Page 26 of Princess Claimed

Pushing my arm away, Ana stands on the bed, pulling the duvet up with her to cover her nudity.

“Fine,” she snaps at Phil. “I’ll leave tonight. I was already planning to go. You don’t need to be so cruel.”

“Cruel?” Phil strides toward the bed but stops after a few earth-shaking paces. His eyes narrow. “I’ll show you cruel. You don’t even know the meaning of that word.”

“Hey.” I jump up behind Ana and wrap my arms around her. “Yes, she does know the meaning of cruel, and you fucking know it.”

Phil looks down. His jaw pulses. So do the veins on his temple and forehead. I’ve rarely seen Phil so steamed, so conflicted, and it’s difficult to understand what’s fueling his fire. He’s the one who just slayed the monster that was torturing Ana.

Ana lifts my arms from around her. “Can you guys give me some privacy?” She offers me a reassuring smile. “I’d like to get dressed.”

“Sure, darling,” Flame says, and Crusher nods.

I turn her to face me. “Are you okay?”

Smiling, she nods. “I just need some time alone. Please?”

I bend to kiss her, but she turns, and my lips hit her cheek. Pain slices inside me.

Is she serious about her plan to leave tonight? So soon? What if I never, ever, get to kiss her properly? Kiss her like I know Flame has.

“Come,” Crusher beckons. “Let’s give Ana some space.”

Reluctantly, I jump off the bed, gather my discarded clothes and follow the others out of the room. At the door, I glance back, but she’s facing the other direction, the duvet wrapped around her.

“She can’t leave,” Phil says as soon as we’re all in the games room.

“What?” Flame looks at Phil like he’s crazy. “I mean, I don’t want her to go either, but shit. Which side of this are you on? You’re the one acting like she’s the fucking plague.”

Phil turns away.

“We can’t keep her here against her will,” Crusher says, but his voice sounds off, like he’s trying to convince himself. “The danger has passed now Rasputin’s dead, and it’s high time we take another contract.” He shakes his head. “We’re too visible now, high on DEFTA’s radar. We can’t risk exposing the entire community. Time to leave Freetown for a while.”

Dread squeezes my chest. We can’t leave Freetown; we can’t leave Philadelphia. Not without Ana. “I’m with Phil. She can’t leave.”

My mind scrambles for arguments to back up what I said. What I know to be true. What must be true if I’m to survive another day on this earth. Because if Ana leaves us, I’ll die.

Hoping to clear my mind, I dig my hand into my pocket and drag my finger along a sharp edge.

The sharp pain yields an idea. “What if Rasputin isn’t dead!” I blurt.

“What?” Phil’s attention snaps toward me. “I drove a stake through that fucker’s heart!” He slams a fist against his chest.

“Rasputin’s not a vampire,” I point out.

“So?” Crusher moves toward me. “What mortal creature can survive a stake through the heart?”

Phil’s fists slam his thighs so hard the vibrations pulse in the air. It’s like steam is rising off my brother, but I can’t figure out the source. Phil resents Ana’s presence; he hates how she’s changed our lives; he wants little to do with her; and yet he also seems to be looking for ways to keep her here. I don’t get what’s going on in his head, and can’t believe this discussion has landed me on team Phil.

But I consider the word mortal. Possibilities swirl in my mind, stirring even more conflict inside me. If my demon possession theory is right, can a demon survive when its host dies? If the demon survived, that gives me a reason for Ana to remain under our protection, but it also means she’s still in danger—grave danger.

“Maybe he’s not mortal.” I pace across the room and back. “Rasputin survived multiple assassination attempts. At least three that are recorded in most history books.” I shake my head. “History claims the third attempt killed him, but we know that’s not accurate.”

Turning toward the other three men, I lean against the back of one of the club chairs. “What if Rasputin survived a fourth attempt on his life?”

“How?” Flame asks. “We saw his dead body.”

“But if he’s possessed by a demon, then...” I wish I knew more about demons. How they work. How to kill them.

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