Shadow's Claim

about freezing into immortality? If unhappy with your appearance, you were eternally screwed.

Yet even the slim demonesses got a swoon-inducing grin from Cas. In fact, it seemed there was only one female he didn’t respond to.

Me.

Five minutes passed. Ten. She’d begun meandering through the store, picking up a figurine here, a vase there. But soon, the shopkeeper started insisting that Bettina take them all as gifts, refusing any offers to pay.

“No, please. I’m just resting a bit inside your lovely store. I couldn’t accept more.” And there went another vase into a bag.

Bettina was unable to leave, and equally unable to decline the merchandise without insulting the kindly shopkeeper.

I don’t even like knickknacks! Morgana would never have this problem. Bettina’s deadly patroness wouldn’t. Those two Sorceri females always got what they wanted.

Why can’t I?

When the shopkeeper began looking for a larger bag, Bettina inwardly groaned.

Ultimately, she accepted all the offerings with a strained smile, then forced herself to turn toward the exit.

Outside, the buildings loomed taller, the alleys twisting narrower and darker. As she cautiously peered upward, that familiar seed of anxiety started to seethe in her chest—the one that wouldn’t stop growing until she was covered with sweat, shaking with fear, gasping for breath.

She was trapped, standing at the threshold like an idiot, clutching her sack like a life preserver.

I hate this! When did I become that girl—the pushover afraid of her own shadow?

She knew her fear was irrational. There’d never been a Vrekener in Abaddon. If one managed to enter this plane, the Abaddonae milling around would never let it hurt their princess.

The demons would trace into the air and attack, asking questions later. She knew this.

So why wouldn’t her body listen to her mind?

“Bettina!” Caspion? He’d left his admirers for her? “I’ve been looking for you!” He jogged up to her, still spattered with dried blood from the fight. He glanced around, lowering his voice. “You’re alone here? Aren’t you afraid?”

Salem and Cas were the only ones who knew about her phobia. “It isn’t so bad tonight.” Not a lie—she hadn’t had a full-blown attack yet.

He didn’t look like he believed her. “I’ll walk you back.” He took her bag with a frown—he knew she wasn’t a knickknack type of person—then offered her his arm. As they started toward the castle, relief breezed through her. The shapes of the buildings morphed to normal, the alleys opening up like mortal freeways.

“You fought really well tonight, Cas. I was so proud.”

“Did you see what Daciano did?” Before she could answer, he said, “Bastard muscled into my skirmish just for the chance to kill me himself! I was about to get free of that whip even without his interference.”

Not true—and Bettina was almost glad it wasn’t. Otherwise I bet five boons for nothing.

“The vampire returned for you.”

She gave a slight nod. “I could scarcely believe it.”

“I was only in Dacia for a short time. But from what I heard, Trehan is like Mr. Dacia. He loves his kingdom more than any of them. You two must’ve had, uh, some night.” He seemed to be looking at her with a new regard, which flustered her.

“What are you doing here, Cas? I thought you’d take another female”—or two, or three—“home with you. Aren’t males usually keen to after a battle?”

His shoulders went back. In a steady tone, he said, “No others for me, Tina.”

With a tremulous smile, she murmured, “Really?”

“People would talk. I would never insult you like that.”

Her smile faded. “I appreciate your consideration.” People already talked. She was the subject of pity, the weird halfling hopelessly in love with a strapping demon.

“Now that I’ve entered, everything has changed.”

“How so?”

“I will figure out a way to defeat Daciano. Somehow. And I will win you. We’ll rule together, and we’ll be good at it. I will endeavor to always be true to you. I consider us betrothed; I have since I signed my name to enter.”

“Endeavor?” she said softly. “Will it be so difficult?”

“It’s not exactly my nature. And you’re not my mate.” He raked blond locks off his forehead. “I did warn you, Tina. You have to be patient with me.”

She sighed. He was trying. “I know. And I appreciate all you’re doing. But why are you so certain you’ll defeat the vampire? Daciano seemed formidable”—unstoppable—“in the ring.”

“I’ll study him, discover his weaknesses.”

If only it were so simple. “And what about Goürlav?”

“I’ll figure it all out. Don’t fret over me.”

Of course she would fret over him. She’d been doing it for nearly a decade.

Cas escorted her to her secreted castle entrance, but didn’t follow her in.

“You’re not coming up?” she asked, though she wanted to work anyway.

“We can’t do that anymore. People will talk if I go to your spire.”

She raised her brows. “Most of the combatants will be in a brothel tonight, but I’m expected to go to my lonely bed?”

“That’s the way of this world, I’m afraid.” His expression darkened. “I’m concerned about the Dacian returning to your apartments. He cannot have access to you, Bettina.”

“I thought a vampire could never hurt his Bride.”

“I’m not worried about him hurting you. I’m worried about him pressing his claim, trying to bed you fully.”

“Salem will boot out any unwanted visitors.”

After a moment, Cas nodded. “Tomorrow at sunset, I’ll escort you from here and bring you back after my fight. Consider it a date,” he said with an affectionate smile.

Surely he knew what effect that look had on her. “A date.”

“You’ve been proud to call me friend, Tina. I’ll make you proud to call me husband. I vow this.”

And there went her heart.

“If you want to leave this spire, you must contact me first.”

“You know I’m too scared to go about alone.” Will I be tonight?

“True.” He gave her a brief peck on her forehead, then traced away.

As she rode up the elevator, she considered what Cas had said about discovering the vampire’s weaknesses. He couldn’t get close enough to Daciano to learn anything meaningful.

But I can.

Inside her suites, she removed her cloak and mask, calling out, “I’m back.”

In a distracted tone, Salem answered, “So you are. Big night, then? Lots of developments.”

Floating closer to her, he said, “I told you the vampire would return. What was he talking to you about on the stage?”

“Nothing important.”

“Your little chin-wag wiv him was the subject of much discussion. He was all proprietary with you, like you’d known him a while.”

“I never saw him before last night. You know that.”

“You held his things for him while he fought,” Salem pointed out.