Page 151 of Claimed By Fangs and Darkness
“I didn’t do anything—I swear,” I said quickly.
Aster shook his head. “It’s been happening more frequently. It’s a side-effect of her magick. It’s too strong for her body to handle.”
Conrad appeared. I noticed the born who’d once been watching us with oozing lust suddenly lost all interest, as if Juliette’s seizure was a buzzkill.
I couldn’t stop the words from leaving my lips, not considering the consequences.
“No, it’s not,” I said.
Both men looked at me.
“This is a consequence of usingstolenpower.”
Aster frowned, and Conrad stared at me similarly to how he had at the dinner table when I’d broken the glass.
I’d let something slip that was not in my best interest.
I shut my mouth tight.
Juliette gasped, staring at me with sudden clarity. Her speech was slurred, her eyes welling with tears as she glared my way.
All she did was point and shake her head. Conrad escorted me out through the labyrinth of beautiful, soulless monsters.
“How? How is she stealing power?”
I stared at him on the front porch, incredulous. “You don’t know?”
Understanding was almost within my grasp, all of these strange, jagged pieces that must fit together somehow.
All I knew for certain was that it was in my best interest tostop fucking talking.
Conrad squinted at me. His mind churned, and he slowly led me down the winding path. Freedom was within sight. I could already smell Kylo’s familiar scent, feel his strong, protective arms around me.
“I already asked you what you wanted once today, but now I will ask something more specific. Do you want Juliette out of the picture?”
His voice was low. It was just us. At first, I grew defensive until I realized Conrad wasn’t accusing me—he was making an offer. He thought I could be bought. If only he found the right price.
He saw the answer on my face, a smirk forming.
“We aren’t rewarded for self-denial,” he repeated. “We’ll all be bones together one day. You mortals quicker than the rest of us.”
Conrad paused at the gate, scanning the street as if he were looking for someone.
As if he were looking for Kylo.
He slowly turned his attention back to me. “Goodnight, Evie.” His hand brushed mine.
Through his touch, I felt a cavernous, hollow darkness that spread on for an eternity.
48
KYLO
As soon as she was in my sight, I could breathe again.
Tonight, we were more careful, waiting until we were back in our glamoured neighborhood before I pulled Evie into my arms with a firm grip on her head. She nuzzled into my chest.
“I’m safe. No one hurt me,” she said.
