Page 36 of Claimed

“This isn’t your fault,” I tell her.

“Of course it is,” she sobs. “I did this. I did all of it.”

“That is true,” I tell her. “But I was supposed to protect you, and I failed to do that so many times in quick succession. This would never have happened if I’d kept you by my side.”

“It’s not your fault. I was bored. I wanted attention. And then I ate them…” she cries.

“Listen,” I say, taking her by the chin so she looks at me. It is sweet when she buries her head in my shoulder or chest most of the time, but right now I want her to look at me and understand that I mean every word I am saying.

“This is not your fault. I am your alpha, and your mate. You can do whatever you like, and I am supposed to handle you.”

“So I don’t have responsibility for my own actions?”

“I will hold you responsible, but ultimately, you are my charge. You are mine. Let me take care of this, and of you.”

She searches my eyes. “You really don’t blame me for this?”

“No. Now stop blaming yourself. You weren’t to know you were eating vampires. Nobody has ever done that before. And that’s impressive.”

I wipe the tears away from her eyes with the pad of my thumb and smile at her.

“This is not a bad thing,” I say. “The vampires have been an increasing threat. They were going to cross paths with us one way or another. You have made an impression, a positive one, at that. The vampire was impressed by you. And I was too; you acquitted yourself well.”

“I did?”

“Yes,” I say. “You did well.”

“He was scary. The way he looked at me. I thought he might be angry, but he wasn’t. It was like he wanted me.”

I feel a rage building in me. I know what she means. I saw it too. The vampire did have a very particular and pointed interest in her. He looked at her almost exclusively. Occasionally his eyes would slide to me for a moment or two, but I was not the most important thing in the room. She was.

“You won’t let him take me, will you?”

“Never,” I assure her. “You are mine, and nobody and nothing can take you from me.”

She presses into me for comfort and reassurance. I do not like that she has been made to feel unsafe in her home. I should never have allowed the vampire in, but my curiosity prevailed.

Anya falls asleep in my arms, just as a soft tap at the door heralds a messenger.

“Elena is here. She wants to talk to you, if it’s not too late.”

I settle Anya into bed, and I go to speak with my advisor. I am interested to hear what Elena thinks of all of this. When I meet her in the dining room, she is practically buzzing with excitement.

“I want to hear everything.”

I tell her everything I can remember, including the end of the interview, which was very much ignominious. I am usually much more composed than that, but I lost my cool somewhat.

“He took two kopeks away?”

“Yes.”

She nods. She does not attempt to scold or chastise me for the slight. She knows better. I am sure she would love to say something, but she settles for a thinning of her lips.

“You sent him away with an insult. They’ll have to return it, one way or another. Keep the gates closed. Double the patrols, and increase surveillance, or we will all regret it.”

“Alright, Elena. I’ve already doubled them. We’re on alert. The vampires won’t be given a chance to make up for any slight. If they want to do something petty in response, very well.”

“It won’t be petty. You have the attention of an ancient. Your mate ate one of the progeny of an ancient…” Elena gives a short laugh and swigs vodka. “There is not enough of this swill in the world to make any of that seem remotely sane. We are about to live in some very interesting times, Alexei.”

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