Page 96 of Claimed By Blood

We make it past the broken door with seconds to spare. Rock crashes down in a deadly cascade that tumbles out into the tunnel. The crumbling avalanche of stone chases us without slowing.

God. It’s not going to stop.

We’re going to be buried down here in the dark.

I watch over Vane’s furred shoulder as the wave reaches for us. Gaining. Gaining.

Until, with one last, angry rumble, it stops.

A final rush of dust and grit stings my eyes, but Vane doesn’t stop.

The lights around us flicker. Then die, leaving us in a gloomy blackness that makes it impossible to see—even with immortal eyesight. The tunnel rumbles menacingly in the dark, and panic grips me at the thought of being sealed down here forever by a cave in. I fight against Vane’s hold, needing to run, to move.

His grip is too strong. I can’t do anything except allow the hybrid to carry me towards our exit.

“What the fuck just happened?”Morwen demands.

“Sound off.”Gideon coughs.“Frost’s with me. Who else is still alive?”

“I’ve got Evie,” Vane growls, without giving me a chance to respond. “Silas?”

He slows down while we wait for his brother’s response, and for a second, I think he’s debating going back and digging through the rock for him.

“Still here.”The younger beta chirps, and both of us relax.“Draven took a boulder to the skull, but he’s drinking. Looks like he’ll be fine.”

“I’m here too,”Immy mutters.

“Did anyone get Samuel?”Silas asks.

“He’s with us.”Frost’s tone is grim.

That’s when it sinks in.

Bakari is dead. Even if—by some miracle—he’s still alive, he’s buried under so much rock…

No, my pragmatic mind whispers.He’s gone.

EvenIlikely wouldn’t have survived such a thing. And with him dies any hope of getting the truth out of my brother.

The crushing weight of that realisation saps the fight from my bones, and I collapse fully against Vane. The hybrid doesn’t react beyond bundling me up more securely in his arms, but I can sense his anger. It’s strong enough to cross the partial bond we share.

Only it doesn’t linger. He takes a deep breath, then another, and that anger diminishes so rapidly that soon our bond is silent again. His lycan form starts to retreat, until he’s just a man once more.

That level of self-control is unbelievable, especially for a hybrid at the mercy of two wildly different natures.

“I won’t lecture you,” he begins, continuing to walk. “Gideon will want that honour. But if you put yourself in danger like that again, princess, I will tan your ass red every day for a week.”

I stiffen in shock. “Excuse you?” I choke.

“You heard me, and I’m not in the habit of repeating myself. It’s not up for debate, so save your arguing for Gid.”

He picks up the pace, shifting back to speed things up. The rest of the tunnels pass in a blur as I scramble to think of a response. Unfortunately, by the time I’ve thought of one, the moment has passed.

It’s a good distance back to the exit, but Vane runs tirelessly until we reach the end of the tunnel, where he drops his lycan form for good and carefully places me on my own two feet. He must not trust me, because his hand envelops mine, holding tightly as he pulls the two of us through the crevice.

We’re the last to arrive. Everyone else is already there, helping to silently load our gear onto the van. Morwen is sitting in the front passenger seat with Mia on her lap, drinking heavily from her neck as a wicked looking wound on her chest seals itself before our eyes. Vane notices, and he grumbles something unintelligible under his breath as he pulls me along with him.

Even when we stop, he doesn’t let go. He keeps me pressed against him and wraps his arms around my waist as he turns away to give our sisters their privacy.

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