Page 79 of Vengeance and Vipers

‘I can,’ I insist. ‘Your hair, your smile, every inch of your mind and body are all the things I’ve ever wanted.’

‘I’m far from perfect, Krase,’ she whispers.

‘Don’t I know it, my deceptive little thief,’ I say.

‘You’re putting me on a pedestal, and there’s only one way to go from there.’

She sounds close to tears.

I tighten my arms around her.

‘We all have our flaws,’ I say. ‘But I love everything about you, and I have since I met you. I loveyou, Julia.’

‘It feels true,’ she says very quietly with her head still against my heart that beats only for her.

‘I’m not trying to trick you, mo chridhe.’ I say. ‘Now, who was it? One of the Iron I’s? Korban?’

She shakes her head.

‘One of us then. Not Axel or Jayce, not me. Maddox is cutting, but he knows how to skirt the line between decency and injurious banter.’

A run-in with Julian would have left her feeling furious and energized, not sad and despairing. My eyes narrow.

‘Daemon,’ my darker side snarls.

She tenses, and I know I’m right.

‘Please don’t do anything,’ she pleads. ‘He’s right about—’

‘Nothing,’ I snarl. ‘He’s right about nothing. He’s angry because every single thing that’s befallen him over the past two years was his own doing. He blames you because he’s a fool. Ignore him until he comes to his senses.’

I lift her off me and put her on her feet, glancing at my phone when it vibrates and seeing a fortuitous message from Iron that might take Jules’ mind off Daemon for the moment.

‘You know, the horses were brought back to the estate this morning. Iron’s about to go for a ride,’ I tell her. ‘Shall I tell him to saddle Pitch for you? He’s the one you learned on, isn’t he?’

She hesitates, nodding a little. ‘But I haven’t ridden since I was last here.’

‘Ach, it’s no different than riding a bike. Go out and get some fresh air, gràidh. Have some fun.’

She gives me a small smile. ‘Itisfun.’

I nod and message Iron back. He replies immediately.

‘He’ll meet you at the stable,’ I tell her.

‘What are you going to do?’ she asks, sounding a little more herself.

‘I’m just going to go for a walk,’ I say innocently, and she rolls her eyes.

I unlock the Parlor door. ‘You remember the way?’

She nods, and I let her go, closing it behind her and giving her a minute’s head start. My eyes narrow as I open the door again and go into the hall. I sniff the air, locating Daemon almost immediately. He’s outside.

I go through the kitchens and out the side door, crossing the grass instead of sticking to the paths to the tall wall that leads to a small, enclosed section of the garden not far from the forest.

‘I thought you’d be happier,’ I hear a voice saying. ‘I got you back into the clan. What more do you want?’

That’s not Daemon; that’s his brother, Alex.