Page 40 of Claim Me

I inhale deeply and open my eyes, unsure of when I closed them, and stare up into a pair of beautiful blue irises.

Not sinister and black like Klas’s eyes. But blue and hypnotic. Kind. Adoring.Mine.

I frown, that last thought unbidden and unexpected.

Mine?

Where am I?

The death plane has disappeared to reveal the dungeon once more. And I’m surrounded by four men. All of whom I know. All of whom are staring down at me now with looks of wonder and confusion.

And distrust,I realize, my gaze finding Nolan’s last. His multicolored irises resemble shadows in this room, his expression dark.

What happened?I nearly ask. But my throat feels dry. Too dry. Like I’ve been unconscious for hours.

I know I haven’t. That’s just a side effect of touching the death plane. It literally sucked the vitality from my body, leaving me corpse-like and barely breathing.

“Are you all right, lass?” Bane asks, his soft voice pulling my attention toward him. “You’re as white as a ghost.”

I almost smile. But I can’t seem to muster up the strength.

Instead, I close my eyes for another long moment.

But when I open them again, the scenery has changed. I’m back in my room. Lying in bed. Exhausted. And watching a fire burn brightly on the television screen.

I blink, confused and alarmed by the shift in time and space. “Wh…?” I try to say, only to cough from the sandpaper sensation lining my throat.

A straw appears then, one I immediately wrap my lips around as I meet Nox’s beautiful gaze again. Only, he’s not staring at me with compassion or concern this time. He’s closed off and unreadable. A guard without emotion.

I take several swallows while I study him, again feeling that strange covetous urge.Mine.

But that doesn’t make any sense.

Yes, I’m attracted to Nox. I would have to be blind not to notice his good looks, and even then, I’m certain his appeal would be obvious through his personality alone.

However, to call him mine?Where is that notion coming from?I stare at him while I drink, taking in his stern expression. He doesn’t look mad so much as uncharacteristically serious.

Did something go wrong during the execution?I wonder, my focus shifting to the screen.Is Klas really dead?

The straw disappears from my mouth as I finish the glass of water, only for another to take its place. I sip from it without commenting, grateful for the hydration while I watch the flames dance ominously on the screen.

Kaspian is there. Nolan, too. But not Bane.

What happened?I think again.

I go through two more cups of water before I’m finally able to ask that aloud.

When Nox doesn’t immediately answer, I glance at him. “Did I do something? With my powers, I mean.”Is that why he’s acting so strange?I visited the death plane, after all. That can’t be a good sign.

Except I seem to have freed myself from Klas’s grasp. And my soul did not, in fact, join his in the afterlife.

Unless this is a really strange version of hell.

“You died,” Nox says flatly. “Or it seemed that way. Until you woke up.”

“Oh.” I bite my lip. “How long was I out?”

“Only a few minutes. But… you were pale and not breathing.” He looks away, his expression hardening. “And then you came back…”