Page 6 of Claimed

Lucien nods silently.

“And you took it upon yourself to become what? My protector? My guardian angel?”

Lucien bites his lower lip. “Honestly?”

“Yes, please.” I raise my eyebrows at him.

“Honestly, in the beginning, I didn’t know if I was protecting you or protecting everyone else from you.”

I blink at him. “And now?”

“Now maybe it’s both.” He gestures to the space between us. “May I?”

I nod. Just a small nod.

Lucien crosses the room quietly. “Luna, I know I haven’t handled this the right way. But I don’t know what the right way would have been. As I watched you, I fell in love with you. And part of what’s been so difficult about this all,” he waves his hand at our surroundings, “is that I didn’t know if I was keeping you here to find out who you really are or for myself. Because I want you here.”

“I don’t want to talk about us right now.”

“Okay.” He nods, but looks wounded. Which surprises me. Then angers me; like he thought just by reminding me he loves me I’d forget about everything else.

“You think I’m dangerous?” I remember how I felt when he showed me the video of Steven. The rage. The pleasure at seeing him squirm.

“If I’m right, you’re extremely powerful.” He reaches for my hand and I let him slot his fingers between mine. He closes his eyes for a moment. When he opens them, he stares at me. “If you are the key to accessing The Covenant, and whoever is searching for you is successful⁠—”

“They could use me to control it?”

Lucien nods. “That’s my fear. If they were to corrupt you somehow… The Covenant in the wrong hands could mean the end of humanity. Or worse.”

“Corrupt me?”

“Luna, we all have shadows. Darkness and light. But a woman as powerful as you who’s experienced what you have in your short human life – it would be easy for someone to manipulate that. To swallow up your lightness.”

“You think I’m that weak?”

“No, I think you’re that strong.” He stares at me.

“So, in the wrong hands, I could destroy the world.” I try to laugh, but it doesn’t move past my lips.

Lucien meets my gaze.

“And in your hands?”

“I’ve seen what happens when supernatural power is abused. I want to keep you safe. Keep The Covenant safe. Keep this world safe. Even though, honestly, sometimes I wonder if we should just let it all burn.”

I study his face. “Is this the truth? The whole truth?”

“Yes.”

I take back my hand. I feel like I need daylight. It’s too dark in here and it smells of sex, and I want to think clearly. “You don’t know who they are? The ones trying to find me?”

“I don’t know for certain yet,” Lucien says.

“And if they do find me?”

“That’s not going to happen.”

I’m quiet for a long moment. “It’s so much, Lucien. Too much.”