Page 24 of Claimed By Blood

I glance back at Draven, eyes wide with questions. The insane vampire simply grins, giving me a nod.

On any other man, the look would be cocky, but on him, it’s darker, more like a threat.

He drank from me last night, I remind myself,he should be fine.

The door Morwen leads me through opens onto another spartan corridor, which bends and turns into stairs. I don’t think there are any elevators in the Compound, and I wish that was the case everywhere. It’s a relief not to have to battle with my own claustrophobia as I follow her up to the roof.

Cool night air blasts me as soon as I step outside, and it takes a long moment of squinting before I see Morwen, already sitting on the edge, overlooking the river beyond.

“You are an idiot,” she says as I join her. “Honestly, I have no idea how you’re still alive.”

I snort, lowering myself until I mirror her posture. “Thanks.”

“There aren’t any cameras up here,” she continues. “And the scans my men did as you passed the front door proved you don’t have any bugs on you.”

So we won’t be overheard or observed.

My teeth sink into my lower lip as I consider what that means. Either Morwen is lying, and this is a trap Cain’s ordered her to set up for me. Or, she’s telling me that she’s powerful enough to create an oasis away from his influence.

If it’s the former, I need to be careful. If it’s the latter, my sister could be my greatest ally.

“The question is,sister, whose side are you really on?” I retort.

Morwen just grins. “Oh, come on, Evie. You already know the answer to that.”

The chill is starting to seep into my bones, and I rub my arms to try and dispel it. “I think you’re on your own side. Just like everyone else in this fucked up little world we live in.”

Morwen grins, letting her body fall back until she’s lying on the roof with her legs dangling down to the city below. “You’ve only just worked that out? Idiot.”

“Did you come up here to insult me, or are you finally going to answer my questions about Samuel?” I demand. “You know something about him. Don’t deny it. It was written all over your face at the gala.”

My crazed sister simply sighs and stares up at the stars. “I could tell you, but if you’re going to run back to our sire and get Mia and me beheaded, then what’s the point?”

“He doesn’t know about her.” I guessed as much. “Why would you even risk that kind of relationship with someone if you cared about them?”

“I could ask you the same question about a certain human.”

“I was in love.”

“You were stupid.”

“Yes. Okay. I was.Happy? Now tell me why you’re recreating my mistakes.”

The wind lifts Morwen’s hair, and she shoves it out of her face before replying. “Love doesn’t ever feel like a mistake until it’s too late, does it?”

So she genuinely loves this Mia?Oh, Morwen, what have you done?

My own sadness seeps through the thrall bonds I’ve been trying to ignore, and despite the distance between us, Finn instantly sends a wave of love and comfort straight back.

Damn. We’re both screwed.

“Samuel,” I press. “I swear… I swear on our mothers, I won’t tell our sire anything you tell me.”

Morwen’s big brown eyes are piercing and full of suspicion as she regards me. “You’ll tell him anything if it prevents him from shoving you back in that coffin,” she retorts.

“Maybe. I guess you’ll just have to trust me to keep my idiot ass out of that situation.”

Snorting, she rolls onto her side until she’s facing me. “You know I didn’t kill him.”

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