybe Mykel was around the corner. I'd love to see that huge prick writhing on the ground as his fears enveloped him.

Faint, almost silent footsteps scraped the cobblestones, and I peered around the edge of the building as a dux demon with spikes running down his arms slipped through the shadows.

Something about him was familiar. I knew him.

How did I know him?

More spikes ran down the center of his head, and the crimson streetlights darkened his bronze skin. He didn't work for Venna.

He worked for…

Ruin .

As the demon approached, I snatched his wrist, my fingers barely fitting around it. "What are you doing here?"

"Tate! We've been searching Vlehull for you for days." His bulky shoulders loosened as he heaved a sigh of relief. "Ruin will be happy you're okay."

"Okay? Do I look okay?" I tugged on the lace material of the revealing dress.

The dux demon—I couldn't remember his name—examined me, arching one eyebrow. "Were you at a party?"

"Ding ding." I spun and swayed, recalling my fear feast. "I had so many delicious meals. They screamed and cried as I fed. Such pretty torment while they thrashed and begged."

He took a step back. "I thought you were being held captive by Venna."

"Oh, I was." I shortened the distance between us again, my neck craning back to stare into his face. "She locked me up but invited me to be her special guest at a party. I cracked open their skulls and pulled out their tasty terrors." I licked my lips. "I even sucked on their life. I didn't know I could do that to demons."

Some of the color drained from his cheeks. "Neither did I." He widened the gap between us and reached into his pocket to pull out a phone. "I'm going to call Ru?—"

I snatched the phone from his hand, tossed it on the ground, and squeezed his jaw in an unrelenting grip. "Not so fast. You're someone I know but not someone I can remember. Maybe if I peek at what ails you, I can discover if you're friend or foe." A twisted laugh poured out of my mouth. "And if not, no matter. I can still sink my teeth into the monsters that haunt you. "

He grabbed my wrist and yanked my hand off his jaw. "Tate, don't make me hurt you."

"You? Hurt me?" My head tilted. "How na?ve. The power in me would swallow you whole." The Infernal Sol scratched at the surface, wanting to play with the demon.

"You don't want to do this, Tate. You know me. I'm Nik, remember?"

"Hmm. Nik." His name curled over my tongue, but I still longed to hear him scream. As I burrowed into his mind, his gasp echoed through the deserted street. Just as a memory emerged, I was ripped away.

"Get off me," I hissed, my voice not my own.

The tall, tattooed high demon loomed in front of me, those burning blue eyes full of worry. "What are you doing, Tate? That's Nik."

Nik staggered back and leaned against the wall. "I don't think we're dealing with Tate right now." He wiped a layer of sweat off his forehead.

"Definitely not." The high demon jammed his fingers through unruly navy locks.

"I remember you, Ruin." He'd been covered in blood when I fought at his house before Venna took Fane and me captive.

He reached for my shoulders and drew me toward him. "Push the Infernal Sol back. I need you in control."

"I am in control." I ran my fingers down his throat and licked my lips. "I only wanted to see what Nik was afraid of. Maybe you'll let me glimpse your fears, Lord of Savannah."

Before I could establish a connection with Ruin, he snatched my wrist, and a warning growl vibrated his chest. "That's definitely not something you want to see."

A thrill zipped through me. "Would your sneaky, two-faced brother be in there?"

Shadows crawled over his expression at the mention of his not-so-dead twin. Maybe Wrath did have a place in Ruin's fears.

"You'd regret seeing the terrible things in my mind," the demon lord said.

"Now I'm really intrigued. Did you know I can suck on demon life forces as if they had souls?"

His head snapped back. "That's interesting."

"Perhaps I can take a taste of yours. I bet it's yummy." My gaze bored into his as the dark power rose in me, drawing him in. "Just a tiny sip."

He leaned forward, his stare glazing over. The edges of my lips curved into a smile, and the amulet purred at how easily this high demon bowed under my influence.

See how much better things are when you let me have control.

Ruin released me, and my hand slinked around the back of his neck, directing his mouth toward mine. Nik called his name, but the demon lord was too preoccupied to notice. I felt within him and pulled at his life when he suddenly shoved me away.

"Nice try, Tate." Ruin shook his head. "I see you have lots of tricks up your little sleeve."

"So close." I could probably work on him.

Nik made his way to Ruin, keeping several feet between us. "We need to get out of here. Venna's guards will be combing Vlehull for her."

Ruin nodded and then turned to me. "How did you escape?" He scrutinized my scandalous outfit. "Why are you dressed like that? Not that I'm complaining."

"Fane helped me."

His lips pursed as he chewed on my words. "Wasn't he the one who abducted you?"

"Venna wouldn't let him kill me because she wants the Infernal Sol. He snatched me out of the party to extinguish my life, but he couldn't do it." I laughed and fell back, forcing Ruin to catch me. "My beast can't hurt me. Not really. So he set me free instead."

"I expected her to be in chains and all beat up and bloody." A beautiful high demon emerged from the shadows, his golden-brown hair curling around his striking face. "You clean up nice, roomie."

I tilted my head to analyze him, still reclined in Ruin's arms. "I remember you, pretty demon."

A smile tipped the edges of his lips. "Someone's had a dose of sunshine today."

"Or fear," Nik mumbled under his breath.

"I see." Logan grinned. "I don't know how you got away from Venna, but I'm glad you did. We'll have you feeling like yourself in no time."

I stuck my tongue out at him. "I like how I feel now."

"I'm sure you do." Ruin righted me so I stood on my feet. "Kesandra and Nadia are already in Savannah. We need to get Tate back to my domain as soon as possible. She won't be safe until then."

Nik started off ahead of us. "I'll lead the way."

As soon as we stepped through the portal into Bonaventure Cemetery, a chaotic scene unfolded. And I loved it.

Three dux demons fought a human dressed in all black, wielding a sword. Blood leaked down a split in his lip and more coated his knuckles. My flesh puckered as manic energy infiltrated the air.

The demons weren't of sound mind. Confusion flickered behind the rage in their eyes, and I felt their hectic thoughts pulsing around them.

"Roxie, where are you?" The guy ducked and then slammed his fist into a demon's torso.

No. He wasn't exactly human. A spell made him stronger and faster.

A raven.

I used to be one.

"Why are they attacking ravens?" Logan asked as he flanked my other side. "It's against the accords."

"They aren't all there." I pointed to my temple. "Something has reached in and scrambled their thoughts."

Nik arched his eyebrow at me. "Have you been on Earth lately?"

"They would be much worse if I did this." Instead of fighting, they'd run for their lives or curl into a ball to escape their fears.

As Ruin's expression hardened and a luminescent glow eclipsed his irises, power throbbed around him. "Logan, Nik, help me detain them."

The three demons jogged toward the melee while I leaned against the deformed tree with macabre faces protruding from the knots. I'd probably make things worse if I intervened. The Infernal Sol craved more fears.

My gaze traveled over the cemetery and landed on a tree as a memory overwhelmed me. Fane had kissed me against it, his mouth and hands so demanding I'd almost lost all sense of control. If Ruin hadn't interrupted us, I would have let him screw me right against the trunk.

A body slammed into mine, tackling me to the cushy ground and shattering the memory.

"I knew you savages—" The man's voice cut off, his mouth hanging open. "Tate?" Brown eyes penetrated mine as waves of dark blond hair hung in his face. A familiar face.

I reached up and stroked his jaw, the stubble rough on my fingers. "Strawberry Shortcake," I whispered. He used to call me that.

Before he tossed me aside.

Lines creased his forehead. "What's wrong with you? I mean, besides the obvious part about turning into a shifter."

A manic giggle slipped out, and my pupils thinned. "I'm much more than a shifter, handsome human."

I bet his soul tastes like maple syrup.

"L-Lord Ruin Bacchus?"

I tilted my head at the feminine voice, and a flood of rage pummeled my system when I met that deceptively angelic blue stare. A growl clawed up my throat, and the man above me flinched.

The woman's attention shifted in my direction. "Tate?" A dramatic scowl pulled at her lips as she scrutinized me with so much disgust I was surprised she didn't puke. "What are you doing, Hawk? That's not your friend anymore."

I couldn't remember how I knew this woman, but the hatred in my veins didn't care. I wanted to crack her skull open and pull out her fears. Maybe taste her soul too.

A rush of adrenaline hit me, and I kicked the guy off. I shot to my feet, lunged toward her, and slammed her against a tree.

"I'm going to enjoy killing you."