Page 121 of His Eternal Claim

What am I even saying? Crystella is dead.

Zagreus is staring down at me. His stormy eyes are flickering between dark grey and black with a stillness that scares me more than any nightmare. His jaw is locked tight, his pupils dilated as he absorbs the absolute hysteria pouring out of me.

A cold splash of reality hits my face. I shut my mouth tight.

I’m blabbering nonsense. He thinks I’m insane.

He thinks his wife has finally lost her mind.

I drop my gaze, unable to hold his piercing stare for another second. The trembling in my limbs doubles.

Before I can spiral into shame, Zagreus closes the single inch of distance between us, grabbing the back of my waist and pulling me hard against his chest. One of his hands cups the back of my head, burying my face into the crook of his neck.

“No one is here, Dolcezza.”

I swallow, instinctively looking over his shoulder.

How do I tell him I still feel like someone is watching me?

Am I losing my mind? Am I going insane? I swear there was someone; how do I tell him…

There are so many things I want to say to him, but they die in my throat.

“Take me home,” I whisper instead, tired and hysterical. “Please, Zagreus. Just take me home.” His chest rises and falls against mine as he holds me tighter, his large hand smoothing down my hair.

“We’re going home, Dolcezza,” he rasps against my ear. “We’re going home right now, but before that, we are going to see a doctor.”

Chapter 43

Threshold

THE REQUIEM | Past

Watch your mouth, Marcus,” Zagreus growls. “You are speaking about my wife. Choose your next words very carefully.”

I am sitting on the edge of the examination table. My hands are tightly tucked between my thighs to hide the violent tremor that hasn’t left my limbs since we arrived at this clinic in the dead of night.

I still can’t process what Marcus said earlier.

I am numb, paralyzed by the absurdity of this situation.

Even though I argued I did not need a doctor, Zagreus forced me to come.

Dr. Marcus, the Vitale family’s most trusted and discreet medical professional, quickly holds up his hands, his face turning a shade paler under his spectacles.

“I apologize, Don Vitale. I did not mean it as an allegation against her character. I am just stating what’s written in her reports. Her system is saturated with a highly potent, synthesized hallucinogen.”

My breath catches. I look up, my vision still slightly hazy around the edges as the doctor’s words echo in my ears.

Hallucinogens? Drugs?

“That’s impossible.” I shake my head. “I don’t take drugs. I don’t even drink coffee anymore. I’ve only been taking…”

My voice dies in my throat.

My head snaps up, meeting Zagreus’s stormy grey eyes.

“Only taking what, Selene?”