Page 88 of Claimed By Fangs and Darkness

“I don’t understand,” Harmony said. “What do these lords think Evie’s role is? Is he playing dumb, or does he not know that Evie is Princeton’s successor? Are they that arrogant about their own positions?”

“Doesn’t matter,” Kylo said again, straining against his rage.

Pieces on an invisible board shifted, a new path taking shape before me.

My hand tightened its grip around Kylo’s.

“I think it does matter.” I took a deep breath, feeling around for my own intuition, ignoring the instinct to disappear into Kylo’s authoritative finality. “Stolen or not, that witch’s power is devastating. And they’re clearly on the borns’ side. Lord Conrad and Lord Aster were there immediately after the attack to see how the turned would respond. Perhaps to seewhoshowed up.”

Kylo’s glare burned into the side of my head as I fought to look anywhere but at him.

I studied Idris instead. I didn’t want him in battle with the born while that witch still lived. I didn’t want that for any of the turned or our mortal allies. They could kill everyone I’d met last night—the club full of dancing mortals, the secret gathering in the basement of Celeste’s—instantaneously.

“Evie…” Idris said, shaking his head.

“The born are evil, tricky, and manipulative, but they’re not ones to sever oaths. When they make a clear vow, they don’t break tradition,” I continued.

Kylo’s laugh was cold, incredulous.

“This could be my opportunity to get close enough to take out the witch,” I said. “Or gather more intel.”

I waited for Kylo to get loud and growly again. I slowly met his eyes, where fear finally peeked through the upper layer of anger.

He peered down at me, scanning. “Evie, you’re shaking,” he whispered.

“No. Fuck no,” Idris hissed.

Yes, I was shaking a bit. So what? I was alsoright.

Harmony and Blade exchanged a glance, an entire unspoken conversation occurring in the air between them.

Blade shook his head. “It’s unthinkable. We can’t send you into the lion’s den, unguarded and blind to what awaits.”

“Especially not to kill a witch who annihilated an entire building in a matter of seconds,” Harmony added. “Who is conjuring plagues and birthing demon hounds from gods know where.”

Kylo let go of my hand as he stood from the table. “We will not entertain his disgusting advances,” he spat. He grasped the table’s edge as he trembled with raw power and wrath.

I stood too, a spark of defiance heating my blood. Once again it felt like no one was listening to me. No matter how many times I proved my strength, my power, and my intuition, I still found myself unheard.

“You said you wouldn’t hold me back,” I accused. “You said I would always have agency.”

“You cannot be serious,” Kylo said through a clenched jaw. “You’re fighting for your right to walk willingly into a deathtrap set by someone who wanted to abuse you as achild.”

Harmony stepped in, her powers of empathy soothing the room with notes of warmth. “She’s fighting forus, Kylo. It might not be the right move, but it’s a move Evie is bravely offering to make forus.”

I looked at Harmony gratefully, the lump in my throat dissolving.

Kylo didn’t budge. The room darkened. Idris only shook his head, his eyes haunted by the ghosts of our past.

Kylo slowly loosened his hold on the table’s edge. He turned toward me, jaw feathering, arm veins pulsing.

“No.”

29

EVIE

Kylo’s sharpnorang through the air, and I refused to acknowledge it. Not after all his promises that I was free to make my own decisions. My tongue tasted bitter, my own shadows awakening.