Page 207 of Claimed By Fangs and Darkness
Allie entered with Evie trailing her. Idris quickly closed his mouth. He rose from the table and pulled his sister into a hug. She was stiff for a moment but soon relaxed.
“Hi, Idris,” she said, pulling back.
Idris studied her. “I’m so glad you’re here. That you’re safe,” he said. “I know it’s a stupid question at this point, but how are you?”
Evie took a moment to process. “It’s not stupid.” She looked to me. “I’m going to be okay.”
Idris nodded, raw emotion swimming in his eyes.
Vesper hugged her next, and Evie smiled at her warmth.
“Thank the gods. We were so worried. I’m ready to chat whenever you are, okay?” Vesper said.
Harmony squeezed Evie tight, and Blade smiled broadly. Everyone expressed how relieved they were to see her home safe.
I released a breath. This normalcy was going to be good for her. I suspected her magick was blocked due to trauma, and with some time and healing, everything would improve.
I was just grateful she wasalive.That was what mattered.
Evie took a seat between me and Idris as Harmony fussed in the kitchen and Vesper regaled us with stories. Blade watched Vesper speak like she was a goddess incarnate.
When I caught Evie smiling at something Clarke had said, something tight inside me relaxed.
As the minutes passed, I began to notice Idris stealing glances at his sister with a perpetual frown.
“I met someone,” Idris suddenly blurted.
I grinned. “Oh?”
Idris nodded. “A new recruit.”
He didn’t say anything more, in typical Idris fashion. Not even a gender reveal.
Evie smiled at him. “That’s exciting,” she said, tilting her head.
Blade teased Idris. Clarke stepped up in Idris’s defense, and soon Blade was explaining the concept of awar flingagain.
When Harmony came back from the kitchen with food, Idris stood. “I’ll help.”
Harmony grinned and rubbed his shoulder. “You’re a doll.”
The table erupted into laughter when Vesper cut Blade down with her trademark wit, gentle enough not to bruise his infatuated, soft heart.
After several plates were set out in the center of the table, Idris walked back to his seat.
In one swift movement, he smacked Evie in the side of the head with a frying pan.
I leaped up. Evie slumped to the ground. Idris’s nostrils flared, his eyes burning as he stared at his unconscious sister.
“What thefuck, Idris?”
He looked straight at me, frighteningly calm and unwavering. “That isnotEvie.”
65
EVIE
When Juliette kissed Kylo, I lost my mind. And when Conrad, Aster, and a set of guards rushed toward me, I felt the disgusting ghost sensation of Aster’s lips on mine.
