Page 45 of Vengeance and Vipers

‘I assume you’ll be choosing to agree to my terms then?’ Maddox finally breaks the silence by saying.

My eyes move over him. ‘I think I’d like to hear them first before I commit.’ I give him a small, insincere smile. ‘Death might be preferable.’

His grin is genuine. He’s enjoying this exchange, and I realize I am too. I’ll agree to whatever he wants. He knows that already. But getting to the conclusion of our talks isn’t really the goal. This is a game, a diversion that we’re both enjoying in spite of ourselves.

That realization is another bucket of cold water on my brain. Whatever was happening with Daemon is happening with Maddox now, too. It’s different, though, more subtle, and that makes it far more insidious.

With a frown, I put down my glass. ‘I can’t leave then.’

Maddox notes the sudden change in my demeanor because the humor that was dancing in his eyes disappears, but he doesn’t say anything about it.

‘No. Until we’ve sorted ourmisunderstandingwith the Council, you’ll be staying here. Whether that be as a guest, a prisoner, or a corpse, you decide. But if you’re our guest, Julia, there will be some rules to follow.’

I nod.

‘You may have run of the house and the garden, but no further than the maze. You’ll be treated as any honored guest here.’

He stands up and towers over me, suddenly intimidating, but I don’t let myself cower. ‘But you don’t try to escape, and you don’t attempt to steal from us.’ He levels me with a stare. ‘And whatever hold you have on Axel and Jayce, you relinquish it.’

I open my mouth to ask him what he means about Axel and Jayce, but he doesn’t let me speak.

‘When all of this is finished, you can leave, and if you haven’t caused any mischief, you’ll be two hundred grand richer.’

The money surprises me, but I don’t let it show. A few months ago, I would have said yes without a second thought. But tonight, the offer and the condescending tone it’s delivered in give me a nasty taste in my mouth. Does Maddox think he can buy anyone with money, or is it just me?

His expression says he thinks I’ll jump at the chance to get more out of him. I want to prove him wrong, show him that I’m not what he thinks. I wish I didn’t give a shit about his opinions, but the truth is that I’ve always cared what he and the rest of the clan thought of me, and I’m sick of him looking at me the way he does.

What does any of that matter? Swallow your pride and survive.

I have a couple of hundred thousand saved, but I’m going to need at least double that for a decent conjure as soon as I get out of here. Assuming it’s the estate that’s hiding me, I can’t go outside of the grounds unprotected. If I am still being hunted, they’ll find me in a matter of days, and I can’t let that happen.

As I watch the demon in front of me, I wish I could tell the smug prick where to stick his money, but I don’t have that luxury.

‘Two hundred and fifty,’ I counter because I have nothing to lose.

‘Two twenty-five.’

‘Two thirty-five.’

‘Done.’

I feel a little sick as I rise to shake his proffered hand, seeing that look in his eye like he knows exactly who I am because I did exactly what he expected.

I want to tell him he’s wrong, that not all of us were born into wealth and power, that honor and decency don’t fill your belly or keep you safe and warm at night when you’re running.

Our hands touch, and I grit my teeth as I feel that same unwelcome lust that I can’t explain. He doesn’t seem to notice whatever it is, though.

I don’t ask what he meant about Axel and Jayce or what ‘hold’ I’m meant to be relinquishing. For that kind of cash, I’ll just keep away from them completely. The house is huge. It can be done. I’ll make sure of it.

‘I’ll have Tabitha show you to your room.’

‘Tabitha?’ I ask. ‘What happened to Robertson?’

‘Gone.’ Maddox’s jaw tightens. ‘He betrayed us.Me.’

I give him a look of surprised commiseration. It isn’t forced. He and Robertson were as close to friends as an employer and employee could get, and I remember the butler telling me once that Maddox had given him a job when no one else would. I’d thought he was as loyal as they came.

‘I’m sorry,’ I say. ‘He’d been with you a long time, hadn’t he?’