Page 104 of Princess Claimed

From the top of the air conditioning unit, Crusher uses a rapid-fire crossbow to shoot stakes at the new arrivals. Many fall.

“Kill that one.” Rasputin flicks his hand toward Crusher. “He is of no use, but make sure the big, red-haired one lives. For now.”

A group of vampires encircles me. My limbs still feel filled with lead, but I reach for a crossbow to join Crusher’s efforts.

My wooden bolts hit a few targets, but while some vampires fall, others stagger forward, moving strangely, their eyes lifeless, like they’re not wholly in control of their actions. Regardless of who or what is controlling these vampires, we’re badly outnumbered.

Several of them close in on Crusher’s position. Crusher smashes two of their skulls together, and then tosses them off the building. He plunges a stake into one’s heart, but others keep coming, armed with stakes and silver lassos.

“Run!” I shout to Crusher. Rasputin, the demon, wants me, not him. “We agreed! Run!”

Pausing, Crusher shakes his head, then turns to aim his crossbow toward another vampire.

Behind him, a vampire shoots a bolt toward Crusher.

“No!” Pulling on every remaining ounce of energy, I leap.

Diving, I aim my body, hoping to block the shot headed straight for Crusher’s heart.

Chapter

Forty-One

Ana

The communicator on my wrist buzzes, and I open my eyes, momentarily confused about where I am.

Flame’s scent reminds me.

I reach across the bed in the royal apartment, but he’s not there.

“Morning, darling,” he says.

Pushing up to half sit, I locate him in a chair a few feet away from the bed.

“How long have you been awake?” I stretch. “Why didn’t you wake me?”

“And miss one moment of watching you sleep?” The smile that Flame shoots me sends dancing butterflies straight to my belly.

“Have you talked to Blade?” Reaching for a silk robe, I wrap it around myself as I climb out of bed. “He must be exhausted.” I slip onto Flame’s lap, and he gives my body a delicious squeeze as we kiss.

Leaning back, he brushes long strands of hair behind my ears. “Blade’s still in the archives. He’s wrecked. I tried to get him to come to bed for a while, but he won’t stop. He thinks he’s on to something.”

“That’s great!” Joy rushes through my body. As soon as Blade finds answers, Crusher and Phil can join us.

“There’s more,” he says, and the look in his eyes is beyond serious. A look I’ve only ever seen flash through Flame when he was telling me how his family died.

My body tenses. “What’s wrong?”

“Could be nothing.” He shakes his head. “I don’t know.”

I push off his lap. “What is it? Tell me!” I rush toward the armoire and grab the first dress I find, slipping it over my head as I cast the robe aside.

“Crushers on his way here.” He glances at the clock. “Might have already arrived. You slept a long time.” He grins a little, but it’s not Flame’s usual smile.

My heart is thumping out of my chest but keeps skipping beats as if it can’t decide whether to be happy or scared. “And Phil?”

Flame shakes his head. “Phil’s not with him.”

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