Page 49 of Vipers and Vendettas

‘Fuck,’ Daemon mutters coming into the room. ‘Would you get your shit together?’

‘Fuck you, Mackenzie. Why are you even here? You’re about as much use to this clan as a chicken wire submarine. Go sponge off your brother, or, better still, see if the vamps will take you back. They might. I heard you gave great head.’

Daemon’s face twists in anger, and I grin nastily, finally feeling something after all these weeks, and I like it.

I think he’s going to demon-up and attack, but as usual, the fucker disappoints.

I roll my head back with a scoff to stare at the ceiling again when he just stands there.

‘I found her, you asshole.’

I’m on my feet and have Daemon against the wall, my arm across his throat in an instant.

‘Don’t you fucking lie to me,’ I hiss.

The fucker just chuckles.

‘I’m not lying. I found her the day you left on your little mission,’ he sneers. ‘Go ask Maddox if you don’t believe me. He’s got her in Krase’s old fold for safekeeping.’

I’m out of the room in less than a second and bounding down the stairs, taking four at a time. I burst into the library. Maddox is sitting in one of the high-backed chairs by the fire.

‘Where is she?’ I all but bellow.

‘Ah, you’re back,’ he murmurs in the most infuriatingly nonchalant tone.

My eye twitches. ‘Yes.’

His lip quirks, and he slowly looks over at me, his eyes assessing. ‘Well, at least you’ve washed. I suppose that’s all we can hope for at this point.’

‘Spare me,’ I snap. ‘I just want to see her.’

Maddox slowly puts his laptop down and stands. ‘Can I trust you with her?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean, you’re a fucking wreck, Axel. Her treachery did a number on you.’ His eyes flick away from me. ‘Even I let my anger get the better of me when she first arrived. How do I know she’s safe with you?’

I swallow hard, making myself be calm.

‘I’d never … I’m not angry with her,’ I say. ‘I’m angry with myself. And with you.’

Maddox nods, clearly not surprised by my confession. He crosses the room and grabs a small disk off the desk. ‘The key. Return it when you’re …finished.’

I nod as I put the disk in my pocket, my palms suddenly sweaty as I walk towards the closed library door, thinking of the fold.

‘Axel.’

I glance back. ‘She’s pregnant.’

I freeze mid-step. ‘What?’

‘You heard me. I trust you’ll take her and the baby’s safety into account during your time with her.’

I nod, but my mind is reeling as I open the library door and walk into the fold.

A baby?

* * *