Page 90 of Claim Me

Nikolas must be Klas’s real name,I marvel, surprised that such a prominent detail was missing from his files. But it seems that was purposefully omitted.

“Second-chance…?” She trails off, some of the fire dying along her arms. “Oh, fuck…” The flames disappear entirely. “When did this happen?”

“When did what happen?”

“The mating,” she says through her teeth. “When did you second-chance-mate her?”

I frown, the concern in her voice very unlike the commanding tone from moments ago. “Tell me who she is to you and I’ll consider answering.”

Because, so far, she hasn’t given me much information, yet I’ve revealed a key detail about my link to Fallon. I also lowered my gun despite that sphere of energy whirling around her.

If she wants more details, she’ll need to give me a compelling reason to comply.

The witch must see the resolve in my expression because she sighs and draws the sphere-like enchantment back into herself. “Fallon is my cousin.”

Now it’s my turn to arch a brow. “The family resemblance is uncanny,” I deadpan, noting her black hair, olive skin, and almond-shaped eyes.

This woman looks nothing like my curvy blonde witch.

She snorts. “We’re not related by blood. Her aunt adopted me when I was a child.” She folds her slender arms over her chest. “Did the mate bond happen right after the execution?” she asks, drawing us back to the second-chance-mate conversation.

“Yes. After she came back from the death plane,” I say, watching her carefully to see if that trip to thedeath planesurprises her. “She mate-bonded all four of us the moment she started breathing again.”

“All four…?” The woman’s eyes widen. “Oh, that fucking spell…” It sounds like she’s talking to herself more than to me, but her words have me instantly alert.

“What spell?”

“The one that mate-bonded her to Nikolas,” she mutters, her fingers running through her hair as she starts pacing. “Do the patriarchs know?” she asks, her long legs eating up the sidewalk. “Never mind. Of course they know. Or they will. Who exactly has she mated?”

She stops then and looks at me, black flames appearing on her arms again.

My hand twitches with the need to rise, her threatening expression immediately putting me on the defensive.

Except her gaze goes over my shoulder in the next second as she softly says, “We can’t have this conversation here.”

I glance over my shoulder to find the street still empty, but the hairs along the back of my neck tell me that either it’s a facade or it’s about to change.

“This way,” the witch says as a doorway magically appears in the wall of a building.

I stare at the enchantment as she approaches it. “Why should I follow you?”

“Because I know how to break the fated-mate spell,” she says. “And I’m probably the only one who will tell you the truth around here.”

Fated-mate spell.“You’re saying it isn’t real?”

“I’m saying we don’t have time to discuss it here,” she replies as she reaches the enchantment. “Either follow me or I’ll track you down later. It’s what I do.”

She disappears through the threshold without a backward glance, leaving me on the sidewalk.

I narrow my gaze. This is likely a trap. But I’m not easily subdued, even if I’m taken to a place where I can’t use my wings.

Besides, I came here for answers, and this female clearly knows Fallon. Which means Kaspian’s instincts were right—she’s from the Outcast Coven.

But I need more information.

Particularly about this supposed spell.

Right. I run my thumb down the handle of my gun and move toward the door.Let’s see where you go.