Page 201 of Claimed By Fangs and Darkness

When Aster pulled back, I wondered if the key to my collar was still in his pocket. He had only shared such sensitive information with me because he had no intention of letting me go.

I’d heard them mention bribing someone to keep my power a secret. Which meant I’d be free to use my magick eventually, forthem.

It was either be avery good girlor a very bad one, but either way, I was going to free myself long before Aster smuggled me out of Etherdale.

“You have such expressive eyes,” Aster said. “Are you feeling better, my love?”

I nodded. “I still feel sick.” I grabbed at my collar briefly before lowering my hand and looking away. “But I’m glad I’m safe now.”

“I know it’s early,” he said. “But I can’t wait to marry you.”

I suppressed the urge to laugh or claw out his eyes. As if timelines mattered to someone who took child brides.

When his thumb traced my jugular, slipping under the metal bar around my throat, I sobered. He revealed his fangs, and I went utterly still.

Someone knocked on the door.

Aster frowned. “Come in.”

The sight of Conrad’s grin twisted my guts. Because someone like him only smiled genuinely when someone was suffering.

“Guess who’s throwing a temper tantrum through the streets of Etherdale?” he drawled, pinning me with a cruel gaze.

My heart fluttered.

“Hilarious that they wanted us to see them as noble, well-educated revolutionaries when their leader behaves like a petulant child with zero sense or self-control.” Conrad stepped toward us. “He’s going to get himself killed, all because we stole his favorite toy.” He made an infuriating faux pout.

I wanted to deck him. I wanted to punch his haughty face until it was mush.

Kylo was alive. But he was putting himself in danger forme.

Something must’ve happened to our linked note. Conrad likely ambushed the extraction team, and soldiers moved in before they could get to me.

And if Conrad knew who Kylo was, that meant he must’ve been playing both meandJuliette, on some level. He’d extracted the information he needed from Juliette—Kylo’s identity—while simultaneously promising me he would kill her.

Conrad wanted me to beg for information, but I kept my mouth shut tight. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction, nor would I enrage the man with my key to freedom in my pocket. If Aster suspected I cared for Kylo as deeply as I did, it would put both of us in more danger.

And Conrad couldn’t be fucking trusted, just as Vesper warned me.

Everything he said was manipulation.

Kylo was going to be okay. Hope planted deep inside me. He was coming for me.Of course,he was coming for me.

Or was he so blinded by rage, believing I was dead, that he was killing every born he could get his hands on?

I shoved the thought away. Aster pulled me against him, jealousy radiating from him in waves.

“Good riddance,” Aster said, watching my face.

It took everything inside me to stop myself from making the expression I wanted to make. All I did was stare at Conrad like a thoughtless bimbo until his grin finally faded and Aster relaxed his hold.

Conrad cleared his throat, lip curling with disdain. “Your presence is needed.”

Aster sighed.

He let go of me the moment my stomach made a pathetic growl. Both men stared at me as if with mild irritation at my own bodily functions.

“You haven’t fed your toy,” I snapped before I could stop myself. I quickly balanced it out with a small smile.