Page 30 of Princess Claimed

Crusher moves closer. From behind, his protective heat surrounds me, even though we’re not touching, and I can’t see him. “You’re not trapped.”

I spin toward him. “And yet you say I can’t leave.” I cross my arms over my chest to keep from shoving him. Not that I could budge Crusher an inch.

“Please, Ana,” Blade says. “If that fiend gets his hands on you again—” His voice breaks. “If anything happens to you, I’ll die.”

Turning toward him, I stagger under the weight of desperation in Blade’s eyes. But I can’t compromise on this. My throat and chest are closing. I’m suffocating.

“I need to go above ground.” I shake my head. “I need to do something. I’ve spent most of my life hidden away and I need to live. I need to be out amongst people, to see things, to experience things. You say I’m not trapped.” My heart is racing. “But you won’t even let me leave your apartment!”

I’m acting like a petulant child. I don’t care. An excess of energy is bubbling inside me. Energy I can’t control. I dash across the room and back, and then drop into one of the oversized chairs. My body’s still itching to move, so I grip the chairs arms hoping the furniture will keep me in place.

“May I suggest a compromise?” Crouching beside my chair, Flame slides an arm around me.

“Like what?” I fight to ignore how my body reacts to Flame’s touch. How much my mind likes it too. But now that I’ve demanded to leave, I can’t back down or they could keep me in here forever.

“How about a night on the town.” Flame grins, his eyes dancing with the possibilities of fun. His excitement is infectious, and anticipation invades my anxious urge to get out of here.

“Taking her Above? Out in public?” Crusher asks. “No. Too dangerous.”

Flame squeezes my shoulders. “Since when are we afraid of a little danger?” Releasing me, he winks as he backs away. “Blade can go read his books, if he wants to, but Ana’s right. We owe her a good time.”

My cheeks heat. These men owe me nothing and have shown me many good times, but I’m beyond thrilled at the idea of Flame taking me out for a real night on the town.

“Okay.” Crusher widens his stance “Let’s go out.”

Chapter

Fifteen

Ana

Crusher leads the way up the long set of stone stairs to the Art Museum. Lights bounce off its stone facade and spotlights dance in the sky above us. My arms are linked through Blade’s on my left and Flame’s on my right, and all of the men look beyond stunning, dressed in tuxedos, clearly custom made for their large forms.

Even Phil, stomping up the stairs behind us, is dressed to the nines, and his lurking anger—so much worse since I returned—can’t possibly dampen my joy tonight.

Flame’s hand touches mine, and I turn to look into his blue eyes, even brighter than normal, reflecting the spotlights shining around us and projecting his obvious excitement, not to mention his pride for taking the lead in planning this last-minute night out.

“You look stunning.” He licks his lips. “Good enough to eat.”

I laugh. “Thank you. For organizing this, for getting me this dress, these shoes. For everything.”

“My pleasure, darling.”

I’ll never tire of hearing Flame call me that, even though I’m sure it’s a word he uses on every woman he meets. Doesn’t matter, especially since he did so much to make sure I’d feel special tonight. I’ve never felt so beautiful. My dress is beyond spectacular. And it was one of a dozen choices Flame brought in to show me. He arranged for someone in Freetown to do my hair and makeup too.

One of the vampires in Freetown is a tailor, and she altered the gown to fit me like a glove. Its bodice is translucent, covered by thousands of strategically placed crystals, which cover only my breasts, and it fits so well that, under certain lights, my top half seems nude, sparkling with diamonds. The skirt below is diaphanous, with layers of lavender chiffon that float around my legs like a cloud, and diamond-encrusted sandals peek out from under that cloud each time I take a step on the red carpet that’s been laid for this charity gala.

We’re fashionably late, and waiters are clearing plates as we make our way to our table, positioned off to one side of the dance floor. The table is set for eight but sits empty. The only empty seats in the room.

Crusher pulls out a chair for me, one facing the dance floor, and Blade and Flame quickly claim the chairs on either side of me. Crusher takes the one next to Blade, and then turns to look behind me.

Frowning, he shakes his head, presumably at Phil, but I’m not going to give Phil the satisfaction of acknowledging his lurking presence.

“Sit, brother,” Crusher says to him. “Standing there, you look like a security guard.”

Phil grunts. “Protection is the only reason I’m here.”

Catching Crusher’s attention, I smile. “It’s okay. It’s a free country. Phil can stand behind my chair if he wants.” One woman with four gorgeous men, we’re already drawing a fair bit of attention, whether or not I have a mountain of anger lurking behind me.

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