Page 38 of Claim Me

I’m going to fake my death and then hope they send me to the morgue for an autopsy rather than just destroy my remains.

Issy’s argument is that my “demise” will be so sudden that they’ll want answers, so they’ll send me off for review instead of disposing of me right away. I think she’s giving the men a little too much credit. Like they’ll care about what caused my death; they’ll just be thrilled not to have to worry about my powers anymore.

I can hear you overthinking, Fallon.

Probably because I’m projecting,I mutter back at my twin as I catch Klas’s evil stare again.

He blows me a kiss, causing Nox to growl beside me. Bane wraps his arm around my lower back, his muscular hold both soothing and unnerving.

Soothing because it’s Bane and we’ve developed a comfortable friendship over the last year.

Unnerving because that friendship isn’t real, yet I’m clinging to it like a lifeline now.

Do you remember the words you need to say?Issy asks.

Yes.I’ve repeated them in various patterns over the last three days. Although, I haven’t said them aloud in the actual spell sequence yet. Because, if I had, I wouldn’t be here right now. I’d be in the morgue.

Maybe.

Or burned alive.

Fuck.

Issy repeats my name, fully aware of me freaking out again. But this time I don’t reply, because Kaspian is reading Klas’s last rights.

I barely hear him.

I barely hear my own mind.

I’m too consumed by the ill intentions pouring off of Klas.He’s up to something,I think again.This isn’t going to go the way we think it should.

“Any last words?” Kaspian asks, drawing me from my stupor.

“Yes,” Klas replies, his sinister tones seeming to wrap around my neck like a noose. “I look forward to dancing with your soul in the afterlife, Fallon.”

I shudder, not liking the sound of that.

“After all, loyal mates die with their beloved,” he adds, his silky tones drowning me in a sea of goose bumps. “Isn’t that right, pet?”

Nox snorts. “Belovedis a bit of a stretch, isn’t it?”

Klas ignores him, his focus entirely on me.

He definitely knows about the edict,I confirm to Issy.But I think there’s more to it. He’s implying he’ll own my soul for eternity.

That’s impossible.

Is it?I whisper back to her.Daithi’s spell was all black magic. It tied my soul to Klas, maybe even in death.

Which means our plan won’t work at all.

Because I’ll follow Klas over to the other side the moment his head is severed from his neck.

My life may be tied to his existence,I continue, my pulse kicking into overdrive.Issy, I think we misjudged this situation entirely. I—

Breathe,she demands.I’m not losing you to that monster again. Just give me a second…

I don’t have a second,I whisper back to her as Nolan knocks Klas’s legs out from beneath him and positions the man over the block.They’re about to—