Page 24 of Claim Me

One slip of the tongue and I’m a dead woman.

That makes it somewhat difficult to have a fluid conversation with the gorgeous king. Especially when he always seems to be on a fact-finding mission with me. Not that I can blame him. But that doesn’t mean Ienjoyhis interrogations.

Okay, maybe I do a little bit.

But who wouldn’t enjoy being questioned by a sexy master vampire in a perfectly tailored suit?

“How are your accommodations?” he murmurs, his tone overly polite.

“The same as the last time you asked,” I reply.

His jaw clenches, revealing a chip in his elegant armor. I’ve found it increasingly easy to do over the last few months, almost as though my mere voice aggravates him now.

“I assume you saw my announcement?”

I roll my eyes. While he might have gone straight to the point, he’s still not being all that direct. “You know I did,Your Highness. You sent Nox here to make sure I watched it with him.”

Darkness flashes in the Gold and Garnet King’s near-black eyes. “Fallon.”

“Kaspian.”

He growls and shakes his head. “Why are you always like this? I’m simply trying to have a polite conversation, and you’re snapping at me.”

“I’m not snapping at you. I’m inflecting sarcasm in my replies.” I move over to the couch and plop down, my gaze finding his burning eyes. “And there’s nothingpoliteabout an execution.”

He sighs, his fingers clenching at his sides. “I understand that you hate me for this decision, but—”

“I don’t hate you,” I interject. “And especially not for your decision. It’s the right one. Klas deserves death.”

“But you don’t,” he mutters.

My eyebrows lift. “Is that your version of sarcasm?”

He stares at me. “What? No. I mean, you don’t deserve what his death will do to you.”

I lift a shoulder. “Whatever happens to me is the lesser evil.” And maybe nothing will happen at all. Maybe the spell that bound our souls will disintegrate into ash along with Klas’s remains.

Or maybe I’ll go insane.

And then there’s the Outcast Coven’s suicide order…

I wince, the reminder of my fate an unwelcome one.

Kaspian takes over the couch opposite me, his athletic frame seeming to melt into the black cushions around him. He says nothing for a long moment, his alluring irises dancing over me with wary interest.

“Do you want to attend his execution?” he asks softly, his gaze still studying me intently.

Do I want to attend Klas’s execution?I wonder, frowning. “Yes.” I want to see him burn. Suffer.Die. Not just for a sense of revenge, but also for peace of mind.I need to know he’s truly gone.

Kaspian nods as though he can hear my thoughts, or perhaps in response to my confirmation, but something about his expression almost seems understanding. “There will only be a handful of witnesses. The fire afterward will be for the House. But I’ll make arrangements to have you at the execution itself.”

“Thank you.” This might be the first time I’m saying those two words to him and meaning them. Because I’m grateful that he’s allowing me this closure, even if it’s a moment that will lead to a much darker future.

“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry it has to be this way. Punishing you for your mate’s sins is… an unfortunate consequence of the situation.”

“For what it’s worth, I’m not sorry,” I counter. “There is no other choice here. Klas is a threat. And by proxy, I suppose I am as well.”

He doesn’t refute my statement, just continues watching me for a beat before saying, “Is there anything I can do to make you more comfortable here?”