Page 228 of Claimed By Fangs and Darkness

“I don’t think this is our first time around,” I whispered in the dark stillness, curled around Kylo like a vine as he traced patterns on my back. “This isn’t our first life together.”

“Duh,” Kylo said.

I scoffed at him, swatting his chest as he chuckled.

“I thought that was obvious. Otherwise, my initial stalking was… a bit much.”

I rolled my eyes. “That’s your defense?”

“It’s the truth,” he said, pulling me closer and kissing the top of my head. “Andalso,a great defense.”

I made a small huff.

“Don’t growl at me.”

I bit his arm.

“You grow more feral every day,” he said, yanking me up by the hair. “I will delight in taming you and keeping your dark little urges in check.”

I batted my eyelashes. “Good luck.”

71

KYLO

Ifell more stupidly in love with Evie every day. It shouldn’t have been possible to love someone this much, this deep in my body and soul.

I cherished each new memory we created together, especially after suffering that brief moment in time I thought we’d never make another memory again.

This afternoon, she’d fallen asleep on me as we read out on the back patio with Vesper.

Her head was in my lap; her face was beautifully innocent and relaxed.

“Tuckered herself out killing hundreds of enemies,” I said with a sigh.

Vesper snorted.

“Serves the born right for not learning their lesson after the first battle.”

The gods shined favorably upon us this past week. The Serpent Clan arrived with their numbers and looted resources the day before Earle’s next fleet had, along with the regrouped forces from the week prior.

It was a slaughter, but we prevailed.

King Earle declared war on all turned clans of Ravenia. Dissenters on his council went into hiding. More rumors of Earle’s madness and paranoia spread like wildfire, and tensions were high both at court and among born nobility as Earle hunted for more usurpers. Thanks to Evie, we were afforded another lucrative advantage.

“How does it feel, Kylo?” Vesper asked.

I begrudgingly raised my gaze from my sleeping angel to Vesper.

She continued. “To officially rule Etherdale after eighty years of building?”

“Eighty-four, if we’re being precise,” I said. I looked out over the back lawn, where Idris, Clarke, Blade and a few Serpent Clan members were fucking around and halfheartedly sparring. “It feels surreal,” I answered honestly. “I don’t think I’ll ever truly be settled or certain of my place until we’ve taken the whole realm.”

After a girlish squeal, Blade suddenly ran toward us, waving around his correspondence journal. “Kylo’s gonna meet hisboyfriend!” he sang.

Evie stirred.

Blade repeated the juvenile line, refusing to back down after my deathly glare.