Page 15 of Princess Claimed

I climb into the back.

Chapter

Nine

Ana

My body’s still trembling as we enter the brother’s quarters. I’ve never felt anything like this. As a vampire, I can recover quickly from most things, but the excess of fear-and-pain-induced adrenaline racing through me won’t flush from my body. And at the same time, my thirst is so fierce I barely have the energy to move my limbs. The contradictory combination of adrenaline and exhaustion leaves me wanting to squirm, yet barely able to move.

Flame lies me down in the guest room, my room, and comfort floods me as he and Blade stretch out on either side of me, holding me, stroking me. I look at each of them in turn, wishing I could erase the pain and concern in their eyes.

As we rushed here, they barely spoke, and I didn’t say a word. The only thing I can think to say now is, “Thank you.”

“No need.” From his position at the end of the bed, Crusher shakes his head. “We owe you an apology, princess. A deep apology. We never should have let you leave the bathhouse with that imposter.”

“How could you have known?” My voice is scratchy. “I’ve known Timur a hundred years, and I didn’t know. Plus, I knew Rasputin as a child. If I couldn’t tell it was him, how could you?” I cough, my throat unbelievably dry.

Blade runs his hand over my cheek. “You need to feed.”

I nod. “But maybe not right now?” I am beyond ravenous, but sex is unthinkable at the moment, and as badly as I need blood, I don’t want to feed until I’m ready to have sex without hesitation. My adrenaline rush is fading, but that’s just making the fatigue take stronger hold.

“She needs sleep,” Phil says gruffly. He’s leaning against the closed door, his arms crossed over his chest, and his expression forged into a scowl. He’s angry I’m back. Perhaps even angry they saved me. The message is booming at me through his face, his body language. Although, if I can trust my memories of what happened, it was Phil who first burst into the room, Phil who staked Rasputin.

“I do need sleep.” I lick my lips. “But first, there is something I need to tell you. All four of you.” Fear grabs my chest. Once I confess the truth, it might be more than just Phil who hates me. These men, who’ve come to mean so much to me, might never speak to me again. Phil might kill me.

“What is it, darling?” Flame traces his hand along the side of my torso and his touch radiates inside me, filling me with comfort and longing, and reassuring me that I will want to have sex again at some point in the future. Perhaps I should feed before making this confession. Especially since neither blood nor sex might be on offer once they know the truth.

But I can’t do that. I can’t take one more thing from these men under false pretenses.

Using every ounce of strength I have left, I push myself up to lean against the headboard. Blade and Flame sit on the mattress on either side of my outstretched legs, while Crusher and Phil stay where they are. The former planted at the end of the bed, and the latter leaning against the door, glaring at the floor, fists at his sides.

If Phil’s angry now…

I draw a long breath. It’s time to face this.

“Timur,” I say as clearly as I can through my fatigue and thirst. “Timur wasn’t my mate.”

“We know that, darling.” Flame shifts, and the soft lighting glints in his nearly white hair. “It was some old guy pretending to be him.”

“That’s not what I mean.” I shake my head. “Timur and I were never mates. He served as my blood partner for a hundred years, and I was his, but there was never anything…romantic between us.”

“Your relationship was only sexual.” Blade looks down, his jaw twitching.

“Not even that.” I swallow, hard. “We never had sex. Well, not until recently,” I correct. “Timur and I first had sex, barely a month before I met you all.”

“You took other partners,” Crusher says stiffly.

I shake my head. “No. I…Timur was my first.”

“Bullshit.” Phil pushes off the door.

“It’s the truth,” I say, starting to fear what Phil might do to me—and whether the others might let him. In my weakened condition, I can’t defend myself, and Phil’s already proved how easily he can overpower me.

I won’t let that happen. I won’t let Phil touch me. Not ever again.

“How is that possible?” The mattress dips as Crusher leans onto the end of the bed.

“Why the fuck did you lie?” Phil adds with a growl.

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