I looked down at my boyfriend to find that none of the Gage I knew and loved was left. There was no more man. He was completely lost to the beast. He’d fully shifted.
“I own him now. He’s mine,” Apollyon said with a sadistic grin, waving Gage forward like you would command a pet. Gage moved to go toward him, but I reached out and grasped his fur to stop him. His animal head whipped around, teeth bared, and he snarled at me. I didn’t see an ounce of recognition in his yellow hellhound eyes.
Shocked, I let go with a yelp, and Gage walked on all fours through the portal and into the Netherworld to his new master. In that moment my soul shattered.
This isn’t happening.
It was like Drea, Dash, and I had one mind in that moment. We all burst forward collectively, intending to pull Gage back. I lashed out with my magic, trying to keep the portal open, but it was no use. Apollyon flicked his wrist, a shockwave burst outward; Drea, Dash, and I were thrown off our feet, and the portal snapped shut before we hit the floor, landing in a heap. My shoulder was still injured, and the hit caused fresh pain to shoot up my elbow.
How the hell was Apollyon able to make a portal on school grounds? But then I gasped, remembering Aurelia had been injured because a group of Shades had stolen the relic that was supposed to strengthen the wards ensuring no one could open a portal on campus with dark magic. We still had our regular wards, but Apollyon must be too powerful for them now. I couldn’t help but think that I had done this by breaking the spell that weakened him.
The cafeteria went into panic mode. Students and teachers ran in and out, yelling commands and pulling weapons off their tattoos. Indigo was crying and the sound made my heart hurt.
I stood, my heart pounding in my chest as my hands shook.
Gage is a hellhound. Apollyon controlled him like a master controlled a dog.
A sob ripped from my lips, and I fell to my knees crying.
No. No. No. This wasn’t fair. Not Gage.
Holding my hands together, I pulled on my power, the purple magic forming a ball between my palms. I wasn’t going to let Apollyon take him like that. I was going after him like I did my mom. We would figure the whole beast shifter thing out later.
“Tatum, no.” Dash fell to his knees before me, agony in his gaze.
“Move!” I growled.
The portal was already opening behind him. I didn’t need a cemetery right now. I didn’t need Indigo. I was never more powerful than I felt in this moment. Gage was mine. Not his.Mine!
Dash reached up and grabbed my shoulders, squeezing so hard that I hissed, and I met his gaze.
“Listen to me, Tatum. My uncle told me that once they are lost fully to the beast they don’t recognize family. Gage would rip you in two right now. Youhaveto let him go.”
My power left me in that moment and the purple magic in my hands sputtered to nothing as I looked at Dash in desperation. “No, Gage promised he would never hurt me when he was like that. I can find him and—”
“He’s right,” Skye’s voice came from over my shoulder. “Gage isn’t Gage anymore.”
Those were the final words that broke me.
Gage isn’t Gage anymore.
What were they saying? Leave him there?
“I can’t leave him like that,” I told Dash.
Dash nodded. “It’s only twenty-four hours. He’ll be back and in his human form by tomorrow night. Trust me.”
I looked in Dash’s eyes, needing someone to be held accountable. “If he’s not, I’ll tear this world and every other one apart looking for him.”
Dash swallowed hard and nodded.
* * *
The next twenty-four hours were literal Hell on Earth. I didn’t eat, I didn’t sleep, I did nothing but envision Gage snarling at me and then walking to Apollyon on all fours. I was pacing the garden with the Angel Gang plus Indigo exactly twenty-four hours later.
And nothing happened.
“Maybe we need to be in the cafeteria. Maybe he’ll show back up there,” I said, consulting my watch.
