Page 15 of Vengeance and Vipers

I wince as Daemon mentions Krase’s death so casually. I know he was gone for a couple of years, and I know that time wasn’t kind to him, not just because of what I heard but also because he seems harder now than he was before. Despite his past, there used to be a playful boyishness in his eyes that’s gone. Now, all I see reflected when I look at him is a world-weariness and jaded melancholy that he hides behind anger.

I open the door.

‘Krase was my friend,’ I say, not able to let it pass without comment.

He at least looks abashed. ‘I know. Sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it.’

I sigh, ‘Yeah, I know. Look, I’m not saying we pretend that the last two years didn’t happen, but we’re clan. We need tobeclan.’

He nods. ‘That’s something we can agree on. Divided, we’re weak.’

I frown because, although that’s true, that’s not what I meant, and that that’s where his mind went first is further evidence that he’s still in survival mode.

‘We’re clan,’ I say again, putting my hand on his shoulder. ‘You’reclan. Julian should never have kicked you out like that. It wasn’t right.’

He looks uncomfortable and moves back a step. My hand falls away.

‘I deserved it for letting her in.’

‘We were all to blame for that. Not just you.’

He shrugs. ‘Doesn’t matter now.’

‘No, I guess not,’ I mutter, frowning as Daemon turns around and descends the spiral staircase, moving out of sight.

Heisright. Divided, we’re weak, and we need to be as strong as we can be right now.

I follow him slowly, deciding the library is probably the best place to locate the visitors.

I enter and find I’m right. Two pixies in human form, both looking like they’re in their sixties, stand in the middle of the room, each with a small suitcase.

‘Ah, Iron.’ Maddox ushers them forward. ‘This is Fergus and Tabitha. Our new members of staff.’

I give them both pleasant smiles and shake hands, using my contact to inspect any magick they’re carrying.

Tabitha, who’s about a foot and a half shorter than me, looks up into my face, her eyes crinkling.

‘We didn’t bring anything fae,’ she mock whispers, and my eyes widen a little.

How did she know what I was doing?

She grins and gives me a wink. ‘We’re older than we look, incubus. Not our first time aiding and abetting.’

‘You’re not just a pixie,’ I mutter.

She laughs. ‘Justa pixie?’ she feigns umbrage. ‘No, I’m a tiny part orc on my father’s side. Gives my magick a little kick.’ She raises a brow. ‘Not like yours, though. Odd pairing, fae and demon. They like to keep the bloodlinesseparate, don’t they?’

I give a small smile to hide my surprise that she can see my magick’s sources. I’ll need to figure out a way to keep that under wraps.

‘My mother and father weren’t fans of the rules,’ I say.

‘Rebels, eh?’

‘Something like that.’

I hear Maddox chuckle.

‘Well, I think you’ll get on well here. Welcome to our home. Let me show you the cottage that comes with the position and whatnot.’