Page 57 of Claimed

Dom does not so much as respond to that. He barely lifts the corner of his lip in a smirk. He knows very well that he now has control. I can see the devastation on Alexei’s face as he realizes his plans have once again been undone.

He thought he could hold this unnatural beast in chains forever, but he did not reckon on the conscience of his confidantes.

It was Elena that did it. Elena who let the vampire out. And Elena who has paid the price.

I am vaguely aware that there is a sticky substance on my feet. I don’t dare look down, because I know what it is. It is the essence of the woman who begged us all to listen to her. Nobody listened.

“She set you free and you ate her?” I find the question spilling from my lips in the heavy silence that stretches out between Alexei and Dom.

“She died sacrificing herself so the war might end,” he says, his voice soft while speaking to me. It hardens as he turns his attention back to Alexei. “And here you are, trying to, what… stop me from stopping the worst of the worst? The she-wolf was more community minded than either of you.”

“Anya. Come here,” Alexei says.

I try to move toward him, but I am stopped. Dom grips the back of my neck and keeps me in place.

We are all in a very big mess now, and I don’t think any of us really know what to do. I have questions that need to be answered though. Upstairs, in bed, I shied away from them. Now, standing in Elena’s blood, I ask them boldly and without deference to his station.

“You told me he was dead. Why did you lie to me?”

“I didn’t lie. It’s not your problem.”

My eyes widen as Alexei dismisses me out of hand, denying the lie simply because he thought I didn’t need to know the truth.

“You did lie. You told me I had nothing to worry about, and that you killed him. I have a lot to worry about, and he is alive. Well, as alive as a dead thing can be.”

“I don’t owe you explanations, Anya. I owe you safety.”

“Oh, and how is that going for me?”

Dom has said nothing, but now he interjects.

“Impressive, wolf, you’ve managed to turn your own mate against you.”

“Unhand her,” Alexei growls.

“I don’t think I will. I think she deserves better. And you’re still not married, are you? Not even a proposal, Alexei?” He tuts. “Not really good enough, is it?”

“Anya! Come here!” Alexei repeats the order, but I do not move.

“She can’t,” he says. “I won’t allow it. I told you, Alexei. I am her father. And you…”

Alexei shoots him right between the eyes. It does nothing. The UV bullet sizzles between his brows for a short moment, then the metal part of it simply falls to the ground with a light tinkling sound.

“You cannot harm me the same way again, unless you have one of your ultraviolet bombs on hand, and Elena assured me you had no more. She wanted very badly for me to command my armies to stop their march across Europe. Do you want that too, Alexei? Or will your arrogance mean you turn a blind eye to the suffering of thousands?”

“Let my mate go. She doesn’t want you.”

Alexei avoids the question. It’s not a fair question. Dom is trying to draw him into a position of responsibility for the atrocities that are being perpetrated by his kind.

“Of course she wants me. My blood still courses in her veins, and all the potions in the world won’t change that.”

“You’re playing with her mind! It’s not real. She’s not choosing you.”

“She never chose you either. Nor did you choose her.”

“What? I chose him!” I pipe up.

Dom looks down at me with a sort of pitying expression, as if he understands something I do not, but should.

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