Page 5 of Claimed By Blood

Cain’s hand—warm and sure—grips mine. His strength easily stops my arm mid-swing before I can take my thrall’s traitorous head.

“I’ve changed my mind,” he announces, to the Court. “I’ll allow you to keep this one.”

I stare at him, confused.What’s his angle?

All around him, the other vampires are hanging on his every word, waiting to see what their king will do.

“I did once promise you a pet if you wanted one,” he remembers, turning his attention back to me as he releases my hand. My sword clinks against the marble, the sound shocking in the silent room. “I’m afraid Callista might have broken him a bit, but I’m sure he’ll regrow his hands with time. Just make sure you keep him on a short leash when that happens.”

Callie’s anger is a palpable force. She expected me to finally kill the vampire she sired, not for him to be so publicly transferred into my ownership.

She can have him for all I care.

No. Now Draven’s being used as an extension of my punishment, and no doubt he has orders to spy on me. The thrall bond makes him an ideal candidate to root out any hint of disloyalty I still possess.

I finally allow myself to stare down at him. He’s passed out, probably from blood loss. Clearly his week has been hell.

Good.He deserves it.

Cain is waiting for my answer, I realise. “A generous gift, sire. Thank you.”

How the hell am I supposed to get him out of here? His legs are broken.

As if reading my mind, Cain waves forward a pair of lycan guards. “Escort Evelyn’s new pet to her room.”

They jump into action, grabbing Draven under his arms and hauling him away again. The blood makes it difficult for them to grip him properly, but they manage. They drag him along the floor, leaving a trail of blood in their wake.

I follow them with my eyes as I wait to be dismissed again.

Only it doesn’t happen.

Cain moves closer, embracing me with one hand on the back of my head in a paternal gesture that doesn’t fool me. He only uses physical affection as a tool, and this time is no different. His mouth moves closer to my ear, shielding his next words from the others.

“You can fuck him and feed from him, but remember, you both belong to me. If Imogen detects even the faintest trace of an emotional bond between the two of you, I’ll kill you both.”

“I have no interest in forming an attachment to him, Sire.”

It’s true. Draven betrayed me at the gala. I don’t trust him, and I’m even less inclined to drink from him. Pity my body doesn’t agree. The scent of his blood lingers in the room, even in his absence, and breathing through my mouth hasn’t stopped the still-present ache in my fangs.

“I’m glad to hear it. You’re also forbidden from killing him. His life—like your own—ends atmywhim. As long as you follow these rules, I’ve decided to allow you to sleep outside of your coffin…” He pauses, as if waiting to deliver the death blow. “Butonlywhen you sleep with him. If you want to sleep alone, you sleep in silver.”

“I understand, sire.” I curtsy low, taking the dismissal for what it is.

The walk back to my room is hell. I know the limits of Immy’s power: she struggles to feel someone if she can’t see them. So from the second I cross into the hall, I’m safe. It doesn’t mean that I can let the mask drop from my face. There are still too many eyes here.

Even in sleep, I’m watched by the cameras I know are hidden in my room.

I have no privacy. There hasn’t been one second where I can just sit and process everything that’s happened.

For the last month, I’ve been operating purely on survival mode. Barely sleeping because I can’t afford the mind-fog from the silver messing with my senses while I’m under such scrutiny.

In some ways, Draven’s arrival is a blessing. Not that I plan to sleep in the same bed with him in the way Cain’s suggesting. Thelastthing I want to do is fuck him.

However, tying him up, gagging him, and dumping his ass at the bottom of the bed so I can finally sleep? That’s definitely on the table.

The guards went ahead of me, so Draven is already on the floor in front of my door when I arrive. I swipe my access card across the reader on my handle and kick his unconscious body into the room. He groans under his breath, but doesn’t wake, even when I slam the door closed behind me. Ignoring the grand bed which has been installed on the far side of the room I stalk into the bathroom like it’s my salvation. Which it is.

I’ve got to get this blood off me.

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