Page 101 of Claimed By Fangs and Darkness
“Go ahead,” Aster dared. “Ask.”
I glanced around. Not a single decadently dressed born was fazed by my presence. No one was concerned. No one was strapping me down to torture or interrogate me about the turned.
“What possible reason would I have to join you? I know that’s why you invited me here,” I said. “Are you going to kill my adoptive grandmother if I don’t?”
Aster lifted a brow. “I have no reason to do that.”
Lord Conrad appeared, joining us with a handsome, dark-haired, shirtless man. He appeared to be human.
Was he trafficked? Or a hired courtesan? Rage infected me, even as the human wore a content, satisfied smirk.
Aster sighed. “But to answer your first question… you don’t have a choice, my long-lost bride.”
The hairs on the back of my neck stood in high alert.
“The turned can’t win,” Conrad said plainly.
He cleanly cut into the human man’s wrist, letting blood trickle into his golden chalice. He took a swig of fresh blood, his ghostly eyes sparking with the faintest hint of life. The shirtless man kissed Conrad’s shoulder.
“We’re not playing chess, girl,” Conrad continued. He paused to kiss the man’s wrist, closing his wound and feeding him a doseof venom. He licked his lips. “You fool no one. You’re merely a fool.”
The words were a sharp, icy slap. Words dried up on my tongue. I moved my gaze back to Aster, studying him almost desperately.
As I watched him, tracing the confidence and hunger that was accented by pity, Juliette studiedme.
“Forgive my oldest friend’s callousness. He lost his tact a century ago,” Aster said softly. He lifted his hand, as if to touch me, but thought better of it when I took a small step back. “He is, however, correct. You were sold a beautiful lie, Evie. You’re a darling for believing it. I don’t blame you. Mortals will always find comfort in sweet delusions over bitter truths.”
The weight in my stomach was heavier now. It infected my chest, squeezing against my ribcage.
“This is why I will never marry again,” Conrad grumbled. “You’ve become infected with nonsensical, flowery language, brother.”
Aster shrugged. “Mortals fascinate me. I enjoy their literature. That doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten Lillian’s natural order.”
The ire slipped into my gaze immediately.
“What gorgeous fire,” Aster whispered, peering into my eyes.
Juliette hung onto his arm and continued her unyielding stare in my direction.
“Nevertheless, I brought you here to warn you as much as I did to woo you,” Aster continued. “We know the turned are in hiding, that they wear human disguises and disappear into glamoured neighborhoods. It doesn’t matter their true size or strength. Not here in Etherdale, not in the rest of the realm. They don’t have the resources to last even a battle or two against our armies. Let alone the organization, the experience, the sheernumbers. When they finally emerge, they will be crushed like every other failed uprising.”
It wasn’t true. Kylo knew what he was doing. He had allies all over the realm. Our witch friends were crafting poisons as we spoke. He had a plan for securing resources from Valentin. We had enough to take Etherdale—there was no doubt in Kylo’s mind about that.
My stomach was in knots. The born men were watching me, and I knew I was bad at hiding my emotions. When they both smiled, I knew I’d let it slip that they’d struck a chord.
“Earle didn’t cede Valentin to Rune and the turned because they won a war,” Conrad said. “He did it toenda war. Huge difference.”
“What do you mean by that?” I asked. I knew the basics of Valentin history thanks to Kylo’s obsession. What he said sort of mirrored Kylo’s version of the story, but I wanted to hear the borns’ official spin.
Conrad smirked. “Don’t you know what happens during a mortal uprising or, gods forbid, a full-blown war?”
Aster stepped closer to me, encroaching on the distance I’d put between us. “Forget weapons and potions shortages. What do you think happens to the blood supply with so many vampires relying upon increased blood to fuel their power?”
This was what blood replenishing potions were for, and why it was crucially important to secure them from Valentin. Unfortunately, key ingredients must be sourced from the mortal lands there.
“Mortals suffer the most during war,” Juliette said.
Her sweet, soft voice made me want to punch her in the face. If only so she’d stop studying me like she wanted to wear my skin as a suit.
