Page 124 of Claimed By Blood

“You’re back?” The omega in question jumps up from his seat and rushes towards us, tugging both Silas and me in for a hug. “Gid and I set up, but we couldn’t find you, then I got your message.”

“Turns out Cain had a secret escape tunnel.” I shrug. “We didn’t find anything else.” Not that we’d searched very hard.

Silas uses that as his cue to launch into the plan, aiming most of his words at Gideon, who takes it all in in silence. Draven melts into the shadows, muttering about going to check out more of the upstairs rooms, and I look around for Immy and Vane, only to find they’re still missing.

Finn releases his beta and drags me towards the sofa, situating me between him and Gideon. Not as a shield—like I was before—but more like a pillow. He curls into me, and Gideon wraps an arm around my shoulders, until I wonder if I’m actually dreaming.

We were gone a handful of hours at most. What changed?

“It’s a good plan,” Gideon mutters. “We’ll strip the ID of anyone we kill, and Finn can lay some false trails, make it look like they’ve gone on an unplanned holiday or something. If we play our cards right, we could eek out a few weeks here.”

“Where’s my sister?” I ask, cutting into the conversation. “And Vane? I thought they’d be back by now?”

“There were other immortals trapped in the mausoleum,” Gideon grumbles. “Prisoners who pissed off Cain for one reason or another. None of them were locked up for nearly as long as you, and they’re mostly lycan. Vane and Imogen are releasing them and making sure they don’t cause trouble.”

“We’ll go and lend them a hand,” Frost says, grabbing Silas by the arm and leading him back towards the door. “It smells like you three have something to talk about.”

What does he mean by that?I take a deep inhale, but all I can smell is stew. Damn his ghoul nose. It makes a vampire sense of smell seem almost mortal by comparison.

Finn and Gideon both stare at me, and I blink back at them.

The alpha breaks the silence, and I sit quietly as he explains what they’ve been discussing in my absence. Through it all, I keep an eye on my thrall bond to Finn. In my absence, the cautious anxiety that’s been plaguing him since his issues with Gideon came to a head has disappeared. He’s flooded with cautious optimism, and it’s sweet to watch him interact with his alpha now that he’s settled.

“So, let me get this straight,” I say, when Gideon finishes. I take a breath to give myself time to think it through. “You don’t want a sexual relationship yet…”

“But when we get to that stage, we want you there,” Finn confirms.

I glance at Gideon, and then back to the omega. “And you’re sure you’re fine with this,” I clarify, searching the bond for any hint of discomfort.

Finn nods. “More than fine. Gid?”

“I’d invite a goddamn alpaca into the bedroom if it made you more comfortable,” Gideon grumbles. “Having someone with a link to both of our emotions there to keep us both communicating seems like a good idea.”

“Ewww, I didn’t realise you were into fancy sheep,” Finn jibes, breaking the solemn mood.

“You’re the one with the stuffed wolf collection,” Gid retorts.

“They were gifts from you!” Finn objects. “Where else was I going to put them but in my room?”

Gideon’s face cracks into a rare smile that holds more than a hint of mischief. “Do you know how much they freaked Silas out when you two first started dating? I had to listen to him telling Vane how Van Howlsing stared him down while he was—”

Finn puts his hands over my ears, blocking out the rest of what must have been an embarrassing story. When he removes them again, Gideon is grinning like a cat that got the cream.

“But are you okay with that?” Finn presses.

I frown. “You know I enjoy being shared.” Being caught between him and Silas ranked as one of the hottest moments of my life. “Why would I have any issue with that?” I pause. “I understand that it might get… messy. But we’re adults. We can talk it out when things go wrong.”

“We might have to pin Gideon down and gag him to get him to listen,” Finn jokes.

Gideon—still smiling—nods. “I’m sure between the two of you, you’d manage it.”

“Shut up and eat,” Finn mutters, getting up and ladling out a bowl full of stew.

The next hour or so is weirdly relaxed. Slowly, the rest of the pack trickles back in, bringing with them the news that the prisoners Cain was keeping have been freed, supplied as best they can manage, and dispersed in the opposite direction to the village. Silas and Vane volunteer to run a first perimeter—although there’s not much need with Frost’s ghoul sentries stationed in the forest—and the rest of us start to relax for the first time since our encounter with Armin.

I’m restless, and it must show, because Gideon pulls me out of the pile of male bodies which has taken over the sofa and towards the stairs. I might’ve resisted, if not for the scorching heat in his gaze. I do glance back at Finn, only to receive a saucy wink for my troubles. Just before we move out of sight, I catch the omega turning to Silas and whispering something in the beta’s ear.

Looks like he plans to make use of the lust we’re putting off for his own benefit.

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