Page 14 of Princess Claimed

Racing toward the sound, I smash my foot against another door. It doesn’t budge. Reaching into my pocket I pull out some C-4, but Crusher slams both fists against the obstacle, smashing it on his second strike.

My heart stops.

Behind the door, Ana is bound in silver. Her skin is burnt, still burning in many places, and an old man is near her, his cock sheathed in silver. Using a needle-like silver dagger, he slices a burning cut on her face.

Roaring, I leap forward, swinging my arm, and my make-shift stake penetrates the fiend’s heart.

He falls dead.

Burning pain radiates inside me.

I glance down and find the slim dagger lodged between my ribs. Its hilt is adorned with flashing gems set alongside strange symbols. Pulling out the dagger, I toss it to the floor, and then check to make sure my stake hit its mark.

The old man, bearded, long-haired, hideous, isn’t even a vampire, but even if he’s human, the stake through his heart has killed him. I don’t give a shit who or what he is.

My brothers rush to free Ana, and resentment infiltrates my raging adrenaline, as Crusher frees her bindings, as Flame and Blade soothe her burned skin. Now she’ll think they saved her.

I don’t know why I care, but I do.

I could help them. I could touch her. But I’m too filled with rage.

Ana shudders as her dozens of silver burns and cuts heal at once. The worst burn is in the shape of a cross, branded into the flesh of her stomach and chest. Flame frees her nipples from silver clamps, and then pierces his fingers so he can rub his blood into her sensitive skin to hasten her healing. She moans, clearly feeling a modicum of pleasure, absorbing his blood as her pain subsides.

“The cars are here,” Diederik says from the doorway. “We’ll take her to DEFTA.”

“The fuck you will!” Picking up another door splinter, I leap toward Diederik. “We keep her safe. We do.”

I back Diederik into the hall, my stake pointed at his chest.

“Fine.” He raises his hands in surrender. “Keep her for now, but not underground. Calix will know and there will be consequences.”

I laugh in his face.

Crusher’s arm lands on my shoulder. “Cool your jets, Phil. Ana’s safe now.”

Lowering my stake, I keep it tight in my hand.

“Shit. You’re bleeding.” Crusher points to the puncture wound in my torso, and I realize that, not only does it hurt, it’s still bleeding.

“It’s nothing.” But the pain is unexpectedly searing. Must be because the dagger was silver.

Frowning, Crusher redirects his attention from my wound to Diederik. “It’s almost dawn,” he says. “We’ll take her home to recover. We will be underground, but I promise, on my life, she will be safe. When she recovers she’ll check in with you.” He raises his fist to his chest. “If that’s what she wants.”

Diederik nods.

Pushing past us, Blade keeps his hands on her as Flame carries a limp Ana in his arms. Crusher, Diederik and I follow them out to the street, where Flame and Blade are already sliding into the back seat of a large SUV with Ana.

“We’re taking your car,” Crusher tells Diederik, as a second vehicle drives up.

“That is acceptable.” Diederik nods toward the second car. “We will dispose of the carcass.”

The sky is waking up. We don’t have much time. Running might be faster than using the car, but if we don’t make it to an entrance to Freetown in time, this vehicle will protect us for the day. It’s the safer option.

Crusher opens the front door and pulls out the driver, a human female. “We don’t require your services,” he tells her, and she rushes toward the second car.

Crusher gets into the drivers’ seat.

I want to argue. His driving is a dangerous choice with the sun coming up, and we could let the human drive. But then we’d have to deal with her knowing the location of an entrance to Freetown. Plus, arguments take time, and every second we waste makes the risk of daylight higher.

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