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I arrived at the base of the stairs in time to watch Calliope detach a human male’s hand.

Fuck. Her gentle soul would struggle seeing that.

Look at me, I was getting better at considering human feelings. I smiled, satisfied with myself and went hunting for my female.

THIRTY-FOUR

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I was goingto throw up. Calliope ripped the human’s hand off like it was a piece of paper. My stomach heaved and I swallowed repeatedly, hoping the urge to vomit my guts out would disappear.

Throwing up in front of everyone was likely to get me the attention the guys didn’t want on me.

I was so desperate for support, I even turned to look at Alistair, but his attention was fixated on the scene, a creepy little smile on his lips.

I rubbed my palms against my sides, rubbing the dampness on the lace.

“The human has betrayed us.” She paused and flicked her finger. Two large males dragged a woman onto the stage. Her fangs flashed as she grappled between them. “And one of our own, my Progeny, has had a hand in it. Because of her stupidity.”

“Sire, please have mercy,” she begged.

“Silence.” Calliope slapped the female so hard I clasped my own cheek. She turned to look at the silent crowd. Smiles littered the fascinated faces as they watched the ‘show’. “Let this serve as a reminder. Humans with knowledge of us must be controlled until the time comes to discard them.”

I struggled to breath. When, not if.

Calliope’s gaze settled on me and my stomach dropped. How had she found me so easily through the thick crowd? My God, I wanted to run.

Without taking her gaze off me, she yanked the crying human male closer and rammed her nails into his throat. Blood spurted over her arm, splashing her body as he choked and struggled.

A scream almost pushed free, but a hand clasped over my mouth. Or what felt like a hand. There was nothing I could see touching me. My heart raced, painfully pounding in my chest.

A second touch clasped my side. I tried to turn around.

“Settle,” Asher breathed against my ear. So incredibly low. I stopped trying to move and embraced his hug. A sob of relief built in my chest, but I swallowed it down.

Asher’s hands grazed down my sides. The soothing caresses calmed my rampant heart, until he cupped my boobs.

“Asher,” I hissed between clenched teeth.

Teeth sank into my earlobe. I stifled my groan.

“—news anchor writing an expose on us,” Calliope spat. “As the head of my Coven, I will use this as a warning.”

My burgeoning lust abated and the sick feeling in my stomach returned with a vengeance. Even Asher tensed against my back. If humans found out about vampires, it would be madness.

“You endangered us all.” Calliope addressed the vampire kneeling before her. She held her hand out and Freya placed a metallic stake in her palm.

“Now you will bear the consequences. You are lucky we no longer live in the times when vampire hunters existed.” Calliope’s lips peeled back.

Without hesitation, she shoved the tip into the vampire’s chest. She began decaying. Bit by bit, her body fell apart and into a pile of ash.

Calliope returned to look at the limp human male still being held up. He’d died at some point and he no longer gushed blood in spurts. Now it just leaked, causing a huge puddle at his feet. She shoved her fingers into his chest, opening a cavity in the depths. She yanked the heart out.

A scream built in the back of my throat, but before it could burst free Asher’s palm covered my mouth again, muffling my scream. Elated shouts rang throughout the crowd as I was dragged backwards. I clawed at the back of the hand, blinded by the tears sheening my eyes.

“Shhh,Älskade.” I went limp against him, sobbing against his palm. My surroundings blurred. Both from tears and the speed he’d picked up. A door slammed shut and he turned me in his arms. I wrapped my arms around his midsection, burying my face into his chest.

The image of the ligaments and bones snapping wouldn’t leave.