Page 102 of Princess Claimed

Forty

Phil

“Ready?” Crusher asks, and I nod.

Adrenaline rages inside me, ready to explode. We’ve stashed weapons all over the rooftop of this half-finished office building and have more concealed under our coats. But my most powerful weapons are deep inside me: My love for Ana and my drive to protect her.

“Hey,” Crusher says. “Calm the fuck down. We’re well armed. Strong. Prepared. We’ve got this.”

I grunt. Of course we’ve got this. “But if the worst happens…”

“It won’t,” he says sharply.

“Yeah. Sure. But if the unthinkable happens…” I swallow to expel my heart from my throat. “You know the code.”

Crusher frowns, shaking his head. Many years ago, Crusher broke the part of the code we’re talking about—it’s why we’re all still alive and the Master is not—but I need him to promise me.

“If I go down,” I say, “you run. If not for the code, then for her. Go to her. Protect her. Tell her what happened.” I grab his arm. “Promise me.”

Looking into my eyes, Crusher blinks a few times, but then nods. “If you promise the same. One of us goes down, the other runs.”

I nod sharply. But the promise is different for me. Even if Crusher goes down, I can’t go near Ana. Not until we’re certain the demon is dead.

Clasping each other’s forearms, Crusher and I nod. We’re agreed. A solemn vow between brothers.

“I’ll message Diederik.” Crusher pulls out his phone.

“Why? If he is the demon, he’ll find me.”

One of Crusher’s shoulders tips up as he takes a few steps back from me. “We’re ready, right? I’ll tell him we’ve got Ana to make sure he comes.”

I survey our surroundings again. On the roof of the tallest building in the area, no humans can spot us here. And the building’s still a skeleton with only a small construction elevator coming up its side.

For vampires, the construction elevator’s not the only way up, but in this location, there’s less chance that Diederik can arrive unexpectedly. Plus, we’re inviting him. Crusher’s plan is growing on me.

His phone pings.

My heart stops. “Blade? Ana?”

He shakes his head. “Diederik. He’ll be here soon.”

The construction elevator starts moving.

“That was fucking fast.” Facing the cage-like space where the cab will emerge, I brace myself, ready to grab one of the stakes concealed under my coat.

Crusher hides behind some construction materials, and aims his fully loaded, rapid-fire crossbow toward the open shaft.

A stake through the heart won’t destroy this demon, but it will slow the thing down. Then I’ll blow Diederik’s body to pieces.

The pain in my liver stabs sharply. But no pain can keep me from killing this thing.

The top of the elevator cab appears. Then a face.

Not Diederik. Rasputin.

Rage explodes Inside me. My mind flashes to the things this monster did to Ana—both as a child and more recently. I cannot wait to banish this monster from the face the earth.

The elevator reaches the roof level, and Rasputin steps out. “Where is she?” His eyes have changed. They’re like beads of fire. “Where is Anastasia! I need her!” In a flash, he’s before me, his hand around my throat. “Liar! You sent her out of the country and I have lost her again. Take me to her!”

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