Page 219 of Claimed By Fangs and Darkness

And now we were both back in that house. In Idris’s childhood bedroom, where a born vampire named Vernon assaulted my little brother when he was seven years old.

Blood splattered until the farmhouse was swallowed up by death and holy vengeance once more.

Kylo ran to my side. I clutched at my heart, feeling the wound from the dagger that had never landed. It had only been a premonition.

Aster almost stabbed me through the heart. He would’ve rather I had died than see him as a monster.

I squeezed Kylo’s hand, and he helped me to stand and walk to Idris.

“Hey,” I said gently, mirroring his tears. “I think this dead horse has been sufficiently beaten.”

Idris stopped his compulsive stabbing of mangled flesh. He blinked.

“Maybe stab him one more time, just to be sure,” Kylo said.

I elbowed him weakly. “Only I’m allowed to be funny right now.”

“Apologies, baby.”

Idris dropped the blade with a trembling hand. I immediately pulled him into my arms, letting him shake and yell and flood the earth with the trauma we’d buried for so long.

“You saved me,” I whispered. “You’re safe. We’re both safe.I’ve got you.”

I repeated that over and over until it penetrated. “I’ve got you. We’re safe. I’ve got you.”

Idris stopped yelling. He hugged me back. “I’ll laugh at both of your jokes at a later date,” he managed with a rough, shaky exhale.

“Look who I found,” a voice called with a singsong voice.

I slowly pulled back from Idris, slipping my hand into his and squeezing.

When Vesper threw a gagged and bound Conrad next to Aster’s unrecognizable corpse, I realized what had happened to the vampires who’d been chasing after me. The source of the shouts and heavy footsteps.

“Oh my gods,” I said. “You stormed the estate.”

“Baby, I’d storm King Earle’s castle if that’s where you were,” Kylo said.

He glared at my cheek until I remembered it was likely bruised from Conrad.

Blade appeared holding someone’s head as a demented souvenir. “That’s certainly on the future agenda, but ill-advised until we have Valentin on our side.”

Valentin. An image of Amy’s rendition of The Tower card flashed in my mind—King Earle falling from his own castle as it crumbled from within.

Woozy, disoriented, and with a throbbing headache from Juliette’s nonstop wailing, my chest couldn’t help but warm.

We were atwar. Our better world was hurtling toward us at breakneck speeds.

I looked around at my family, my lip wobbling. We were at wartogether.

“Whose head is that?” Harmony asked. Mercifully for all of us, she’d gagged Juliette and then pinned her to the ground with her knee.

“This bloke who pissed me off a couple years ago and has been on my shitlist ever since.” Blade tossed the head over his shoulder.

Idris nodded. “Nice.”

“Um, hello?” Vesper snapped as Clarke moved to her side. “I believe I’ve taken center stage.” She quickly found my eyes. “Hi, Evie. You okay?” she scanned me quickly.

I nodded. “The floor is yours.”