Page 123 of Claimed By Fangs and Darkness

And his death had been the harshest wake-up call of all.

“Spill.”

Idris mirrored my excitement, relaxing in his seat. “I don’t know how useful this is, but um, they sort of allowed me to speak to the vines on the walls. And then I could command the vines themselves, getting them to wrap my sparring partner.”

“Earth magick,” Harmony said. “Just like his sister.”

Idris groaned the moment tears sprung to my eyes.

“Hey!” I wiped at my eyes. “You got to be mushy, now it’s my turn.”

“If you must.”

I laughed. “I must.”

Kylo chuckled, and I hadn’t realized he’d refocused on me and Idris. But at the sound of the door opening in the underground dining room, all five of us were quick to redirect our attention.

In walked Allie, and behind her, a set of turned vampires.

I was vaguely aware of my lips parting and eyes widening. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, but those expectations had been blown out of the water.

The man’s hair was ash blond, cut shorter on the sides and long and spiky at the center. His eyes were uniquely green. Hiswalk was powerful, hands in his dark trouser pockets, and his green shoes appeared to be made from reptile skin.

The woman was equally striking, with light blue eyes that were electric, magnetizing. Her full, wavy brown hair came down to her chest. Her smile was relaxed, confident. A scar across her cheekbone blemished her fair skin, only adding to her undeniable allure. Her clothing—a silk navy blouse and sleek black pants that showed off her lethal, feminine build—was as fashionable as her male counterpart’s.

Kylo caught the look on my face and lifted a brow. A mix of possessiveness and amusement crossed his features before he stepped forward.

He extended his hand. “Clarke and Vesper of the Serpent Clan,” he announced to the room. “Welcome. I’m Kylo.”

The man shook his hand first with a warm smile, and the woman followed. My own possessiveness rose to the surface, even if it was a little irrational. I couldn’t help but compare Vesper’s unique, mature beauty to my own for the briefest of moments.

They both appeared to be turned in their thirties, a tad older than the rest of us. But it was unclear their true age, underneath the mask of immortality.

“Thank you for your hospitality,” Clarke drawled. He scanned the room as Kylo introduced the rest of us.

“Blade and Harmony share the second-in-command position,” he said.

“Clarke and I are co-leaders. Best friends, not lovers, for those curious,” Vesper said with a seductive smile. She gazed at Clarke adoringly. “Our forces are on track to complete the final port raid in three weeks tops, maybe sooner. As soon as they have a chance to land, regroup, and organize, we’ll be ready.”

Kylo nodded. “Perfect. By then we’ll have our own poisons to contribute.”

He glanced my way. I was grateful to have met the group of allied mortals for many reasons, but especially now that they were helping me craft Hekatean goods for war.

I’d learned that the Serpent Clan was chiefly responsible for intercepting and stealing Valentin imports on their way to the born. It was an increasingly dangerous business these days, but a necessary one with Earle doing everything in his power to hoard potions and poisons.

They were stationed on Ravenia’s Western coast, closest to Valentin and just outside our biggest port city. Their numbers and power rivaled ours, which made them crucial to our plan to take back the city and secure this region for the turned.

“It was a tough decision, but we knew this was where we were most needed,” Clarke said. His cool confidence blended with a gentle empathy as he regarded his comrade.

Vesper nodded. “It was time I return. I’ve been incubating long enough.” Fire sparked in her piercing blue eyes, and when she looked at me, her smile was nearly conspiratorial. “He’ll be surprised to see what I’ve become. He’ll be surprised I’m alive at all.”

My witchy senses felt the magnitude of her next words before they were spoken.

“I’ve come to kill my husband, Conrad Nighswander.”

I was slow to scan the room, to recognize that Kylo, Blade, and Harmony were as shocked by this admission as I was.

Clarke again reached for Vesper’s hand with tenderness. And the touch melted some of Vesper’s hardened edges.