Page 64 of Claim Me

“Yes, sweetheart. Tell us who has her so we can help you free her.” I’m not quite sure what happened or how, but Fallon’s pain was visceral as she spoke about her sister.

She kept saying her name and begging the patriarchs to stop whatever they were doing.

“I need to free her.”

“I have to protect her.”

Nox and Bane were both at a loss when Fallon started sobbing, their stricken expressions matching her own.

That’s when I took charge and pulled her into my lap. She needed someone to ground her, to keep her somewhat lucid and bring her back.

Just like we did when we made her breathe again.

“I…” Fallon trails off, the surprise slowly clearing from her expression. “It was a nightmare. My twin is dead.”

I frown at her. “A nightmare?”

She nods, the movement a little too jerky to be believed. “Sometimes I have episodes during the day. I guess I just had one about an old memory.”

“Of some sort ofpatriarchhurting your sister?” I deadpan, not buying her lie for a second.

Her cheeks went a little white when I uttered that term—patriarch—confirming it’s an important one to note.

“Um, yes. Long ago. Before I met Klas.”

I narrow my gaze. “You don’t actually expect me to believe this bullshit, right?” It’s probably the bluntest statement I’ve ever made to her. But I’m really fucking tired of this game. “Why don’t you try giving me the truth now, Fallon? No more lies.”

“I’m not lying,” she snaps, her curvy form starting to squirm in my lap.

Any other time, I might have enjoyed those movements.

But right now all I want to do is flip her over and smack her disobedient ass.

“You’re absolutely lying,” I tell her. “That wasn’t a fucking nightmare. You looked like death when we came in and had to force you to breathe. Then you screamed and started begging thepatriarchsto stop hurting your sister.”

Fallon flinches with that term again.Definitely important.

“He’s right,” Bane says, his voice much softer than mine. “That wasn’t a nightmare, Fallon.”

“You were ice cold until we warmed you up,” Nox adds.

Fallon scowls and tries to wiggle her way off my legs. I consider pinning her down but think better of it and let her go.

She stumbles to her feet, her stance uneasy, which causes Bane and Nox to immediately jump up with her.

I’m not as keen on coddling her, so I join them all slowly and watch as Fallon begins to pace.

She’s obviously trying to think up a new lie, which really fucking pisses me off, but I remain silent and wait for her next attempt.

“I… I went to the death plane,” she finally says, her shoulders going rigid. “It’s where I draw most of my power from, so I’m familiar with it. But I’ve never actually visited like that before. At least, not until yesterday… after, well, after the execution.”

I lean against the wall, my arms folding across my chest. “Okay.” As far as stories go, this one is definitely creative. Maybe it’s even true. But it doesn’t tell me anything about her sister or the patriarch.

“It’s not a corporeal plane, but one linked to the afterlife. So it’s my soul that goes, which I guess makes my body cold in the process?”

That’s another detail that makes this story somewhat plausible. And it does make sense with her death magic abilities.But…“I’ve never heard of a death plane before.” I glance at the phantoms. “Has either of you?”

They both shake their heads.