Page 105 of His Eternal Claim

He shrugs. “Debatable. I have a wife of my own to please.”

The wife he forced.

The doctor clears his throat and gives her a sedative. “Let her rest, Mr. Vitale. Her nervous system has suffered a catastrophic shock. Do not leave her side tonight. If she wakes up in that state again, her heart might not take the strain.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” I say, my jaw tightening as I smooth my hand over my wife’s damp hair.

I hold her tight against me. Something is rotting inside the walls of my estate, and if I have to tear the whole goddamn world down brick by brick to find out what is poisoning my wife, I will do it gladly.

Chapter 36

Collapse

THE REQUIEM | Past

The next time I wake, sunlight is spilling across the bedroom in warm golden ribbons. For a few moments, I lie there, staring at the ceiling.

There are no whispers, blood, or women standing in the corner.

The silence feels almost unnatural after the chaos of last night.

My head throbs dully behind my eyes. I turn my head. Zagreus is sitting in the armchair beside the bed. Still in yesterday’s clothes as his grey eyes lift at my movement.

My stomach twists. God. How long has he been sitting there?

“Good morning,” I say softly.

“Is it?”

I sigh.

There it is. The interrogation.

I push myself upright against the pillows. “I’m fine.”

The look he gives me says he doesn’t believe a single word.

“Fine?” he repeats.

“Yes.”

“Selene.”

I roll my eyes. “Zagreus.”

“You were standing on a window ledge twelve hours ago.”

“I know.”

“You were screaming about a dead woman.”

“I know.”

“You nearly fell.”

“I know.”

His jaw flexes, and I reach for his hand. His fingers immediately close around mine.