~Claiming~

[Valerie]

I yelped as Clyde scooped me up in his arms and carried me upstairs. I looped my arms around his neck. My heart thudded in my chest as I mulled over my words. I knew what entailed after putting claiming marks on each other. I could hear Clyde’s strong heartbeat and was appeased by the fact that he wasn’t totally calm about it.

Unlike his earlier self who might have been reluctant, this side of Clyde is a bit reckless and I loved it. I am not sure if this would help, but it is worth a try. Zenith’s triumphant look flashed across my mind and my mood soured just a bit.

But not for long as my attention was caught by the opening of a door and I gasped as we entered Clyde’s room.

It was minimally decorated but grand. The four-poster wooden bed with beautiful grayish-blue drapes and matching bedsheets did not look ordinary at all. The curtains were drawn and they were in shades of blue as well. A chest of drawers and a huge closet were among other things in the room. There was only