Page 98 of Claimed By Blood

“Evie…” Vane cautions.

“How many times do I have to drum it into your head that we’re ateam?” Unlike his perpetually calm beta, Gideon is so angry he looks like he might actually explode.

The vein at his temple dances in fury, and his eyes have narrowed until they’re completely overshadowed by his bold brows. Both of us are breathing deeply, the two of us still riding a high from a battle that hasn’t quite worn off yet.

For a second, I can’t decide if I want to hit him or fuck him. From his thunderous expression, I’m pretty sure he’s feeling the exact same way about me.

Then Finn steps in between us, somehow finding a space to insert himself into, despite how close Gideon and I have become. He faces down his alpha, bringing his palms up to rest on Gideon’s chest.

“Hey,” he murmurs. “Why don’t you take a step back? Frost has gone to get Noha and Samuel, and there’s some stuff on the monitor I think you really need to see.”

The effect is instant. The fight drains out of Gideon like a balloon deflating, and his body visibly starts to shrink. I didn’t even notice his clothes stretching, but now they’re visibly looser on his frame.

He must have been close to shifting.

The alpha and omega take one step away from me, and then another. Gideon has a wary look in his eyes, but it’s directed at Finn, not me. The omega shoots me a look I can’t quite decipher as he leads his pack leader away and over to the van.

Everyone is staring, but they duck their heads as I turn my attention to them.

“That was childish,” Vane censures.

Somehow, without Gideon there, pushing my buttons, I too have lost my fight. “God, it was, wasn’t it?” Mortification burns at my cheeks, but the elder beta doesn’t level any judgement at me.

He nods once and looks over at the dunes where Noha and Samuel are apparently still arguing it out. “Tensions are high. It was expected. You are still finding your place among relationships that have existed for decades.”

“If he thinks I’m going to bow down and ask permission to piss—”

Vane’s unimpressed look shuts me up, and I sink to my ass on the sand with a huff of frustration.

“I’ve gotten between Gideon and Finn when all I wanted to do was help them,” I mutter. “I’ve fucked up any chance of ever getting Samuel to tell us how to kill Cain. I’m not even certain I trust everyone I’ve brought into this…”

“The road to Hell is paved with good intentions…” he mutters.

I scoff. “Then I should have a marble road with a red freaking carpet rolled over it.”

“Get up.” He doesn’t seem interested in letting me wallow in my self pity. “We’ve got to get out of here, and preferably far away from Egypt. Finn said Frost is going to get Samuel and… Noha. Once they’re back, we’re going.”

But only two silhouettes reappear over the top of the sand dune minutes later.

“Where is she?” Draven grumbles.

A wave of his disappointment hits me and it takes me a second to realise it’s because he was hoping to be the one to kill her.

“Gone,” Frost mutters, clearly just as displeased as the vampire.

“My wife and I have decided to separate.” Samuel looks absolutely wrecked, for all that his tone remains even. “She blames me for the loss of our son, and I… can no longer bear to look at her.”

“Are you coming with us?” Morwen asks, hanging her head out of the passenger window. “Or will you try to rebuild with your people?”

Samuel shakes his head. “They had their instructions. Should our home be taken, they were under orders to leave and never try to contact one another again. I made the decision for their own safety. They will be better able to blend in with society as individuals. There can be no rebuilding now. Cain will be looking for them, and we have no idea how much Noha let slip.”

He turns to regard me with sad eyes. “You know what I said.”

“I tried,” I whisper, grateful when someone—Silas—comes up behind me and wraps an arm around my waist in a silent show of support. “If he hadn’t—”

My brother holds up a hand to silence me. “I am a man of my word.”

“You can’t do that!” Immy argues. “Cain is the reason Bakari is dead. He’s the reason your wife betrayed you. We’re the only family you have left, and we’re all going to die if you don’t—”

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