Page 119 of Vengeance and Vipers

I stare after him, knowing there’s something wrong, wondering if he actually has taken care of his little vampire problem yet.

My phone rings, and I answer it on autopilot while I deal with business. At least our coffers are filling faster than anticipated, and it looks like I won’t have to pay Jules. At least not for another three years. By then, a million shouldn’t even put a dent in our accounts. I can thank Krase for the extra time, I suppose.

At first, he was adamant that it wasn’t Jules who had done it, but then he came to me late last night and told me he needed her here. Against my better instincts, I acquiesced. I still don’t trust her, but if Krase thinks she helps, then I’m willing to try. At least if she’s contracted, I’ll have a little bit more control over the human who resides in our house. At the moment, as a guest, she has far too much leeway and freedom. As a contracted on-call girl, she’ll lose many of her human rights for the term she signs up for.

I wonder if she’ll say yes or simply take the cash and run. I thought money was her only motivator, but she didn’t immediately say yes to my proposal. Considering she’s been living here for weeks, I still know far too little about our little human, and that’s going to need to change … in the interests of clan security, of course.

The person on the other end of the phone says goodbye after prattling on for at least ten minutes about who knows what, and I gratefully put the phone down. I get up, closing the window on the screen that’s watching Jules sleep.

I glance at the clock. It’s not late, but I find I’m finished for the day.

My eyes fall on a box on the table by the hearth. I forgot to give it to Jules. I pick it up and take it upstairs with me, going silently into Jules’ room and depositing it on the bureau where she won’t miss it.

Before I leave, I stand over her, watching her face in sleep.

No, I don’t trust her, and I don’t want to trust her. I wasn’t even intending on feeding from her even if she does sign, but I can already feel my resolve thinning when it comes to her.

‘How are you able to do it?’ I whisper. ‘How are you able to burrow underneath my defenses?’

I turn away and leave her bedroom, going to my own and practically throwing myself into my bed.

* * *

The Champagne is flowing. The masked guests have almost all arrived. There’s a string quartet in the ballroom playing soft music for everyone to enjoy. There are flowers everywhere.

I have to admit, as I walk around playing the good host, greeting all of the rich and powerful supes who have come to celebrate our pardons officially coming through, that Jules has done a good job of organizing tonight.

The part of me that has been worrying since we returned starts to relax. Soon, we’ll be able to put all of this behind us, get back to our lives, be free of lawlessness – Well, perhaps,outwardlawlessness is a better way of putting it.

Daemon stands next to me in a black tux with a matching demon mask over his entire face. We’re all matching tonight except for Jules. She hasn’t come down yet. I’ve only seen her from afar all day because she was dealing with caterers and other suppliers coming to the house, and I find myself impatient to hear her answer to my proposal.

‘Everything seems to be going well,’ I murmur to Daemon.

He nods. ‘Yes, I have to admit it. Jules did do a fine …’

He trails off, and I look at where his gaze is going. My eyes widen when I see her in the red ball gown, a glittering feathered mask over her face, her hair in elegant up-do.

I can feel myself stiffening, and I have to look away, gritting my teeth. Now is not the time.

‘It appears she’s graced us with her presence,’ Daemon mutters, and there’s an edge to his voice that I don’t like.

‘Make sure you know where the council members are at all times,’ I order.

‘I remember the brief,’ he mutters, his eyes locked on Jules.

He takes a flute of Champagne from a member of the catering team who’s walking around with a tray and begins to wander around the room, pretending to mingle.

I make my way to Jules, who’s standing by the door, looking a little bit intimidated. When she sees me, she gives me a small smile.

‘You’ve outdone yourself,’ I say.

I take her hand and put it to my lips. ‘I knew you’d look lovely in red.’

‘This is from you. I take it?’ she asks.

I nod.

‘Thank you. It’s lovely.’