Page 107 of Vipers and Vendettas

‘Fine,’ I huff, squeezing my legs together to gain even a tiny bit of relief.

Maddox chuckles. ‘He’ll be waiting down at the bar for you to throw yourself at him, you know. If you want my advice, I wouldn’t reward his mischief if I were you.’

I snort. ‘Noted.’

He walks with me down to the main bar, and sure enough, Daemon is waiting for me with two drinks on the bar in front of him and a smirk on his face. Maddox raises a brow at me, makes a show of kissing my neck for the benefit of the alphas watching, and leaves my side to speak in low tones to one of the shifters who was just in the meeting with us.

I go towards Daemon with a smile on my face but sidestep him at the last minute to greet Stephan. The look on his face as I ignore him is priceless, and I turn my back on him completely in favor of my old boss. Luckily, the music isn’t so loud now, and I can actually hear myself speak.

‘I’m sorry I left so suddenly,’ I say. ‘I didn’t have a choice.’

‘It’s okay, really. It was just …with that guy following you from Spice, and then Jack telling me you’d skipped town, I was pretty worried about you.’

‘How do you know Jack?’ I ask.

‘Doesn’t everyone?’ He grins, neatly evading my question. ‘I’m glad you’re okay.’

He glances at Maddox, who’s speaking to Iron on the other side of the room. I notice that Daemon isn’t at the bar anymore, and a cursory glance around the room reveals that he’s gone.

‘Didn’t peg you for an on-call girl,’ Stephan says conversationally, but I’m not fooled.

‘I’m not in any trouble,’ I say, keeping it vague because I can’t very well tell him what I am.

My succubus scent is unknown to most but interesting enough that it’ll be remarked upon and remembered, so Krase put another conjure on me to hide it for tonight in case the club’s spells don’t make its patrons forget the smell when they leave. Stephan still thinks I’m a weak little human girl among the big bads.

‘Do you need help, Marie? Incubi aren’t known for being gentlemen.’

I smile at him. ‘I’m fine. Thanks. The clan are … I want to be with them.’

He looks dubious. ‘Well, if you ever need a place, just come find me at Spice.’

‘Okay. Thanks, Stephan. I’ll see you around.’

‘My real name is Drake.’ He gives me a rueful smile at my incredulous expression. ‘Yeah, I know. Drake. Dragon shifter. My parents weren’t overly original.’

I laugh as I shake his hand. ‘I’m Julia.’

He grins. ‘I gotta get back to Spice, but my offer won’t expire, okay? I’m serious.’

I nod, giving his hand a last squeeze of thanks before he turns and disappears into the crowd. I look around for the others and see Daemon back by the bar, but my eyes pass right over him, and I watch his expression shutter when I don’t do what he wants. Somehow keeping a straight face, I turn, not walking his way this time. I have another destination in mind.

I head down the hallway and out the exit, taking the stairs down to the door that leads to the alleyway. I glance over my shoulder to make sure no one’s followed me, and I push the door gently. I go outside and let it shut quietly behind me as I peer into the gloom.

The alley looks exactly as it did before on the first night I met Fluffy, and I’m hoping he’s here, or at least close by. He’s the reason I’m down here braving the stench of garbage and the questionable puddles. I miss him. He used to find me almost every day when I was working at Spice. I didn’t even get to say goodbye to him.

‘Fluffy!’ I whisper loudly. ‘Are you here, boy?’

I make kissing noises, but he doesn’t come. I let out a sigh and turn to go back inside when I’m pulled from behind into a hard body.

I scream, but it’s quickly silenced by a hand over my mouth and a dark laugh as I’m hauled into the darkness and thrust against the brick wall. My hands that strike out are quickly snatched and held above my head by the wrists. I thrash and struggle, kick and try to bite, but I’m helpless, and once again, my demon side is just laying around like a bearskin rug.

ChapterFourteen

Iron

She kicks out at me, almost catching me in a spot that would quickly put an end to my game, but I crowd her against the wall, stopping her from hurting herself and me but making sure I’m not putting my weight on her stomach.

She doesn’t know it’s me. I wondered if she’d be able to feel me still. Though I’ve been practicing muffling the connection we have the way she was able to before, I wasn’t sure if it would work the other way. But it looks like it has.