Page 86 of Claimed

Valentin.

Relief hits first. Because there’s fury and shock in his voice. Then terror. Because I’ve never heard him sound like that.

Draven staggers back as Malachi turns sharply towards the corridor.

I try to laugh. I think I manage a wet, broken sound. ‘Told you,’ I whisper, blood dripping onto the stone. ‘Should’ve asked nicely.’

The room tilts.

The roar comes again, closer now, tearing through blood, stone and every ward between us.

Then darkness catches me before he does.

‘Wake up.’

Valentin’s voice is so rigid I can hear the cracks beneath it, even through the fog enveloping my senses.

‘Eira. Open your eyes.’ It’s harsher now. Laced with… anguish?

Warmth cradles the back of my head. A hand. His hand. My skull rests against his palm, and for one disorienting, humiliating second, I almost lean into it.

Then memory comes back and my eyes snap open.

He’s above me, black hair falling forward, face carved into a kind of violence I’ve never seen on him before. It’s worse than clean, cold fury. This is the fury of a creature who has found damage on something he hasn’t yet admitted he cannot bear damaged.

His gaze fixes on mine, rabid and too bright. ‘There you are, hunter,’ he growls.

My throat works. ‘That sounds almost relieved.’

His jaw tightens. And because it hurts a little to stare into the cold storm of his hate, I look away. Draven lies crumpled in the corner, one shoulder at a horrible angle, his face slack in unconsciousness. Malachi stands near the bars, rigid, pale beneath his fury, and for one glorious second I realise even he’s afraid.

Then I see something even more disturbing. He’s trying to move. But cannot. His sire has him pinned against the wall by sheer fury.

Wow. Okay.

Valentin rises, drawing me with him until I am sitting with my back against the wall. The movement is careful. Too careful. As if I am breakable. As if he has no right to touch me and cannot stop himself anyway.

Then he turns and the carefulness dies.

‘You will leave the Tower,’ he growls at Malachi with a tone so deadly, I’m stunned the other vampire’s skin isn’t flaying from bone.

Malachi chokes. ‘Sire?’

‘Now. Consider yourself banished.’

The word slices through the cell and Malachi’s face empties of all emotion. Then shock cuts through him before pride covers it. ‘For… for how long?’

Valentin takes one step towards him and the wards tremble.

‘Until I can look at you without wanting to tear your head from your shoulders and mount it above the dungeon door as a lesson in obedience.’

Malachi’s mouth parts. No sound comes. I should enjoy that more than I do. I’m trying. Truly.

‘Sire, please. I acted only to protect you.’

‘You acted without permission. You harmed what is mine. Risked dooming us all.’

His incandescent gaze swings to me. ‘She’s hiding something.’