Page 99 of Those That Defy the Realm

I can do nothing but watch and wait as the two males take it in turns to wash the suppressant from their systems.

CHAPTER 35

CLAIRE

For the second time, two times too many, I wake up in a strange room. After being separated from Henry by the authorities, I’d been shipped off and, against my protests, had been anesthetised so they could treat my wounds.

Henry had done a good job at sealing my skin but in my struggle against being dragged away from him as the authorities arrested us, I’d ripped two of the wounds open once more. Inspecting them now, they’ve been stitched and all the blood has been cleaned off my skin. I’ve also had my clothes removed and I am wearing a hospital gown. Great.

Despite the lingering effects of the anaesthetic, I feel much stronger than I had a few hours ago. My jaw is burning once more but my limbs aren’t aching or shaking with weakness as I push myself upright and swing my legs over the side of the bed.

“Thank gods you’re awake.”

The voice is familiar, although it takes me a second sift through the remaining brain fog. Turning towards the doorway, I audibly inhale with shock at the man leaning against the doorway.

With dark chocolate coloured hair, cropped short on the sides and only slightly longer on top, and the same enigmatic smile that had once made my heart leap about in my chest, my ex stands in the navy blue attire of the authorities.

“Declan?” My voice comes out raspy.

“You can’t imagine the surprise I felt when I recognised you. Actually, maybe you’re experiencing that now.” He chuckles and moves into the room. “It’s been, what? Nearly three years? And to see you in the arms of blood suckers, no less.You nearly gave me a heart attack.”

He walks over to a wooden unit next to my bed and pours a cup of water from the pitcher there.

Handing me the cup, I can only stare as I take it from him and sip the cool liquid. Gagging on the taste, I nearly ask what he’s put in it before my senses return just in time.

“Careful, the pipes they use to keep you breathing when you’re under can irritate your throat. Drink it slowly.” His hand comes to my head and gently strokes my hair away from my face. I want to shrink away from the touch but hold myself still.

Taking another mouthful of the gods awful water, I attempt to speak again. “What happened?”

“How much do you remember?” he asks, his eyes piercing into mine. I shake my head instead of answering as my jaw gives another throb. The scent of him is weirdly alluring, even after all this time. “We got an anonymous tip off that some vampires had arrived in the city. It’s not the first call we’ve had but I think even Buddy was surprised that this one wasn’t a hoax. He’s been here over ten years, and he’s never actually caught live vampires. It chilled me to my bones when I saw who it was they’d captured to feed on.”

He continues stroking my hair like he has the right after all this time.

“I don’t know what happened.” I figure it’s plausible that my memories would be hazy. Some of them are, anyway. But until I figure out where Henry and the others are, and that Declan seems to be treating me like I’m a victim in all this, I’m going to lean into the injured fem fatale role he’s handed to me. I’m in no way correcting Declan in his assumption that I’m a victim in all this.

“Did you know any of the others you were with?” he asks.

I start to shake my head, but realise he also knows Bree. “Bree, she was with me. That’s why I was in the city. I was coming to see her.”

“Ah, yes, it was a shock to see her too. Did she introduce you to the fangers?” he asks, the slur heating my blood.

“No,” I reply but backtrack quickly. “I don’t think so. This whole night is really fuzzy. Where is she?”

“She’s being looked after, don’t worry.”

“Can she come here? Can I see her?”

“Not yet. She resisted arrest like the rest of them. We need to be sure she isn’t one of them.”

“What?” My eyes widen. “She’s not. She’s fae. You know that.”

“Ssshhh,” he soothes. “Fae can be turned. We haven’t worked out the connection yet, why you were all found together. She’ll be released if she passes the test.”

“What about me?” The nervousness in my voice is very real.

“What about you? You’re human. I could vouch for that. And besides, it was very clear that you had been their meal for the evening.”

Taking a deeper breath, I relax a little at his conviction on my species status. For I’m certainly not sure about it anymore. And the way my mouth waters as more of his scent washes over my senses makes me question it even further.