Page 35 of Claimed By Blood

“I have signal jammers all over this jet and the walls are scream-proof,” Finley quips, moving past Silas—who’s settled on the corner of the bed—to drag me in for a hug. “Want to test it out?”

“Finn,” Vane scolds. The largest member of the pack is leaning against the cabinet and Draven has taken the corner beside him, which is the spot with the best view of the door.

My vampire’s eyes meet mine for a second. The ice in his expression should put my guard up, but I’m getting better at reading him now. The quirk of his left brow is a question—a silent demand after my welfare, which I acknowledge with a nod—and the stern cast of his lips is tipped slightly up, letting me know this isn’t something to worry about.

I take in all of that just as Gideon says, “We’re here to get everyone on the same page. Not seduce her.”

Frost looks almost apologetic as he shrugs. “He’s right. All we got from you and D was that we had to have the planes ready.”

“How do we know we can trust you?” Gideon demands of my vampire thrall. “Finley can vouch for Evie because he can feel her…”

“And I can vouch for him because I can feel him,” I interrupt. “While we were stuck in Court, I formed the thrall bond. Draven wants Cain dead as much as I do.”

There. I’ve admitted I want my sire dead.

A tremor runs through my frame, and Finn strokes my back to soothe it away.

“You’re safe. You’re with us,” he whispers.

Nodding, I take a deep breath before I continue, stepping back so I can judge all of their expressions. “I trust Draven.” I pause, then add, “I trust all of you. If I’m going to die, I want to die free.”

“What about your sisters?” Vane asks. “Morwenna is cosying up to Mia…”

Ah, so that’s what’s nettling him.

Finn rolls his eyes. “Ignore him. It was always going to be this way as soon as Mia started dating. She has the big beta brothers from hell. It’s why she acts out so much.”

Understandable. Given the way Silas and Vane were both eyeing Morwen, I’d probably find them overbearing too. My sister is not an easy person to love, but Mia is a grown adult and able to make her own choices.

“Morwen didn’t kill Samuel when she was ordered to. Her neck is on the line if she betrays us—although that’s no guarantee. Immy…”

“Immy what?” Frost coaxes. “You two used to be close, but she’s not acting anything like you were when you came out of a coffin. No bloodlust, no struggle for control.”

“She said that Cain released her early and unleashed her on the villagers, to punish them. Her excuse for not coming to save me herself was that she thought she could make our sire love her.”

Conveniently, no one can confirm her story, because Cain kept her return a secret from everyone—even my sisters.

“And you believe her?” Gideon drawls.

He thinks I’m an idiot.

“She also blamed Draven for ratting us out all those years ago.” I turn to him, reaching for our bond to confirm what I already know.

His outrage hits hard and fast, followed by icy cold determination. “She threw me under the bus to gain your trust.”

“It was a plausible story.”

“You know I didn’t,” he growls, pushing away from the corner and pacing towards me. “I was loyal to Frost.”

I nod. “I know that now—thanks to the bond—but at the time, it was a toss up.”

“So she’s lying,” Silas growls. “Why haven’t you killed her?”

“Have you ever heard of keeping your enemies close?” I smirk. “Immy can go one of three ways: either she lied to try to earn my forgiveness, because she truly does miss our friendship and she’ll be as loyal as the rest of us. Or she’ll report everything back to Cain like a faithful servant the second she has a chance. If that happens, we can use her to make sure he only hears what we want him to hear before despatching her. She’s never been a gifted warrior. Any of us could take her out.”

“And the third option?” Frost demands.

“We may be able to sway her to our side.” It will take work, but they’d won me over. My softhearted sister shouldn’t be too much trouble. “Until I know which way she’s going to go, I want to keep her close.”

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