Page 138 of Claim Me

“All hell is about to break loose in Outcast Coven territory,” she muses. “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned and all that. Only it’swomen, notwoman.”

“I don’t understand what’s happening,” Khaos says, his words seeming to be for one of his brothers.

“The patriarchy has kept the women of our coven on magical leashes for years, forcing us to mate whomever they choose, all in the name of giving the males power and dominion over us,” Ayla explains. “They’ve been usingourmagical birthrights to empower themselves.”

“How?” Khaos asks. “If your birthrights make you the more powerful of the duo, how have they managed to subdue you?”

“By taking control of the most powerful members of the coven at birth,” Amala replies. “Powerful members like Fallon and Ishara Doyle.”

“When you’re raised in a world that calls you weak, tells you that it’s your place to obey, convinces you that your only worth in life is as a marriage commodity to a superior male, you believe them,” Ayla adds. “But it seems something helped Fallon wake up.”

“Someones,” Amala corrects, her green eyes dancing over Nox, Bane, Kaspian, and then me. “Her links to you have provided her with new perspective. She just may not realize that’s the cause.”

“Her desire to save her sister would also have been a motivating factor,” Ayla murmurs, her eyes falling closed. “I’m almost done.”

This portal seems to be taking her a lot longer than the others. I’m guessing it’s related to theprotection barriersshe mentioned.

“When I open this door, there will be no going back. They’ll know I’m involved. But something tells me that I will be the least of their concerns,” Ayla says, a smile in her voice. “Once the others realize they’re free…”

“Blood will be shed,” Amala finishes for her. “Fucking finally.”

“Ready?” Ayla asks after a beat, her gaze roaming around the rooftop. “It’ll open to a small freezer area, but I don’t know what’s waiting for us beyond. I just know both Issy and Fallon are there.”

I stare at her. “Wait, you can sense Issy again?”

She nods. “Whatever Fallon did to free us all freed Issy, too. They’re together.”

“In a small freezer,” Kaspian growls. “Did I hear that right?”

Ayla clears her throat. “You did. It’s… it’s one of Daithi’s favorite torments.”

My eyes narrow, but it’s Nox who says, “ThisDaithineeds to die.”

Bane twirls a pair of knives in his hands as I pull out one of my guns. “He does,” we say at the same time.

“Open the portal,” I add. “We’re very ready.”

The mercenaries behind me all make noises of agreement, the sounds of weapons being armed littering the air.

Let the war begin.

Ayla pauses for a moment, her shoulders squaring. Then she nods and mutters a few words in a language I’ve never heard before.

A second later, the door opens to reveal a scene that has my blood running hot and then cold.

Fallon’s naked.

Her face is turning blue.

And the male inside ischuckling. Although, that chuckle dies swiftly when he sees Ayla’s portal creation.

“You,” he growls.

“Me,” she returns, black fire dancing down her arms.

I assume this brown-haired male is Daithi and quickly take aim at his head. But he blocks my bullet with a spell, his hazel eyes glittering with power.

Ayla tries to hit him with a fiery sphere. He sends it to the side, then does something that lifts Fallon from the ground, causing me to freeze.