Page 10 of Vipers and Vendettas

My fingers close around it, and I pick up the box slowly. It’s heavier than others I’ve held, and when I can see it properly, it looks different as well. Older. It’s gold and covered in delicate filigree, whereas all the ones I’ve seen have been plain. But it’s definitely a link key.

I chuckle. ‘You must have had this awhile,’ I mutter.

Not knowing what else to do, I stroke the leaves next to me. ‘Thank you,’ I say. ‘I hope I can make it here again one day.’

But I already know that isn’t going to be possible. I’m about to burn this bridge again, and this time, I’m making sure there is going to be no rebuilding after I do.

Now that half my plan is in place, my stomach drops as I think about the rest. My body feels heavy as I leave the maze and make my way back to the house.

I sit in the parlor and take a deep breath. With everything in me, I push the connections I have to the others away as completely as possible. I make it so that I can’t feel anything from them, and they won’t be able to feel anything from me. Barely holding back tears, I sit back to pretend to read and wait for them to come to me so I can start making them hate me.

It’s only five minutes before the door opens. It’s all four of them, concern etched on their faces.

I force the pang of guilt back.

‘Do you need to feed?’ I ask, keeping my expression bland.

Krase and Jayce step forward with matching frowns. The others glance at each other uneasily.

‘Are you all right, gràidh?’ Krase asks.

‘I wish you wouldn’t call me names that I can’t understand,’ I mutter with a roll of my eyes. ‘And, yes, I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be? I signed the contract to become the clan’s last night. Three years of safety and security.’ I smile like the cat who got the cream.

‘What’s wrong with you?’ Iron asks, his eyes narrowing.

‘Nothing at all. Why?’

‘You don’t seem yourself,’ Axel says, his gaze moving over me.

‘I just think we should keep things professional from now on. I got what I wanted, and so will you. You can feed from me whenever you want. Fuck me whenever, however you like. I’ll even pretend to be lulled if that’s what gets you off.’

I stand up. ‘Do any of you need to feed?’ I ask again.

None of them answer.

‘Look,’ I say with a roll of my eyes. ‘I’m really sorry, but my contract states that I only have to feed you. I’m not obligated to spend time with any of you, so if you’re not hungry …’

I leave the room, a puzzled smile on my face.

Krase comes after me first. I knew he would.

‘Julia.’

His use of my name almost makes me wince, but I manage to keep it in.

‘Yes?’ I ask, turning with a polite smile as if I have no idea why he might be upset.

‘What is this?’

I laugh. ‘I don’t know what you’re—,’ I put my hand over my mouth with a small, affected gasp. ‘You think the past few weeks was real.’ My mouth falls open as if I can’t believe it. ‘Wow. I must be a better actress than I thought,’ I mutter to myself. ‘Look, I’m sorry if you got the wrong idea, but you know me, Krase. I’m a survivor. It’s dangerous for a human out there. I knew Maddox was going to cut me loose after the party, so I made sure you guys wanted to keep me here.’ I take a step back. ‘At least now we all get what we want, right?’

He doesn’t say anything, but I see the darkness leaching into his eyes. The other guy is pissed even if Krase is pretending he isn’t. But I know he won’t turn on me that fast. These are just the seeds. The real betrayal comes later. This little scene will just make it easier for them to swallow the main event.

I turn on my heel and go upstairs, closing myself in my room and pretending to read until it’s dark.

Someone knocks on my door once, but they leave when I don’t answer.

At two a.m., I grab a jacket and go downstairs. I already know where the creaks in the floorboards are, so I avoid them easily and get into the library without a problem.