Page 32 of Vipers and Vendettas

‘Private eye,’ he says. ‘I’ve had him looking for a while. He got lucky. Found her in a human strip club just outside the Veil.’

My eyes narrow. ‘Go on.’

‘She was living near the fae market in some shitty apartment. She …’ He hesitates. ‘You think she’s really pregnant?’

‘Why would Tabitha lie? Besides, didn’t you see Jules’ face? She didn’t want us to know. Why?’

Daemon shrugs. ‘Her on-call contract says she needs to stay on contraceptives. Maybe she was trying to keep it on the down low?’

I frown. ‘None of this makes sense.’

The library door opens, and I’m surprised to see Tabitha coming back in. How did she get out? I have the only key to the fold. I made sure of it when I decided it would be Jules’ new room.

At my expression, she snorts but doesn’t say anything about how she got back.

‘How is she?’ Daemon asks.

‘Resting.’ Tabitha’s reply is dripping with disdain. ‘But her neck is badly bruised.’ Her accusing eyes pierce me, and I look at my desk, pretending to read some papers.

‘She’s thin too,’ Tabitha mutters.

‘There was nothing in her apartment besides tea and crackers,’ Daemon supplies. ‘She vomited more than once just while I was watching her, too.’

Tabitha tuts. ‘I’ll take her something to help with the nausea, but I’ll need a key. I can get out, but I can’t get in.’

She wrinkles her nose and huffs like she didn’t want to tell me that, but I give her the key to the fold without comment. When she goes to leave, though, I call her back.

‘We can trust you still, right, Tabitha?’ I ask plainly.

She nods. ‘I won’t help her escape if that’s what you’re worried about. Clearly, it’s been difficult for her out there. She’s safer here, though that’s not saying much.’

She pins me with a glare. ‘No more of what you did earlier, Julian Maddox,’ she says very quietly with a hint of steel in her tone.

‘I give you my word.’

She leaves, and my eyes immediately narrow at Daemon. ‘Just how long were you watching her for?’

‘A few hours,’ he mumbles. ‘That’s all.’

I drum my fingers on my desk. ‘Why was she living like that? The diamonds should have kept her in relative luxury for ages, even with her tastes.’

Daemon looks uncomfortable.

‘What is it?’

He looks down. ‘The vamps … I made a deal with them so they’d let me go. I promised double payment. Three months ago, I still hadn’t delivered. They … they were coming for me.’

‘Fuck.’ My fists clench. ‘You told me it was sorted. You lied to me.’

‘Yes, and I’m sorry.’

‘What does that have to do with Jules?’ I ask, I’m not sure why he’s telling me this after so long.

‘She paid them off with the money she got from the jewels,’ he whispers.

My mouth drops open. ‘She could have taken the money and run, but instead, she decided to spend it all on your safety?’

He nods.