Page 5 of North’s Claim

Di slips between Rook and Tornado with a sly smirk. “Did I miss the heartfelt moment? Or are you all still trying to figure out how to toast without crying?”

“Watch it, sweetheart,” I murmur. “You’ll make Torment emotional. Then he starts hugging people.”

“That was once,” he grumbles. “And I was wasted.”

“You kissed Brick’s head and called him your soulmate.”

“You're still my soulmate, dumbass,” Brick yells from across the yard.

Everyone laughs.

Even me.

I glance toward the yard. Myka’s nowhere to be seen. So is she.

It settles heavy in my gut. Something about the way she looked at me. About the way she didn’t look back.

I down what’s left in my glass.

“Alright,” I say, low. “I’m done socializing.”

“You mean pretending to be human?” Bullet teases.

“Exactly.”

I nod once to Rock. He nods back. Then I walk. Past the fire. Past the crowd. And it’s then when I see her again.

Myka barks; someone wraps a hand around her wrist and she flinches.

I move fast. “You okay?”

“She’s fine. Right, baby?” Myka tries to puff up.

She doesn’t answer.

“Did he hit you?” I ask, stepping close. Voice low. Dangerous.

Her lips twitch and her eyes shine.

“Answer him.” Myka growls.

She doesn't. Her silence is the loudest scream I’ve ever heard.

Tornado steps in. “Not here, Prez.”

“Get Bullet. Now.”

Di slides up beside me. “Damn North, Rock will kick your ass.” She scans the party. “Follow me.”

More Panthers move closer while she leads us to a back room.

Since Myka doesn’t move I grab him by his vest and shove him through the door. He trips, crashing into a table. Furniture screams against the floor. Voices rise behind us.

“The fuck is wrong with you?” he snarls.

Bullet storms in, four men with him. Eyes wide, hands twitching near weapons. “What the hell, North?”

“You need to put a leash on your dog and teach him the rules.”