Page 152 of Claimed By Fangs and Darkness

“Fuck,” was all I could manage for now.

She burrowed deeper, warm and yielding in my hold. The fact that this precious girl had been in a house full of vampires who wanted to harm her drove me to the brink of utter insanity.

Crickets chirped, the warmth of a summer night holding us in an embrace. Voices carried from down the streets, comrades hanging out on porches or stoops.

Evie finally pulled away to meet my eyes. “We were right. About their play for more power. I don’t know how far they’re willing to go—but they said that they’ve won over a councilman named Hemsworth, and they have an eye on another named Godfrey. They want Kole to be the one to go to Valentin, I guess for a diplomatic meeting, so that he doesn’t interfere with whatever they’re up to.”

I was slow to transition to political talk when I was this hyper-focused on the rhythm of Evie’s heart, just as I had the past three and a half hours of agony.

“It’s been almost one thousand years,” I murmured. “How psychologically unwell must Earle be for dissent like this to bloom for the first time? Even if Conrad and Aster had been craving power for a while, they would never attempt a coup unless they saw undeniable vulnerability.”

Evie nodded. “They both mentioned a desire to improve Ravenia, as if the current regime is failing. Also, Conrad is clearly pulling the strings. My witchy intuition is strong on that.”

I paused. “Hmm. Yet Aster is the one hunting for powerful chaos witches to groom.”

“I know. This feels strange to say, but it seems like Aster is wrapped up in all of this for more than just power. In his own sick and twisted way, he thinks he’s doinggood.”

I snorted. “Or that’s what he wantsyouto think.”

She frowned. “I know he’s notactuallydoing good. But I think he does believe his own bullshit. Aster thinks they’re maintaining order and preventing mass mortal death. And yes, that position also includes a strong conviction of born supremacy and a natural hierarchy. It’s contradictory—the way he can talk about mortal literature and spirituality, notions of virtue and chivalry, yet also admire someone like Conrad and take child brides. He sees Juliette and me as rescue pets. As if he hadn’t saved us, we would’ve been in much worse hands. He wants me to join their weird polyamorous relationship. Juliette is copying my wardrobe, and she’s also suffering physical health effects from using stolen power.”

The more words that tumbled out of Evie’s mouth, the more irate I became.

Evie studied my face, her small hand reaching for my tense jaw. I didn’t lean into her touch.

After a pause, I spoke. “You didn’t come home with a gift?” The irritation was evident in my voice.

She hesitated. “They’re back at the estate.”

I laughed humorlessly. “Ah. Because Aster thinks you’ll be switching sides soon enough.”

Staring at our feet, Evie released a small exhale. “I did everything right. I gained more of their trust. I subdued two guards with my homemade stun powder so I could eavesdrop on an important conversation. I’ve confirmed how greatly Aster and Conrad underestimate the turned, because they think they can handle this quickly and fly north soon after. I know where to look for concrete evidence of treason next time, confirmed by my spirit allies. I played the part we discussed?—”

I closed my eyes. “Stun powder?” I asked. The fact that she’d casually employed something so risky set my skin on fire. One wrong move and they would’ve taken her into their custody without a second thought.

“I’m confused,” Evie said, her voice shaking slightly as if with sudden emotion. “Why aren’t you proud of me? I’m here, unharmed, and triumphant—I brought you a name of a dissenter in Earle’s council, at the very least.”

I pulled her back to my chest. I felt raw and on display, the worst parts of me eclipsing the rest. She had no idea of the torment of letting the love of my life be offered on a silver platter to the man who still calls her his bride.

“I am endlessly proud of you, angel,” I said. “I swear to the gods I am.”

My shadows could no longer be contained. They coiled protectively around her in various degrees of solidity and smoke.

When one of her own shadows escaped, I quickly intertwined my shadow with hers. Evie tensed in my arms, her heart beating rapidly.

“You okay?” I asked her. I pulled back, studying her fearful features. I could taste her sudden panic through our bond. “Let’s get you some tea, and then we can read together. Unless you want to chat with the others and?—”

Evie pulled her shadow away from mine and back inside herself. “Tea sounds good.”

She attempted to pull away from me, but I held her in place with my hands on either shoulder. “What don’t you want me to know?”

The slight wince in her features, covered up by faux confusion, soured my stomach.

“Not with me, Evie,” I whispered, my chest tightening. “Don’t start being dishonest withme.”

At my unavoidable hurt expression, Evie’s lower lip trembled, her brows drawn in.

When she still didn’t speak, I closed my hand around her throat and let a shadow limb skate over her pounding heart. It rested there, waiting.