Page 39 of Claimed By Fangs and Darkness

Sometime between the second and third explosive orgasms, Kylo’s thoughtful gaze took a turn. A frown developed and then deepened.

I watched it all, spasming around his darkness, letting him consume me from within. I watched him move from worry to acceptance to cold, impassive determination. He snapped the notebook shut.

He watched me come a third time, how I imagined he might watch his forces move into battle at his command.

As I came down from my ultimate high, he scooped me into his arms. His lips met mine, his tongue conquering my mouth. He tasted, savored, claimed.

“Sometimes, the world has to get worse before it gets better, angel,” he whispered. “The born are making their move. And we’re going to let them.”

13

KYLO

“If you’re not going to stop this, then I need to get to Mena!”

Evie didn’t understand. She didn’t have the context of a century’s worth of careful planning, learning, and thinking.

And I couldn’t impart that kind of knowledge and perspective to her. I could only do my best.

“Baby, Mena is protected. You can visit her tomorrow. I know it feels like the end of the world, but it isn’t. This is the necessary beginning. And if you don’t complete the initiation ritual by midnight, you will be destroyed by shadows.”

We walked quickly to the main deliberation room, where my inner circle and commanders, eyes, and other high-ranking officials awaited. Maybe it was my proximity to Evie, but I swore I could sense the spirits of the catacombs awaken around us—the stacks and stacks of remains from a failed moral uprising centuries ago.

They said Etherdale’s catacombs were cursed. There were warnings about diving below ground level. But that had never been a problem for us, and it was obvious why.

These vengeful spirits were on our side.

Evie was angry with me—it was rolling off her in waves. She wanted to go to Mena anyway, but she knew she risked running out of time. She was bound by her own magickal oath.

In the wide hall before the deliberation room, over one hundred turned had gathered and spilled into the adjacent rooms and halls. A grand chandelier and candlelight from sconces illuminated the deep blue walls, the various statues of deities guarding the space. The crowd parted for us and went reverently silent.

My clan needed to see me. They needed to feel my strength, my calm resoluteness. They needed to understand how prepared I was for war.

Evie’s mouth was agape at the size of the crowd, knowing it was only a fraction of our numbers. Her wide gray eyes found mine, and at the sight of her heightening anxiety, I stopped moving.

I took her second hand in mine and lowered my head. “Remember yourwhy, angel,” I whispered. “You’re here for a reason. All moments have led to this one. Your story does have meaning, and that meaning will carry you through.”

Evie’s chronically worried mind halted, those bright, starry eyes bleeding curiosity and hope. She frowned, but she was no longer scanning for the worst possible outcome.

Now she was searching for the best one.

With her small hand on my arm, I led her into the deliberation room. So many pairs of vampire eyes on her made me grateful for the pink bite marks on her neck.

When the commanders closest to the doors reached to close them, I raised a hand.

“Don’t. Let my voice carry. I want as many of us to hear these words as possible,” I commanded. “We’ll close the doors once it’s time to dole out directives.”

Blade and Harmony were already waiting for us on the small dais in the center of the room. Turned were seated at a long wooden table behind us. Others were gathered in huddles around the room and in the seating areas, now turning to face us.

I led Evie to stand by my side. Harmony stood on Evie’s right. Blade on my left.

Evie’s heart hammered. I glanced down at her adorably pensive features. She was gathering information with that powerful, frightened mind of hers.

“You belong here,” I whispered to her. “Not just by my side. But in front of all of them.”

“I haven’t earned it,” she whispered back.

I smiled. “Notyet.”