Page 117 of Vengeance and Vipers

‘What about Axel and Jayce?’ I say in confusion. ‘You wanted me to stay away from them. You thought I had some terrible power over them. What’s changed?’

‘Once you’re contracted, it won’t matter. You’ll be under the magickal law of the clan. Whatever it is you’ve been doing, whether it be on purpose or inadvertently, will be nullified. The problem won’t be a problem anymore.’

I regard him for a moment, wondering what else their clan magick will do.

‘How long would the contract be for?’ I ask finally.

‘Three years is standard for these types of things.’

I sit back in my chair to consider. It would certainly give me time to come up with an actual plan. I might even get enough money by the end to sort out something a little more permanent instead of leaping from conjure to conjure, hoping for the best. But it would also mean letting all the clan feed from me, have sex with me.

‘I’m not sure that you’re selling it to me all that well, Maddox,’ I remark.

I take a slow sip of my drink.

He leans in closer, his eyes fixed on me. ‘Well, how about this then? A million for three years, Julia.’

I choke on my brandy, and he crosses his arms, the ghost of a smile on his face.

‘A milliondollars?’ I sputter as it burns down my throat.

‘Pounds, darling.’

My mouth almost drops open. I could buy a homeandhave enough to have border conjures put around it with that. I’d be free and wouldn’t have to run anymore. I could even settle out here in Europe somewhere.

I get to my feet. ‘I’ll think about it,’ I say vaguely.

‘Is everything ready for the party tomorrow?’ he asks, changing tack.

I nod, feeling a little dazed. ‘I’ve triple-confirmed everything is ready, so long as the guests know where to come and when.’

He grins. ‘Good. That will be all.’

I give a faint nod and wrap my ruined jacket more tightly around me as I make my way to the door.

I go back up to my room, slipping off the jacket and throwing it across the room in a sudden burst of anger as soon as the door is closed.

He knows he’s got me. The money is too much to pass up.

But I’d be the clan’s for three years. Could I do that?

I don’t know.

I didn’t want to leave yet, and this is the price to stay. And what pressing things do I really have going on out there right now anyway? My entire life is here. How pathetic is that?

But despite Maddox and Daemon, Jayce, Krase, Axel, and maybe even Iron have made me feel things that I’ve never felt before, things I never thought I’d have.

I look at myself in the mirror.

‘I could stay here with them,’ I whisper, staring at my bare upper body, the scars now completely invisible.

I run my hands down my skin. Can’t even feel them now. I stare at myself for a long time before I go to bed and close my eyes, deciding in my half-dreaming state that I will contract with the clan.

ChapterEighteen

MADDOX

Isit at my desk, staring at the chair where Jules was just sitting. I try to stop myself. I try not to give in to the temptation, but I open the window on the video feeds, and I click on the one for her bedroom.