Page 158 of Claim Me

So that hasn’t changed much, then.

Not really, no,I reply.If anything, they’re even more protective now. But I guess that comes with the territory of our bonding.

Meaning what, exactly?

Just that they have different reasons to be protective now than they did before.I shrug. Not that she can see me. She’s in Finland with Ayla, the latter of whom keeps sending me pictures of all the snow.

I don’t think so,Issy replies.

You don’t think what?I ask, confused.

That their reasons have changed.

I blink.But they have. I was a prisoner before. Now I’m their mate.

I think their reasons have always revolved around their interest in you, sis. Sure, they were trying to interrogate you before. But I think they followed you around because they wanted to, not because they had to.

I snort at that.Pretty sure Kaspian ordered them to.

Pretty sure they offered to guard you, Fallon,she tosses back.No order required.

I narrow my gaze as though she’s seated across from me.Wanna bet?

Sure. When I win, you have to come visit for a week without the harem.

And when I win?I counter.

Name your terms,she taunts.

My lips twist to the side as I consider my options. I’m about to suggest something outlandish—just to play with my sister—when Nox materializes in the room. “You have a very strange expression on your face, firefly. What are you contemplating?”

“How long have you been watching me?”

He smiles. “A few minutes.”

I shake my head. “Such a voyeur.”

“Guilty.” He shrugs. “But seriously, what’s with the face?”

I blow out a breath and tell him what Issy just said, then add, “My sister is being a hopeless romantic, apparently.”

Nox considers me for a moment. “I’d argue that she’s being a realist.”

My brow furrows. “What?”

“You don’t think Kaspian offered us other positions in the palace?” he asks me. “Other opportunities outside of guarding you?”

I stare at him. “Did he?”

“Of course he did. But Bane and I chose you each time.” He shrugs again. “We had no interest in sharing you with others, Fallon.” He crawls onto the bed to sit beside me. “You’ve been ours since the moment we saw you.”

I shiver. “Oh.”

“Oh,” he repeats, leaning in to brush his lips over mine.

“I feel the same way,” Bane announces as he appears in the room. “In case that wasn’t clear with Nox’s proclamation.”

“Just as there’s a reason I kept you in my guest suite,” Kaspian adds as he opens the door, his enhanced vampire senses obviously granting him access to our conversation without even being in the room.