Page 112 of Claimed

So many lies. And yet the truth is unavoidable. Borderline unfathomable.

I am a Five Blood vampire, searching for his fated mate while falling for another. My brothers will laugh themselves into extinction if they learn of this predicament.

But… is it truly a predicament?

My gaze, compelled, turns to my little hunter. The bond between us hums with her awareness. She’s watching the street, the rooftops, the closed apothecary ahead, and me. Especially me.

You’re limping, she says into my mind.

I am not.

Your left side is arguing with you.

My left side can take its complaint to Rowan. Then go fuck itself.

Her mouth twitches. Barely. It pleases me more than it should.

We reached Briarhook one hour after Gideon extracted the courier’s recordings.

Orlan Vey’s apothecary sits beneath a townhouse of black brick and green copper trim. The windows are dark. The wards are not.

They crawl over the building in thin gold threads, elegant enough to be expensive, old enough to suggest Vey knows the difference between power and theatre. His wards taste of ash, salt, legal contract and grave dirt. A magistrate’s work, then.

Eira’s hand brushes my sleeve.

What if this is a trap?

Then it will be a brief one.

She looks up at me. You’re in a mood.

I am always in a mood, cacciatrice.

Yes, but tonight your mood has a cutting jawline and homicidal focus.

The corner of my mouth threatens to move. I suppress the weakness.

The door opens before I knock to reveal a man, lean, grey-haired, dressed in brown velvet and a waistcoat embroidered with tiny gold symbols that shift whenever the eye tries to settle. His face is lined, handsome in a fox-like way, and his amber eyes brighten when they find me.

Then they move to Eira.

Interest flickers. And my power presses outward before I think better of it.

Vey’s attention returns to me with admirable speed. ‘Don Moretti,’ he says. ‘How generous of you to bring an army to my doorstep.’

‘Warlock.’

‘And the hunter.’ His gaze flicks back to Eira for a fraction. ‘The rumours were accurate, then. How thrilling.’

Eira smiles. ‘If you make this weird, I’ll make it painful.’

Vey’s mouth curves. ‘Delightful. Does she bite?’

‘Yes,’ I say. ‘Not as viciously as I do though. So watch yourself.’

Eira looks at me. ‘Rude.’

Vey’s eyes glint. ‘Come in before half the district dies of curiosity.’