Page 127 of Claimed

“Where are they?” I ask.

Larry’s eyes narrow, his mouth contorting like he’s about to spew ugly words at me, but he jumps as Grey gutturally demands, “Answer her.”

“Shea died a few days ago,” he says quickly, losing all attitude.

I jerk in shock as my heart sinks.

Aunt Shea hasn’t been well. She’s often bedridden with her aches and pains, suffering with her allergies. But dead?

“Adelaide, Misty and a bunch of other girls were sent off by Wyatt a few days before he left to come rescue you.” The look of distaste on his face as he saysrescuemakes my blood run cold.

“Sent off to where?” Brody demands.

Larry shrugs and without making eye contact with Brody, says, “Don’t know exactly.”

“What happened to Aunt Shea?” I ask, throat clogged, tears imminent.

Larry shrugs. “She…” He looks at Grey and startles with fear, then back at me. “I just followed orders.”

“What does that mean?” I ask, aghast.

“Sorry for your loss, Stacy, but I need to find Adelaide,” Brody says gruffly. He’s pacing in the small space of my bedroom and looks like he’s about to come out of his skin. “Gotta, Grey…”

“Go. Careful, brother,” Grey says. “Call. Let us know when you find her.”

“Yeah.”

I move aside so Brody can leave while I stare at Grey helplessly, tears pooling in my eyes.

His eyes are ice cold, pointing at Larry.

I whisper his name and warmth seeps into his features as he cups my jaw tenderly. “Brody’s gonna go find her, babe. And see who’s with her. You got any ideas where your brother would’ve sent them?”

“He…” I frown, thinking of the intensity coming off him as he asked, as he touched and smelled Addy’s pillow.

“She’s his. He knows by her scent. He’ll find her.”

“She’s… his?”

“Yeah, babe. Clear now that’s why fate sent him here today. He’ll find her.”

I’m surprised, but can’t lament on these thoughts, can’t think about how incredible the news is for Addy, because Aunt Shea is gone. She raised Addy, who’s technically not her daughter or my cousin but Addie was the daughter of Aunt Shea’s sister-in-law who died during childbirth. She’s been like a daughter to her, like family to me. My eyes coast the space, taking in the emptiness of what was my home for so long. Everything looks the same, but dusty. Aunt Shea had terrible allergies, so we always kept on top of the dust.

I move down the narrow hall into Aunt Shea’s room and it’s too quiet. Eerily quiet. Her air cleaner isn’t running. Her scent is so faint.

Aunt Shea is gone? Addy’s not here. Misty isn’t in the compound?

“Who’s taking care of Halla?” I ask Larry who’s still standing in the living room by the door.

He stinks of urine and he’s looking pale. Clearly, he’s afraid of the Arcana Falls people. And good. Because Larry is a cruel, lazy, jerk.

“Wyatt took her with him when he left to rescue you.”

This doesn’t make sense.

My stomach lurches yet again.

Grey tags my hand. “Let’s go?”

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