Page 40 of Claimed

“I’m fine. Gonna need a new burner phone, though.” I sit on the edge of the bed and peek over at her pad. “What are you drawing?”

She hands it to me and once again, her skill blows me away. It’s us. She’s on her knees, cocooned in big, black wings, only her face visible. There are tears on her cheeks. I’m behind her, wearing a Reaper’s robe. I have a scythe in hand, eyes a dark red. I know I’m not there as the one causing her tears. The determined expression on my face tells me she sees me as her protector. She’s closed in on herself, and I’m there as her guardian. Fuck me. All the anger drains from my body. Under the picture, she’s written “Rage” in a creative font. I pull her into my arms and kiss her forehead. I can’t even find the words to express what I’m feeling right now. One thing’s for sure, I’ll protect her with everything I have.

“What’s with this ‘Rage’ thing?” I ask.

She raises her shoulders in a shrug. “Didn’t you hear? It’s our couple name.”

“Yeah...but why that?”

“It’s appropriate, don’t you think?”

“How so?”

“Because.” She stares into my eyes. “It’s what we’re both feeling right now.”

And there it is. The two of us summed up in one word; linked, not just by our names but our very emotions.

“What do you think?” she asks.

Rage.

“I think it’s perfect.”

CHAPTER 10

***Raven***

I’m stuffed and pretty sure everyone else is, too. I don’t remember the last time I ate this much. Chopper and Nita are gods in the kitchen. Right now, everyone is gathered in the bar, having drinks while I’m sipping on sweet tea. Other than the Hunters, no one here is related by blood, yet they embrace each other as family. It’s different for me. Growing up, it was me, Lonnie, and Daddy. After Lonnie left, it was the two of us. Toni would come over sometimes, but that was about it. I’m not used to having so many people around, so many people who consider me family. Even the Hounds have a place amongst everyone today. The blonde—I found out her name is Britney—has been shooting dirty looks at me, but I’m determined not to let her spoil my night. All the others have been super nice. I wonder why they’re called Hounds. Gage is nestled next to me on the couch, so I might as well ask.

“Gage?”

“Yeah, babe?”

“Why are the girls called Hounds?”

“It’s short for Hellhounds.”

“But why?” I push for a better answer. “Hellhounds are three-headed dogs with serpent tails.”

“Someone knows their Greek mythology.” He chuckles.

“Tell me.”

“Okay, fine. It all ties in with the whole death theme. See, Cerberus, he was Hades’ guard dog.”

“Yeah. He guarded the entrance to the underworld.”

“Right. He kept the dead in and the living out. Think of the MC as the underworld. The members are the dead, and everyone outside of the club is the living.”

“So...they’re like guardians for the club? I thought they were here to suck dick.”

He laughs, his chest shaking beneath my cheek. “They do that. But they also cook, do laundry, that type of stuff. They basically take care of the guys who don’t have old ladies.”

“Okay. So, everything they do is to keep outsiders – the living – from entering the underworld where they have no business being?”

“You got it.”

Hmm...interesting.