Adam took a drink of his coffee to mask the flash of protectiveness he felt over her. It made his hands clench and his jaw lock.

Claire might have Stockholm syndrome or whatever for Eudae and Rue, but Adam was going to do what he could to break it. It was like a crust of ice coating her and it would kill her eventually.

Claire glanced at him, anger sparking in her eyes. "Yes, well, Rue has been my companion and protector for many years. If he can take the elium from me, I'll let him."

"Do you plan to return to Eudae?" Theo asked.

She gazed up at him. "I don't know if I'll have a choice."

"You're not a slave," Theo answered in a forceful voice. "You are a free person. You can make your own decisions, Claire."

Her laugh sounded harsh in the quiet air. "I think you are naive, Theo." She glanced at Adam. "Both of you. You have no idea what you are up against in the Atrika or the Ytrayi. The aeamon of this place have been lucky so far that the Ytrayi have ignored them. If they ever set their sights on taking this place, Houses help you all. Choice!" She snorted. "In the face of Rue's will, I would have little."

Theo fixed her with a gimlet glare, his jaw locked. He opened his mouth to reply, but his cell phone vibrated. Theo took it from his pocket and walked into the house, answering the call.

Adam unlocked his jaw enough to speak. "If they ever come after us, Claire, you'll see just how resourceful we can be." He knew his eyes glittered with anger, belying his smile. "Don't underestimate us."

"I'm sorry if I wounded your pride. So far the Coven witches seem to be strong. I would hope they would be able to defeat the Ytrayi or the Atrika if it came down to it. I just—"

He rounded on her, coming so close he could smell her skin, feel the heat of her body. Adam hesitated, feeling a little drunk all of a sudden. Damn good thing he'd found relief in the shower. "They, Claire? Why do you always draw a line between us and them and put yourself on the demon side? You're a witch. You're one of us."

She shook her head, looking away.

He grasped her upper arms, the mask he always carefully kept in place was in danger of slipping from his expression but he couldn't help it. "How can I make you see that you belong to us, Claire?"

"I belong nowhere, Adam. I belong to no one. My mother ensured that when she dragged me from this place when I was six and gave me to the Ytrayi."

His grip tightened for a moment and his mouth opened, then closed. He released her. "Damn your mother, then."

She turned and walked away. "Too late."