Page 142 of Claimed By Fangs and Darkness

I sighed contentedly.

Before I turned away, something bizarre happened.

My reflection smiled at me. Dread pooled in my stomach. I reached a hand up to my face, feeling my lips that were most definitelynot smiling.

My reflection then mirrored me perfectly, her lips forming a deep frown. I stepped closer, heart beating hard, hairs on the back of my neck standing straight up.

I turned my head right than left. Blinked. I nearly convinced myself I’d imagined the whole thing.

Until she smiled again.

45

EVIE

Was Juliette hexing me? Making me slowly go insane? Or had the visions about mirrors been some sort of witchy message?

I wasn’t sure. But perhaps I’d find out tonight on my second visit to Nighswander Estate.

The image I held in my mind as three born guards led me to Aster on the back lawn was that of my loved ones laughing together. Witches, humans, and turned. The deepening of Kylo’s dimple. The cadence of Idris’s laugh. Vesper charming the fuck out of Mena and swapping seductress conquest stories. Blade consistently losing every game of charades without Kylo’s help to interpret hisuniqueway of thinking. Harmony’s sweet energy lightening every room. The dancing and stolen kisses and plotting and toasting to the stars.

“Hello, dearest Evie,” Aster said, turning to me.

The men at my back left us. I glanced around searching for Juliette.

“Don’t worry. Juliette won’t be joining us yet,” Aster assured me as if reading my mind.

I was simultaneously relieved and unnerved. It was hard to concentrate when I was consumed by the desire to throttle her.

“She really looks up to you, you know,” Aster said, his tone scolding. “I know she can come on a bit strong, but that’s because her heart is so full of love.”

Fucking doubtful. “Is that so?”

Aster sighed. “She’s broken, in many ways, from her upbringing. Can’t you relate to that, at least?”

Broken seemed apt. But I resented yet another insinuation that Juliette and I were the same.

“It’s hard to believe she looks up to me when she’s doing everything in her power to hurt me,” I said.

Aster crossed his arms. “Funny thing is, she says the same aboutyou.”

“Does she now?”

Aster lifted a hand. “Let’s drop this. I only want to enjoy our time together.” He scanned the length of me. “What a darling dress. I love your sense of style.”

I forced the words,thank youfrom my lips. The sound of a gentle, flowing bird bath came from our left. The falling evening sun peeked through a lush green canopy of trees. By all appearances, we were alone.

“How are you doing? I’m glad to see you look healthy.”

Lovely. As if I were a prized mare he was seeking to repossess.

“As well as I can be,” I said, slipping into my role with ease. “I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said. About the war being unwinnable for the turned.”

“Ah,” Aster said, waiting for me to elaborate as we slowly strolled.

“I’m scared,” I whispered, as if it were a secret. I channeled authentic fear, the wounded parts of me that Aster had no ideaI’d healed and integrated. “I don’t know who to trust. After what happened with my coven, I certainly don’t trust people like you.”

I waited, watching Aster’s face for clues on how my words were landing. It was one of my most practiced skills. He was unreadable at first, sharp and assessing, before falling into a show of empathy that didn’t quite meet his eyes.