Page 97 of Vipers and Vendettas

Daemon stands next to me and looks in at her as well. ‘Come on, princess. We’ll be as gentle and slow as you want or as hard and rough as you need.’

She purses her lips, and I see her wince a little in pain.

Daemon and I share a look. She needs to feed soon, or the aches will intensify, and that will put stress on her body.

I lean into the nook and put my arms under her, lifting her out and taking the decision away.

‘Feeding is as important as eating food,’ I admonish, giving her arse a little slap.

She gives me a dark look and I smile. She’s going to be difficult, and I’m going to relish it. From the look on Daemon’s face, so will he.

* * *

Jules

Maddox carries me slowly up to his room, chatting casually to Daemon as if he’s not holding a naked woman in his arms.

We pass Iron on the stairs, and once he gets over his initial shock, he grins and shakes his head, a hand coming out to fondle my breast and pinch my nipple a little.

I squeak, and he laughs as I slap his hand away in mortification, just as two of Maddox’s fingers slide into my pussy. I gasp and try to wriggle free of him, but he doesn’t let me go, and all I succeed in doing is impaling myself further.

I think for a moment that Iron is going to join us, and I’m not sure if I want him to or not, but he just winks at me and continues down the stairs.

I force my eyes up and over Maddox’s shoulder to Daemon, who’s watching me with interest. Then, I look at Maddox. His eyes don’t stray to me, but his lips curve upwards, and he scissors his fingers, drawing a moan from me as I rest my head on his shoulder.

When we get to his room, I jolt a little because the last time I was in here, there were dead vamps all over the place, but Maddox is true to his word. There are no indications that anything happened here just two days ago. There are no stains, no smells. Nothing.

Maddox puts me on his bed, frowning a little as he slides his fingers out of me, and I seal my lips shut so I don’t demand that he put them back in when I feel so empty. He tells me to stay where I am. I think he senses my feelings, but I still get nothing from him at all.

I frown back, feeling suddenly vulnerable here with them, two demons I can’t read and don’t know if I trust completely. Can I just forget everything that came before this? The way they treated me? What if they changed back? What if this is a trick?

‘I want to go back to the fold,’ I whisper, ignoring his words to stay put as I scramble to my feet and try to find something to count.

I glance at the closet, wishing I could run inside it and get to my little room where I can breathe. But it’s not there.

I take a breath and then another, quick and shallow. I feel like I’m suffocating. I want to go back where it’s safe!

I hear Daemon say something, but I can’t hear him above the roaring in my ears.

Tears flood my eyes, and I’m drawn into Maddox’s chest. His arms envelop me.

‘I can’t evenfeelyou,’ I pant into his chest, and he stiffens.

I sense it a second later, a trickle of emotion that isn’t mine. It’s soothing, like a cool stream over my frayed psyche. I clutch Maddox, my nails digging into him as if my life depends on my grip, and my panic begins to ebb.

‘Julia? Can you hear me?’ he asks.

I nod, letting the calm I feel from him seep into my body, and my taut muscles begin to unlock.

‘I’m sorry,’ he whispers. ‘I handled this badly. I have from the beginning. I forget that you … I didn’t realize that I was keeping myself closed off from the connection between us. Forgive me. If you need the fold, you can have it back. I promise.’

I think about his offer seriously for about five seconds before I shake my head. ‘No. I want to go into it so badly. I feel like I need it. And that’s why I can’t go back. It’s not what’s best for Jellybean. It only feels like it is because I’m scared.’

‘What are you scared of?’ Daemon growls. ‘Tell us so we can banish your fears.’

‘Tamadrielle. Losing Jellybean. Losing the clan again,’ I say readily, my worries at the forefront of my mind.

I open my eyes, and I look at Maddox and then over at Daemon standing behind him. ‘You. Both of you turning on me.’