Page 87 of Vengeance and Vipers

When I come back into the room, Jayce is on his phone, thumbs flying over the screen.

‘Is something wrong?’ I ask.

‘No, Bana-Phrionnsa. Nothing’s wrong. Just … Maddox is looking for you.’

My heart begins to pound hard in my chest. ‘Where does he think I am?’

Iron has said he believes he saw you going into the maze. That should give you a few minutes.

I nod and start looking for my clothes.

‘Jules?’

I look up. ‘You need to wash my scent off you, remember?’

I freeze.

‘O-oh right,’ I stutter, dropping the dress and going back into the bathroom.

I turn on the water and get under the stream before it’s even hot, soaping myself vigorously and using the showerhead to douche myself the way Krase did, though it’s far less pleasurable in the hurry I’m in. I’m out of the shower in less than five minutes and rush back into the bedroom.

Jayce approaches me, and I step back.

‘It’s all right,’ he says calmly. ‘You don’t need to run. He knows the maze likes you and will try to hide you from him. He won’t bother going in to find you.’

I nod jerkily.

‘He won’t smell me on you,’ Jayce says, and his words calm my nerves.

‘I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m getting so worked up,’ I say. ‘It’s ridiculous.’

He shakes his head. ‘It’s all right. Everything is fine. Focus on me, feel me.’

I do what he says and find him sporting a Zen-like calm that’s at odds with what’s at stake. That’s the problem, I realize. The money was important. Itisimportant, but within a few days, everything I was afraid of happening has come to pass. There’s so much more for me to lose now. I care about these demons, and being here again feels like I’ve come home even though some of the clan don’t want me here.

It was so difficult for me to leave this house before. After the ball, it’s going to be practically impossible to make myself walk out that door. I thought I’d be able to do my time and not let myself be affected, but I’ve completely overestimated myself … and underestimated everything else.

I breathe deeply. I need to chill the fuck out because this anxiety is what’s going to give me away to Maddox. Luckily, Jayce’s calmness flows into me, and I’m freaking out a lot less within a minute.

‘Thank you,’ I say. ‘How did you know that would help? Can all of you do that?’

Jayce gives me a full-on, gorgeous smile that literally makes me weak in the knees.

Oh, how far I have fallen.

He shakes his head. ‘When you have a brother like mine, you find ways to project calm.’

I grin at him. ‘Sounds about right.’

I get dressed quickly, frowning as I look at my wet hair in the mirror. ‘Do you have a blow-dryer?’

‘Sorry, no. But it’s raining out, so it’ll work with the story that you’ve been walking around in the maze for a while.’

‘Okay.’ I kiss his lips, careful to touch him as little as possible. ‘Thank you for being you and for making me feel so much better,’ I say with feeling. ‘And thank you for the painting of Siggy.’

I clench my jaw to keep the tears away. ‘No one’s ever …’ My voice breaks.

‘And that’s as much a tragedy as you losing her,’ he says softly.