Page 94 of Vipers and Vendettas

‘You’re hungry,’ I say.

Her lower lip wobbles for a second. ‘I don’t know,’ she says miserably. ‘My tummy hurts, but that could be morning sickness, or just regular aches and pains, or the baby, or…’

‘Come on,’ I say, holding out my hand.

‘Where?’

‘To the library. I’ll get Tabitha to make some Elevenses, and you can read in the nook if you like.’

She shakes her head. ‘No, thank you.’

I frown, getting more worried. She loves reading in the nook. She’d spend hours there. ‘Are you afraid to leave the fold, Jules?’

‘No!’ she exclaims a little too quickly.

‘Well, I actually came here to tell you that it’ll be closing for good in a few hours.’

She looks alarmed. ‘What? Why?’

I pretend to look rueful. ‘It’s only a rented space, and I didn’t pay the bill last month. I’m afraid it’s been allocated to someone else.’

‘Well, get another one!’

‘There aren’t any,’ I say, spreading my arms in apology. ‘We have to move you to your old room.’

‘Oh,’ she murmurs, looking so forlorn that it makes me ache, but I can’t let her stay in here, not moving, not getting any fresh air or exercise. Krase was right before. She can’t just stay in here. This is difficult, but it’s for the best.

I hold out my hand again, and she takes it. I pull her up hard, and she falls against me. I hold her close when she tries to back up, and her pupils dilate instantly.

‘You are hungry,’ I say quietly. ‘When was the last time you fed?’

‘I don’t know,’ she says. ‘I don’t even know what it feels like.’

‘Come on.’ I lead her back to the library and sit her down at my desk. I flick on the kettle and pretend not to notice as her eyes dart around.

She looks so uncomfortable and anxious. She sounds like she’s murmuring numbers.

I silently berate myself. I was the one who put her in the fold in the first place. I was the one who let the house be overrun.

I turn to face her. ‘Would you like to see the new magickal defenses I’ve put on the propertyandthe maze? Would that make you feel better?’

She nods. ‘Maybe.’

‘Come here, then,’ I say, opening my safe.

‘You’re really going to do that in front of me?’ she asks, and I can hear the smirk in her voice.

She sounds so much more like her usual self that I can’t help but smile with relief.

‘Would you really run from us again?’ I ask.

‘Only if I had to,’ she replies readily.

‘Noted. So, I will make sure you never have to. Problem solved.’

‘So simple, huh?’ I hear her low chuckle. ‘What happens now?’

‘Well, we get Theo here to make sure everything’s okay now that we have all this new information about you. I contact various loyal friends to ensure your safety, and we find a way to kill your former master.’