Page 68 of Vengeance and Vipers

I watch him flinch, but I press on.

‘Siggydiedtrying to save me, and then I got here, and I was put in the dungeon. And you never came!’

My voice breaks. I realize that while I may not be angry anymore, I’m still very hurt.

‘I’m sorry about the Mountain. We had no idea Maddox would go so far. We thought we’d convinced him to bring you with us.’ He clutches me, pulling me to him and holding me tight.

‘I’m sorry about Siggy,’ he murmurs. ‘So sorry, Jules.’

He gives it a moment, and I hug him back tightly, trying not to cry about her again.

When I pull away a little, he speaks again. ‘And I’m sorry you were here, and we didn’t know it.’

He grimaces. ‘After Maddox drugged us, we couldn’t feel you at all, not until we saw you in Krase’s room and,’ he rubs his chest, ‘it’s muted even now. Frail. We really did think you were still in the Mountain. We were desperately trying to get back there to get you out. Please believe me.’

I stare into his eyes. Is this a trick? I feel his emotions a little, and I don’t think he could fake them. But I pull out of his arms and turn away anyway. What if Maddox is right and what they do feel about me isn’t real?

‘Maddox thinks I’ve caught you in some love spell or something,’ I say, not looking at him, ‘and I don’t …’

I think back to some of the times I’ve touched these demons, and they’ve got thislookin their eye like I am doing something to them.

‘Not wanting to be around you … it’s not about the money … I mean, it is because I need it, Axel, but I’m also starting to think Iamdoing something,’ I finish in a whisper. ‘I'm sorry. If I am, I don’t mean to be. But I can’t be around you.’

My chin quivers. Even saying the words is hard. I turn away, but he pulls me back like we’re in an old movie.

‘I don’t give a shit what anyone thinks. I love you! It’s real, not some trick.’ He sighs heavily. ‘What if Maddox didn’t find out?’

‘You can’t love me,’ I argue with a shake of my head. ‘I’m leaving.’

He freezes. ‘When?’

‘After the ball at All-Hallows,’ I say miserably.

‘That’s a month away, Jules.’

‘What about after that?’ I ask in a harsh whisper. ‘This is already so hard. What happens when Maddox kicks me out, and we can’t ever see each other again? I can’t be yours.’

‘You’re wrong,’ Axel says, forcing my face up to his. ‘You’re already ours.’

ChapterEleven

AXEL

Ikiss her hard, the way I’ve been wanting to for days. She fights me at first, scared Maddox will somehow know, but I feel it when she gives up, when her curves melt into me. I press the wall blindly. There’s a reason I stopped here. I feel the tiny button under the wooden panel, and the wall slides back almost silently. I pick her up, my lips not leaving hers, not giving her a moment to re-think this.

I know most of these passages like the back of my hand, so most of my attention is on the woman in my arms. It feels so right. It makes me realize howwrongeverything’s felt since we got back from the Mountain without her with us.

Jules is a part of this clan, and I don’t think it’s just me, Jayce, and Krase who think so, either. Whether the others want to admit it or not, this female is ours. Maddox can try sending her away, but it won’t take. I know it won’t. But Maddox’s arrogance will cause her pain, and we can’t allow that. Jules has already had more than her fair share where we’re concerned.

She’s clearly still suffering the effects of her experiences in the Mountain, and we need to start helping her.

I climb the steps in the dark, skipping the one that I know creaks, and take the left fork. It’s only a minute or so later that we come out in Jayce’s room. There are canvases everywhere, most half-finished because my clan mate has been in a manic frenzy that I’m pretty sure only one person can assuage.

‘Get out,’ I hear him mutter from the small, secret anteroom where he does his painting.

I tear my lips from a much more relaxed Jules. Her eyes are closed, and her breathing is even. It’s almost like she’s under a spell or hypnotized. I put her on Jayce’s bed, but when I attempt to leave her, she pulls me back.

Fuck, she’s strong.