Read 3013: CLAIMED for Free Online Page B

was done to you. It will be difficult for both of us, but it could be very dangerous if you fight me.”
    Serra struggled to understand what Arik was telling her. Logic. She was good at logic, and she stamped down her own emotions so she could focus on what needed to be done. “Do it.”
    “Wait a damn minute,” Jax demanded. “If this could be dangerous—”
    “I won’t fight him,” Serra said. “I need to do this. If someone messed with my head, I want to know. I need to know. I always knew something was wrong, but I didn’t know what it was. I’ve been to medical for tests before, and they could never find anything, but I knew. Every time I think of you and Sully my head hurts. That’s not normal, Jax.”
    Jax let out a vicious curse. “I’m going to be very pissed if something happens to you.”
    “Gee, you pissed?” Archer said drolly. “What would that be like?”
    Jax glared at him, but Serra surprised them both by laughing. “You two haven’t changed a bit.”
    “We need the room cleared if we’re going to do this,” Arik ordered softly.
    “We stay,” Jax said in a low voice, daring him to argue.
    Instead, Arik nodded. “As her bonded, you and Archer should remain, but everyone else will have to go. That is, if you accept them as your bonded.”
    Serra looked at Jax and Sully, and smiled despite the pain her head. “I do.”
    “Dom, this will take all my energy and I will need you to help me after.”
    “Done.”
    “We’ll go set up that meeting with the Ambassadors,” Regent Spartan said. Before he left, he moved to the bed and lightly touched his fingers to the back of Serra’s hand that Jax held. “Welcome to our family, my dear. We’re very happy to have you.”
    “Thank you,” Serra replied, emotions making her voice waver.
    After the regents and High Commander Newgate left the room, Archer turned back to Arik. “So, how do you do this?”
    “I will need to follow Serra back into her memories to find out when she was tainted. Once the memory is retrieved, any affects should dissipate.”
    “Should? As in there is no guarantee this will work?”
    “Things such as this rarely come with a guarantee. Going into someone else’s mind is difficult to do when the individual isn’t the Keeper of a D’Aire. This is why it is rarely done.”
    “Is there a risk to you doing this?” Dom demanded. He shot a hand out to stop Archer from speaking. “I have been entrusted with his safety while he’s on Earth. I get that you want to help your woman, but we can’t put a goddamn D’Aire Ambassador in jeopardy either.”
    “I’ll be fine. This is my choice.”
    “Serra, are you sure you want to do this?” Jax asked.
    “Positive.”
    Arik placed a hand on Jax’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, my friend, but neither of you can touch her while we do this. I cannot risk getting readings from you as well.”
    Archer leaned down and brushed his lips against the claiming mark near Serra’s eye. “Even if we can’t touch you, we are with you.”
    “I know.”
    Serra smiled at Archer as he moved back to stand next to Dom at the end of the bed. Jax gripped her chin, turning her head toward him. There was a fire burning in his grey eyes that made her belly flutter with nerves while her head pounded with pain. “We will fix this.”
    “That’s what I’m hoping. It really sucks feeling like my head is going to explode all the time.”
    “Think about us that often do you?”
    “Yes,” she whispered.
    He eyes narrowed with determination. “It will be done. Whatever it takes, we’ll find a way to make you better.” With that, he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers in a kiss so tender it brought tears to her eyes.
    Serra felt pain shoot into her head, but held onto Jax when he tried to pull back. This was her first real kiss. Pain be damned, she wanted his lips on hers. He gently removed her hands from where they were gripping his uniform jacket, and pulled back to stroke his fingers