Page 67 of Vengeance and Vipers

I glance up to find the library door is now a glowing portal.

I scramble up in surprise, not knowing what to do.

A figure comes out of the light. He’s huge and broad, and his face is scarred.

They’ve found me! They’ve come for me!

I back up, looking this way and that for an escape route. Belatedly, I remember the windows behind me. Half of them are doors! I curse my dumbass self and run to one of them. I pull at it, but it’s locked, and the key’s gone. I look down the row at the others. None have keys.

I turn around, pressing myself into the window. There are three men now. Demons. Incubi.

They work for him. They have to! Who else would just be able to portal in here?

My mind flashes back to his cruel face, the way he always looked bored when he told his men to hurt me and maim me …

I clench my eyes shut and feel myself sliding to the floor, curling into a ball.

I’m suddenly in someone’s arms, and I immediately know it’s Axel. I can feel his concern, his protectiveness when he touches me, and I grip him hard. I’m making noises, I realize, whimpering like a tiny, scared animal. I bite my lip to stop.

I’m picked up and cradled against Axel’s chest.

‘What the hell?’ he growls. ‘Maddox said you were coming, but some fucking warning might have been nice. Pick up the fucking phone next time.’

‘I spoke to Maddox earlier,’ says an authoritative voice that sounds familiar. ‘He knew what time we’d be here.’

‘Well, why’d you send Sie through first? You just about scared our human to death!’

Axel knows these guys. I tap his shoulder for him to let me down, feeling like an idiot, but he doesn’t release me.

‘I’m sorry,’ I mutter. ‘I’m fine.’

He holds me closer. ‘It’s okay, but I’m not letting you go.’

‘I’ll let Maddox know you’re here,’ Axel says, still sounding pissed.

I’m carried out of the library through the main door, tensing as we pass through it because it was a portal thirty seconds ago. But we go through into the hallway without incident.

‘Don’t worry, the bridge is closed,’ Axel mutters. ‘They used a link key. They don’t stay open long.’

I nod. ‘You can put me down now.’

He releases me.

I cringe as I look up at him, more than a little mortified.

‘I-I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. I just saw them come through, and I … I didn’t know who they—’

‘Hey, hey. It’s okay,’ he says, cupping my face. ‘Sweetheart, you have nothing to apologize for. Nothing.’

I stare up into his eyes and him down into mine, and, for a second, we’re connected in this fundamental way. I let out a small sigh, feeling properly at peace for the first time since I got here, and I know he feels it, too.

‘The connection we have is different than it was before,’ he murmurs. ‘I know you feel it too, and I know you think you have to stay away from us, but I don’t think that’s going to work, not now that we’re … whatever we are.’

I want to give in. I want to so badly.

But I can’t.

‘You left me in the Mountain,’ I say to make him go.