Page 141 of Claimed By Fangs and Darkness

Idris and I moved at the exact same time. I pulled Mena into a long, deep hug.

“The world doesn’t deserve you, Mena,” I whispered.

“Oh, she might. She’ll just have to earn it,” Mena said. “By protecting my two favorite souls in the vast cosmos.”

Idris hugged her next. His soft brown eyes shone with appreciation. “You saved me, Mena.”

I rubbed Idris’s shoulder. “You savedus.”

Mena waved a hand. “Oh, pshhh. You saved yourselves, you silly eggs.” She rubbed Idris’s hair in that way he hated, and he half-heartedly rolled his eyes. “I merely provided you with a well-rounded education in culture and worldly affairs.”

“Such as proper orgy etiquette,” Idris joked.

“And what to do if your harem of boyfriends don’t get along,” I added.

“Ah yes, essential life skills. You’re welcome.” Mena patted our heads. “I’m glad you’re both here. And happy?”

She watched us both nod in confirmation with beaming relief.

“Shoo. Enjoy. Make memories.”

I found Vesper next, who was now chatting with Gwendolyn.

Clarke appeared, sporting a rakish grin. “It’s no Juniper, but I’m quite charmed by this city already.”

He and Vesper unapologetically stood out in their chic, futuristic outfits of leather and sleek fabrics.

“I’m going to go steal Mena from Kylo,” Vesper whispered with a wink.

Kylo appeared by my side, and we watched Vesper approach Mena. Within five minutes they were whispering and laughing together like young girls.

“She just might accomplish that,” Kylo said.

“She will,” Clarke said confidently. “The conniving, lethal little creature.” His smile was full of pride as he watched his best friend work her magic.

I was gooey beyond words to see the web of community and care spread out before me, linking us all together.

“Because ofyou,Evie,” Kylo whispered.

He needed to stop reading my mind. I bit his arm, and he yanked me back by the hair before locking his lips with mine.

“Kylo, please, I need you over here,” Blade called, interrupting us. “You’re the only one who trulygetsme.”

They were playing some version of charades across the room, and Kylo reluctantly pulled away to glare at Blade.

“Go,” I said. “We spend entirely too much time together.”

Kylo laughed. “She’s already sick of me,” he said, clutching his chest as I gave him a little shove.

Gwendolyn and Clarke were talking about magickal theory. I decided to capitalize off the opportunity to take the tiniest of socialization breaks.

I slipped through the rooms of guests, overhearing a mix of small talk, flirting, jokes, and revolutionary rhetoric. The aura of the gathering was a bright golden hue with flecks of red, purple, and green.

Upstairs in my second childhood bedroom, where I stayed before I moved into the cottage, I sat on the edge of my bed. On the dresser in front of me, a vase of fresh pink tulips sat.

The sight of it made another silly little tear form in my eye. What a simple, devotional act of love.

I studied myself in the full-length mirror to the left of the dresser, my golden party dress accented with embroidered purple flowers. My gray eyes were shiny, my features accented with shimmery blush.