Mine to Claim

Chapter 33

"We have set up a guest room for you. However, you can have an entire mini cottage for yourself if you want. Whatever makes you feel good," offers Connor while walking into his home.

His inviting words make me tear up a bit. It's really new for me. Connor accepts me as his family, as his sister and I have had only a few females do that. Any males that I have in my life now are bound to me by blood somehow but Connor's not and he's the first to accept me into his home, selflessly and with his consent.

"It's an honour, Connor."

"But the pleasure's mine. Now come on, let's get you settled and this little devil tucked into her bed," he whispers softly while kissing his daughter's head once. Baby Rieka is sleeping in her father's arms. She didn't even stir when Connor shifted her sleeping body from Ivory's bed.

"She's a deep sleeper," I whisper, feeling a bit envious of her ability. How stupid am I? Comparing myself to a child!

Catrina's laughter pulls me out of my thoughts, making me feel guilty. Zoning out is a bad habit. Especially when I am surrounded by people.

Unfortunately, the pep talk doesn't help.

"Let's go see your room, sister," whispers Catrina, while pulling at my hand a bit. It is only now that I realize Connor's absence. He must have left when I was zoned out. I'm a lousy guest.

"Thank you very much for having me," I whisper softly while looking around her cosy house. "It's a beautiful home."

"Yes, it is. But we are planning to have something bigger," says Catrina, and I sense her excitement. She strokes her belly with her left hand while her right one stays on my arm, as we walk hand-in-hand up the stairs and into an empty room.

"How... it feels?" I stutter, feeling utterly foolish when she raises her brow at me in question. I want to disappear right now.

"I feel happy. I have experienced this before but this time, I am sharing the happiness with Connor, who's ecstatic. Every breath that I take is linked to him. He's there to look out for me. He's possessive about us," she caresses her belly once. "He'll protect us with his every breath and it gives me immense relief. After a long time, I am not alone."

I squeeze her hand because I understand. The loneliness eats at me. I have a family, and a group of friends yet I am alone because I haven't embraced my past. And that will be possible only when I see Wulfric's blood being spilt. I want to spill his blood. That's my vengeance.

"You are on the right path, sestra. Just a little more and you'll be right where you belong," she whispers softly, and her words sound haunting as if she's predicting something. The knowledge in her sparkling brown gaze speaks a lot and it gives me the confidence to go on.

~~~~

Standing in a pool of my own blood, I look down at my feet. They are stained with my blood as it flows from between my legs. I lost my innocence tonight and along with that, I lost a piece of my restraint. The anger is free-flowing, unwilling to be leashed.

I, for the first time, do not want to control myself. I want to tear open this vampire's body. I want him to lie in his blood so that I can stare down on my handiwork, just like he is doing to me at the moment. I want him to feel humiliated like I am feeling right now.

I want him to feel helpless. And he will. His death is nearing.

"Nikita?"

Catrina's soft whisper makes me open my eyes. Blinking my eyes open I stare at her as she frowns down at me. She's sitting on the edge of my bed whereas I am lying down. She had forced me to lie down and close my eyes.