Page 183 of Claimed By Fangs and Darkness

Conrad entered, his sharp gaze finding mine immediately. He smirked at the sight of me at the far edge of the bed.

“We need you in deliberations,” Conrad said.

His eyes were alight with excitement. I didn’t like the sight of it one bit.

Aster slowly circled the bed, approaching me as if I were a feral animal. To my horror, he held some kind of chain in his hands.

I backed up, but he grabbed my ankle and yanked me back.

“Ah-ah. This is only temporary,” he said.

I struggled, but he overpowered me easily with his vampiric strength. He attached the chain to the locked clasp of my collar before locking the other end to the bedframe.

“You’ll be safe here. Rest. No one will disturb you.”

He released me. My cheeks burned as I scratched at the collar and pulled at the chain. Conrad appeared positively delighted. His gaze was hooded, his own pupils dilating slightly.

Aster cleared his throat, features souring as he saw the way his friend was looking at me. He took a step forward, but Conrad held up a hand.

“Has she been checked for weapons?”

Aster paused. He hesitated for only a moment. I kept my face neutral, but the moment Aster approached me again, I realized I had another split decision to make.

If I stabbed Aster, I would still be chained to the bed. Conrad would hit me with pain magick in an instant, and I would have soured my image in Aster’s mind completely. Leaving me even more vulnerable to violence and hyper-surveillance.

I bit my tongue so hard I tasted blood when Aster’s hands tentatively skimmed the sides of my body. He found the dagger immediately, but he continued to search as if savoring the excuse to grope me. My stomach twisted, and I struggled to stay still.

When he lifted up my skirt, I wanted to die. His breath hitched, nostrils flaring. He stared down at my bare legs and lace panties as he slowly disarmed me. His touch was icy against my upper thigh.

Conrad’s eyes were wild, his smirk back in full force.

As if remembering Conrad was here, Aster pulled my skirt back down. He held my weapon in his palm.

“See? Why would I have stabbed Juliette with a kitchen knife instead of my own weapon?” I asked with a slight tremor, backing away from him.

My skin was hot. I burned with the violation of being seen by both of them, humiliated and even more powerless than before.

If I’d stabbed him, I would’ve been more fucked. I still wished I’d chosen differently.

I looked to Conrad, but he remained as silent as Aster. Our flimsy alliance was over. He’d already gotten what he wanted: me.

“Rest.”

That was all Aster said before he left me chained to his bed. He exited the room with my key to freedom.

All I had now were my hands, a pen, and a direct line of communication to Kylo.

I waited for the footsteps to grow faint. Then I reached into the hidden corset pocket.

My hands shook as I unfolded the note, straining to see the words that immediately appeared in the dim light.

Baby, please write to me. I?—

58

EVIE

That was it. No more words appeared. Kylo had written to me, but something had prevented him from finishing the message. I wasn’t even sure when this had happened.