Page 104 of Those That Defy the Realm

He can’t know the truth about me. If he finds out, I’ll be thrown into one of those cells along with the others. I have to stay free.

Stepping silently in the other direction, I move further along the wall, before peeling away from it entirely and breaking into a jog. I don’t get far, however, as the hallway ends with a door that’s locked. I risk trying one slightly further back, one with a label above it stating it as E unit. It’s unlocked.

Forgetting my earlier trepidation about entering another cell block, I move into this one quickly. Once again, there is no place to hide, and all the cell doors seem locked. Each is thankfully empty, until I hit the one at the end. Sitting with her back against the wall, her hands resting on bent knees is my best friend.

“Claire?” she gasps in surprise.

“Shhh!” I hush her.

She jumps up and comes to the bars. “How are you free? Can you let me out?”

“Please be quiet,” I plead. I was correct to assume the fangs would affect my speech as it comes out a little slurred.

Bree’s eyes widen as she takes in my newly turned status.

The door to the exit of the cell unit slams open.

“Claire! Why did you run from me?” Declan’s frame appears in the doorway, his voice a mix of confusion and anger.

I zip my lips and will my canines to retract. They don’t listen to me, remaining long and deadly. And a death sentence for me if Declan sees them.

Weighing my options, I simply shrug at my ex and shrink away from Bree, trying to protect her from him in some small way.

“Claire, baby. It’s only me. I know what you saw was very scary but trust me, those vampires won’t be able to touch you ever again. You don’t need to run.”

He walks over, holding out his hand like he expects me to take it. My eyes study his outstretched hand. There are more callouses across his palm than there were before and a small scar etched across the top of his pinky finger.

The veins in his wrist pop against his skin as they disappear under the cuff of his uniform. My mouth waters at the thought of tearing them open, drinking down the red liquid contained within. I don’t reach for him, I can’t. If I touch him, I’ll bite him.

Shaking my head with vigour, I step back, only to find a wall at my back.

“Leave her alone, asshole,” Bree shouts.

Declan’s hand doesn’t drop but his head turns to look into the cell which holds Bree. She’s standing at the bars, hands on her hips and a stern look on her face, eyes narrowed.

“Bree, it would do you good to keep quiet. I’m the only one vouching for you, you know. I’m the reason you’re being tested as opposed to being put down like the scum you were found with.”

“Those males are far better men than you’ll ever be.” Bree continues to antagonise my ex.

“What did you tell her?” Declan’s eyes land on me once more.

My limbs go numb at the anger in his eyes. Even now my body reacts to him how it always did. He never physically hurt me, but his anger always sent cold shivers down my spine. No matter what had irritated him, I had been expected to apologise, to soothe him, and do whatever he wanted until he felt better.

“I—” I start to say but quickly remember why I can’t talk. It’s too late though, Declan’s eyes widen before narrowing as his eyebrows sink with angry realisation.

“You’ve been lying to me again.” He shoots forward, hand wrapping around my throat. I probably could force him off but I’m too shocked that he’s attacking me to react quickly. “I’ve laid my career on the line to protect you and this is how you repay me?” Declan snarls in my face.

My hands find purchase on his arm, pushing him back and trying to get some much-needed oxygen into my lungs. Succeeding enough to lighten the weight he’s leaning into me with, I manage to inhale, although his fingertips dig into my skin hard.

Around me, Bree is kicking up a storm, slamming the bars and shouting curse after curse, trying to cause a distraction, or simply letting her anger out at not being able to come to my aid.

“No.” I look into Declan’s malicious gaze. “This is you repaying me for all you put me through. This was you giving me a chance to rescue the best thing that’s ever happened to me, one of them at least.”

“You mean you’re fucking one of them?” Declan’s face turns red as his anger amps up.

“No.” A male shoots into view from behind Declan and growls in his ear, “I’m her mate.”

I weep at the sight of Henry as he towers over my ex, his eyes meeting mine in a look I’ll remember for as long as I’ll live. It’s a relief so potent I can almost taste it, love so strong that it colours the air.