Page 86 of Princess Claimed

“Ana is safe with Blade and Flame,” I tell him, because it’s the only thing comforting I can think to say. And it’s what I keep telling myself—over and over—to ease the knot in my chest. “We’ll join them at the palace soon.”

Phil pounds his fists against the concrete wall of the small terminal, striking so hard people will hear it inside.

“I should have torn off his fucking head when I had the chance.” Phil shouts at the wall. “I should have used C-4 to blow up the body and then scatter it all over the globe.”

A ground crew member turns toward us, even though she’s wearing ear coverings.

Ever since I’ve known him, Phil has been riddled with guilt.

Guilt, pain and anger, pretty much define Phil, but this is on a whole new level. I’ve never seen Phil’s pain and anger erupt into actual words. Usually he stays on simmer, that occasionally erupts with violence.

“You couldn’t have known.” I clap his back. “None of us knew. You killed Rasputin, and Blade’s best intel says you took out the demon too. Regardless, you saved her.”

My words don’t seem to help, and if I’m honest, they don’t help me much either. In spite of what I said, my gut says that thing’s still alive, and worse, that it’s still hunting Ana. And my gut is rarely wrong.

My gut said not to trust Mariano the night of that meeting, especially when he switched up the plan to include a kidnapping. And my gut was right. If we’d done as he asked, the demon would have had Ana way back then, and I can’t even imagine what it would have done to her.

I also can’t imagine not ever having her in our lives.

Phil pushes off the wall. “Let’s fucking go.” He sets off at a run.

I follow. He’s racing so fast, I might lose sight of him in the first mile.

Chapter

Thirty-Four

Ana

“What’s your dad like?” Blade shifts on his seat that’s facing mine on the private jet. He flicks his wrist, and a knife snaps into his hand.

Light from above flashes off the blade in the luxurious cabin with its blacked-out windows. I haven’t seen Blade play with his knives for a while. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I saw him fidgeting with his collection of sharp weapons at all. His knife retracts and then flicks out again. It must be nerves.

“My dad?” I consider how best to put Blade at ease. “King Dunkan is great. He can come off stern at times—kind of like Crusher when he’s bossing you guys around.” I grin. “But my father’s job carries a lot of responsibility. He has to command respect.”

I’ve never described King Dunkan to anyone. I didn’t even tell Selina much about him when she first came to the palace. At the time, I feared Dunkan was dead, and I didn’t want to make her feel worse about never meeting her birth father.

“And will your dad be…okay with me?” A knife snaps into Blade’s hand, and he raises it, like he’s about to murder the arm rest, but then it retracts into the holster hidden under his sleeve.

“Okay with you?” I smile at Blade, who just confirmed the source of his anxiety. It’s cute that he’s nervous about meeting my dad, wanting to impress him.

Or is he worried about the ancient laws?

Those laws, limiting whom the royal family can mate, or even share blood or sex with, are yet another reason I remained a virgin so long. Although, if I’m honest, there were many council-approved vampires at court besides Timur. I could have taken lovers. I could have fed from partners beyond Timur, but no one ever captured my interest, and my relationship with Timur was so easy.

Thinking of Timur brings a pang of loss, but I need to reassure Blade. “Don’t worry,” I tell him. “The laws governing sexual congress with the royal family were changed. I’m free to choose my own lovers.”

“There are laws about who can fuck you?” Blade’s eyes open wider. “I didn’t even know about that.”

“Holy shit,” Flame says from across the aisle.

“Old laws.” I look between them. “They were changed so my sister, Selina, could marry her chosen mates, and so that none of them would be convicted of treason.”

“Treason?” Flame chuckles. “Darling, I had no idea fucking you was so dangerous.” He winks. “Worth it.”

I smile at him, then turn back to Blade. “If that’s not it, then why are you so nervous?” I take his hand. “You’re intelligent, caring, strong. You’re everything a father could want for his daughter.” I leave out the long list of his probable crimes. Hopefully those will stay in the past and a secret.

Sighing, Blade looks down. “Most vampires don’t give a shit about skin color, but some carry prejudices from their human lives…”

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