Page 136 of His Eternal Claim

And then, only then, I’ll decide whether death is enough. “You weren’t done with her.”

Her laughter falters at my words. I feel it, the tiny fracture as my thumb digs harder into her wrist. “You had her drugged again, didn’t you?”

Hannah lifts her chin. Trying to gather whatever courage she thinks she has. Trying to put the mask back on.

I tilt my head. “And Vane.” I hold her stare. “You had ties with him long before Selene.” Her eyes flash as I continue. “Years.” My smile widens. “My Father was convenient, but Vane was useful.” She says nothing, which is answer enough. I lean closer as my voice drops.

“So, tell me.” My forehead brushes hers. “What was the plan? Another dose?”

Her jaw clenches.

“You were going to wipe me out of her head again?” Still silence. “Give her back to Vane?” Her breathing sharpens. “Marry her to his dead son?” A muscle jumps in her throat. I laugh under my breath. “Or were you planning something cleaner?” My voice goes quieter. “A coffin this time?”

That does it.

“Shut up.”

“No?”

“Shut up!”

I smile wider. “Come on, Hannah.”

My blood drips between us. Rain washes it over the stone. “You wanted her pliant.” I tighten my grip. “Dependent.” Her eyes blaze. “You wanted her broken enough to cling to you.”

“Because she needed me!”

“There she is.” My voice sharpens. “You had her drugged.”

“Yes!”

“You worked with Vane.”

“Yes!”

“You let his son touch her.”

Her expression twists. “He was harmless!”

“You made her believe she belonged to him.”

“Yes!” The word tears out of her. “I needed you gone from her head! I needed her terrified enough to stay where I put her!”

My pulse roars. “And tonight?” Her chest heaves. “I asked what the fuck was supposed to happen tonight.”

She laughs, completely cracked. “I was going to sell her to Vane. He has taken a liking to her. He and his wife, they were going to use her. If she refused, I would’ve had her drugged again!”

Thunder splits the sky.

“Again?”

“Yes!” Her eyes burn.

“Drug her again,” I repeat. Every muscle in my body locks.

“She was already remembering too much.”

The tracker screams louder. Right there. So close.