Chapter Nineteen
Harlow
Claimed In Blood
When I next wake, I feel as though I’ve been reborn. Through a rigorous, demanding process that has left me famished and sore, but reborn nonetheless.
It’s hard to tell if it’s day or night outside, as the windows are covered by heavy blackout drapes and pinned in place with furniture.
But my eyes have adjusted to the darkness of Mateo’s room, and I can see his exposed upper body beside me on the bed.
His eyes are closed, and his chest moves ever so slightly as I watch.
More than that, I notice his color has returned to the hue I’m most familiar with.
My eyes roam over his form, drinking in the sight of the man I’ve given myself to. Not merely in the flesh, but in a soul-deep, spiritual way, I can already feel. His words were true before—this claim he’s finally put on me is iron-clad. And in that way, a piece of my freedom is again lost.
Except it doesn’t feel like a loss. It feels like a gain.
My lips lift in a smile. I traded independence, loneliness, and solitude for the eternal companionship of a vampire who would lay down his life for me or kill for me without hesitation.
A man whose kisses sear my blood and whose touch brands my heart.
I’m pretty sure this means that, even if something happens to the coven surrounding us beyond our four walls, I won’t ever be lonely again so long as I live.
Because I won’t have to worry about outliving my Mateo, and that is a thought that brings me peace beyond measure.
I lean down and kiss his nearest shoulder, inhaling one more lungful of him, before scooting from the bed and taking myself to the restroom.
I still have no idea how much time’s passed since I barged into Mateo’s room, terrified he’d left me, but whatever else I am, I’m human enough that I have some matters to attend to before I can investigate that.
Which makes me wonder if the coven sought out a home with indoor plumbing—or had it installed—entirely for the consorts they would one day acquire?
Some things are better left a mystery, maybe.
As freshened up as I can get, I pull my previously discarded oversized shirt back on and root out a pair of briefs from Mateo’s dresser.
He drank my blood and shredded my panties; the least he can do is lend me something to wear.
Not that I’m mad. It gives me a silly thrill to cover myself in his clothes.
So much so, I tear the shirt back off and dig out more until my entire outfit is Mateo’s.
It hangs off me, but I’ve rolled up the pants and pulled the drawstring tight to keep everything from falling away or tripping me, and I’ve knotted the shirt at one hip to keep it from swaying.
I feel like a woman claimed. Hopefully, I look like one, too, because I’m going to slip out of the room and see what’s become of the house and the residents. Maybe also procure some food. I have no idea when I last ate.
I slip out quietly, making sure to shut the door all the way before carrying on down the hall. I barely make it to the top of the stairs before I’m spotted, and my body goes tense.
“Why’re you out sneaking around?” The growled question is Kyson’s.
I turn and see him approaching me from one of the rooms I’ve just passed, making me realize I literally have no idea where anyone else’s space is, which feels awkward if I’m supposed to make friends with them.
But I remind myself that everything about my introduction here was unplanned and frenzied, for all of us, and tell myself to give it time.
I give Kyson a careful smile. I belong here now. Even he can’t take that away. “What time is it?”
He frowns harder and folds his arms over his chest. I watch his eyes leave mine to rake over me in a critical way that makes me want to squirm, but it’s a brief sensation before his stare is back on mine.
His expression changes a little, morphing with something I want to call curiosity.
Except I don’t know him well enough to be confident.
“Are you bonded, then?” This question is less growly, and suddenly it occurs to me that my presence has possibly made the others uncomfortable in some way.
Aside from the way Scarlet had to rescue me to bring me here.
“Yes, nosy butt,” Mateo grumbles from behind Kyson.
Kyson’s posture falters as he adjusts to let Mateo pass. His face practically has a seizure.
I giggle as warmth floods me, and my eyes immediately find Mateo’s. I’m bouncing on the balls of my feet with anticipation of his touch before I even realize it, as if I haven’t seen him in days.
Mateo pulls me close and nuzzles my neck. I swear my own lungs fill when I hear him draw a breath. “You left the bed,” he murmurs against my skin, before licking the shell of my ear on his way back up.
I flush but make no move to pull away from him. “I had to pee,” I say honestly. I’m pouting when he’s standing straight and meeting my eyes again. “And I’m hungry.”
His lips lift in a smile that feeds my soul.
Kyson sighs, reminding us both of his presence.
“Make sure you let Aziel know so he can reach out to arrange the ceremony.” He claps Mateo on the shoulder as he turns to retrace his steps.
“Congratulations.” His eyes find mine for a lingering second, he dips his chin in acknowledgment, and then he walks off.
I blink and look up at Mateo. “Does that mean he doesn’t hate me anymore?”
Mateo chuckles and encourages me to start down the stairs, his arm around my waist. “He never hated you, mi alma. He was just upset about the risk Scarlet took, which I played a hand in exposing her to.” His arm tightens around me, nearly toppling me off my feet. “I can’t say I don’t understand.”
I remember a bit about an exchange like that, from before the attack that wounded Mateo.
At the time, I had been too out of sorts to process much of it.
Now, I can see Mateo’s point. I loop my arm around his waist as we round the corner that will take us through the sitting room and into the kitchen. “Will they come back?”
Mateo is quiet for too many seconds. “Noah and his hunters?”
I bob my head and grip him tighter.
“Yes, undoubtedly. If not Noah himself, then someone else.” Mateo lifts me onto a stool at the kitchen island and brackets me in place, gripping the island’s edge with both hands as he leans close.
His eyes gleam in the low light with a fierceness that resounds inside me.
“When they come, we’ll protect our home, just as we always do.
We’ll protect our coven. We’ll protect each other.
” He brushes his lips over mine in a light caress.
“If you’re with me, and if you’re safe, I can fight as hard as I need to. ”
My hands latch onto his shirt even though he’s made no effort to retreat. “I don’t want you to have to fight.” The vision of him bleeding out, as he had before, assails my memory.
Mateo lifts a hand from the island to cup my face, his thumb lightly brushing over my cheek. “Sometimes it’s necessary. Those are the times I’ll have to join the rest on the front. Mostly, I’m a behind-the-scenes guy. I promise.”
That isn’t the most reassuring promise I’ve ever heard, but the rational part of my brain recognizes his sense. The unpleasant things aren’t always unavoidable.
He leans in and presses a kiss to my lips, but he doesn’t linger. “How about some food, hm?”
My stomach rumbles on cue.
Mateo releases me and moves toward the refrigerator, and I decide that if he’s volunteering to prepare food for me, I’m not going to argue, at least not until I see how well my vampire lover can or cannot cook.
But he’s barely pulled out a carton of eggs—apparently aiming for breakfast—when Aziel steps into the kitchen, looks between us, and settles his stern expression on Mateo. Lead forms in my stomach before he even opens his mouth, and when he does, his words turn my blood cold with dread.
“We’ve found where Noah ran to lick his wounds. If you’re healed up, I want you with us. We’re taking him off the board tonight.”