Page 76 of Claimed By Fangs and Darkness
I nodded, and he grinned. I accepted his offering of water, sipping before handing it back and continuing my pacing along the cobblestone path.
Kylo watched with his chiseled, tattooed arms crossed over his broad body. Sunlight illuminated bluish notes in his thick black hair.
I had to avert my gaze from his beauty so I could focus.
“I think Princeton’s murder was more than just a power move by the born,” I said finally. “I suspect it was a cruel, baneful ritual.”
I stopped walking in front of Kylo, softening my tone. “I need to examine that room and any records that were taken about how Princeton was killed.”
Kylo nodded. “Okay, angel. Let’s go.” He stroked my cheek before pulling me closer to kiss my forehead.
We donned our masks before walking quickly to the sex dungeon. Using the hidden entrance was sort of comical in the light of day, losing the edge of darkness that nighttime provided.
Yet when we stepped inside, the energy shift was palpable, the entrance hall dimly lit and sensual.
Each set of guards let us through without so much as a word.
Kylo interlocked his hand with mine, and I gave him a squeeze. I knew we were both feeling the impending dread, the traumatic weight on our chests from the night that went so horribly wrong.
There were still patrons inside this early in the evening, but the energy was considerably less electric—or horny.
Even in lingerie and leather, most people in the initial room appeared as though they were merely hanging out. Some were feeding, others were playing some filthier version of spin the bottle on the plush, carpeted floor.
As Mena had declared, it did indeed feel like people were finding an escape here, stealing orgasms and pleasure and laughter in spite of the violence closing in.
I looked up at Kylo. His mask was cut diagonally to reveal his lips, which formed a deep frown. I kissed his arm, holding onto him tighter.
We needed to find this witch. Not only so Kylo could avenge Princeton’s death but also because of the obvious, unspoken reality that haunted the clan.
The idea that if the born had a witch on their side who was wielding enough power to appear as a god… we would be entering a war than none of Ravenia’s clans were prepared for.
I feared that if we didn’t eliminate this enemy, our already arduous revolutionary path to overthrow the born would be next to impossible.
I didn’t want to think that way. No one did. But whoever this was, they were doing an excellent job at convincing the worldtheir power was ineffable and never-ending. As attested by today’s plague of rats overtaking Etherdale’s main commercial district.
Someone was hellbent on destroying the city I adored.
“Talk about adding insult to fucking injury,” Kylo growled as we entered a room with several pieces of kinky furniture and countless implements for bondage and pain hanging on the walls or strewn across shelves. “When I look around, I’m too traumatized to imagine all the beautiful ways I could torture you here.”
A strangled laugh escaped me, both shocked and relieved Kylo was able to find a twisted form of humor in this horrific mess.
He slowly panned to me, his skull mask intimidating as ever.
“Yep, talk about drying up my creative juices.”
I patted his arm. “Your creative juices arefine.”
He paused in front of a chair with a cutout in the center and some kind of instrument peeking through, a rod with a round leather top.
“Huh,” he said. “Maybe you’re right. I’ll be tucking this idea away for later.”
“Whatisthat?” I asked. I walked closer, realizing the leather contraption was spelled with an electric magick. I didn’t want to touch anything in this room, to be honest, but I outstretched a hand to hover above.
The leather bulb began to vibrate with a steady hum. I jolted back, my heart leaping. Kylo laughed.
“I like to call it a princess throne,” he said over the sound of the violent vibrations.
“You’ve used it?” My glare was deadly, my shadows leaking from my pores. “Nope, donotanswer that question.”
