Page 85 of Claimed By Fangs and Darkness

My chest was tight with emotion all over again. I wanted to study the cards closer, to read the story Amy had artfully drawn over every inch. Some of the cards depicted witches and shifters, while others showed masked turned with fangs and tattoos proudly displayed. I grinned with pure delight when I realized The Tower card was a drawing of King Earle’s castle, born nobility falling to their deaths following the lightning strike.

Amy’s friends praised her work. Several conversations sparked about tarot and the revolution.

I glanced around. They had no idea how lucky they were to be able to discuss and practice magick together. That familiar sadness, or perhaps loneliness, rooted in my stomach as my gaze returned to the cards.

My breath caught the moment I saw the figure on the Justice card—the dark-haired deity cloaked in purple, a snake on her arm.

“Hekate,” I murmured. “You know her?”

Amy studied my serpent necklace and deep purple gown. Her eyes sparked.

Gwendolyn turned toward me. “We all do.”

28

EVIE

The more I listened to the surrounding mortals speak, the more I understood how intelligent, creative, kind, witty, and unique they all were. They moved gracefully from banter to gossip to intellectual, philosophical debates and then ended with silliness.

I also realized how much we had in common.

A shifter woman took a gulp of her glass of wine, then said, “My ex told me that he disappeared for two weeks after my cat died because he was, ‘like, really stressed and overwhelmed with his own stuff right now.’” She put dramatic air quotes around the last part and imitated a whiny male voice.

Several women groaned and rolled their eyes.

I nearly spoke up, but I stopped myself, as I had most of the time I’d sat here. I merely echoed the rest of the group’s sentiments, grateful to blend in as I found my footing.

Every once in a while, I tracked Kylo in the room, finding him in a new spot mingling with new people each time. He was so damn charming and extroverted.

Throughout the conversation, I learned that not only had Hekate appeared to this coven of witches, but she’d also beenappearing to mortals across the realm. She was a symbol of the revolution, a being to call on just like Selena and Helia.

“How can we help?” Gwendolyn asked finally. “I’m the coven’s high priestess, by the way.”

I flinched at the title, picturing my mother, and Gwendolyn looked at me quizzically.

“Sorry,” I said. I nearly lied, swept my reaction under the rug, and put on a mask. But I stopped myself. “I was born into a Servants of Lillian cult. I’m not used to being around other witches. I haven’t been part of a coven since I was a child, and it…”

“Left a bad taste in your mouth,” Gwendolyn offered, speaking as low as I had. Her eyes shone with understanding. “Thank you for sharing this with me. I’m so sorry you went through that. You’re incredibly strong for having left.”

I blinked. The world didn’t crash down. No one had stopped speaking to gawk at me. Maybe a few people overheard us, but they didn’t make a show of it. Gwendolyn’s warmth didn’t drain.

Amy sat next to us before I could speak again.

“Are we scheming?” she said with a grin.

I hesitated. “I don’t want to put anyone in danger.”

Gwendolyn’s gaze was firm. “We’re already in danger, Evie. And we’re breaking the borns’ new laws just by gathering here. We’realreadypreparing for war.”

I glanced at Kylo, wishing we’d discussed this ahead of time. The bastard had made it a surprise so that I wouldn’t have to deal with anticipatory anxiety.

“We know Kylo is turned,” Gwendolyn said. “We’re all allies here.”

I figured as much, but stating it out loud reassured me. Marietta joined us next, squeezing in next to Amy.

I took a deep breath, seeing clearly the path of fate Hekate had artfully woven for all of us. “Marietta, how comfortable are you with contributing herbs from your suppliers for?—”

“Done,” Marietta said immediately.