Page 73 of Demons and Debts
‘So,’ he turns to me, speaking loudly enough for the room to hear, ‘you’re contracted to the Iron I’s, eh?’
‘That’s right,’ I say quietly.
He snorts. ‘You should have come to us first. We would have given you more money, Darling.’
I’m not sure what to say to that so I don't say anything.
‘Get her a drink,’ he orders no one in particular.
I make sure the others are still here, not putting it past them to abandon me to the mercies of theseotherincubi. Oddly, the thought terrifies me. I’d much rather be with the Iron I’s for some reason. Maybe it’s just a ‘better the devils you know’ type of deal.
Literally.
Vic is sitting in a chair by the table and is speaking with Maddox again, ignoring me completely. Kor and Sie are by the door that leads to the club, standing watch, I guess. Paris is gone and so is Theo.
A drink appears in front of me, and I glance at Vic. It's just a cocktail, but even I know you don't take a drink from some stranger in a club. However, the magnanimous leader of the Iron I’s deigns to give me a brief moment of his precious time, looking over for a second to give me a nod.
I’m also not one to turn down free booze, so I take a sip. Coconut Rum is the pervading taste and it’s good! I take a longer gulp.
Vic's phone rings and he looks at it. ‘Excuse me,’ he says to Maddox. ‘I need to take this.’
He leaves the room, Sie following and leaving me with just Korban and the rest of these new guys, and I’m suddenly uncomfortable although I’m not fully sure why. Everything seems fine, but none of the Iron I’s are here with me now except Korban and he’s staring at his phone, not paying any attention to what’s going on at the table.
I tense as I feel Maddox’s hand graze the outside of my bare thigh and I think it's a mistake until his hand moves up and inwards towards—
My head whips around towards his and I practically snarl at him. ‘Get your hand off me!’
He looks surprised and then his eyes narrow. I shudder as I feelsomething. Rearing back and inadvertently colliding with the other one I’m sitting next to, I grab my drink and throw it in Maddox’s face.
He hisses and something passes over his features. Surprise maybe? No. Shock.
His hand, which had been gripping my thigh, disappears. He’s deadly silent and so are all the others. They’re all watching me, and I can feel them trying to use their creepy voodoo on me.
I shudder at the power as it crawls over my skin, leaving trails of prickles. They’re all trying to lull me. Each one is different. It’s not a smell or a taste. It’s not a thing I can describe with one of my regular senses. This is something else, butsimilar. Like a sixth sense.
Ugh I hope I don’t start seeing ghosts or something now.
‘Stop it!’
The feeling peters out and I know they’ve stopped trying, but I'm seething, my entire body locked up in rage and I’m afraid that I’m going to meltdown or shutdown very soon. There’s nowhere to hide.
‘What the hell’s going on here?’
It’s Vic and even though I hate him too, I’m so relieved he’s back that tears – of righteous anger, not damsel-in-distress-ness! – come to my eyes.
He’s staring at Maddox’s still dripping face and he looks as pissed off as I am. But this is Maddox’s territory. I don’t understand their relationship, and while I’d love to see Maddox get a broken jaw, I don’t want to find myself in the middle of an incubus brawl.
‘An accident. I'm so clumsy,’ I force out with a chuckle. ‘Sorry about that.’
‘No need to apologize,’ Maddox says, using the silk pocket square from his suit jacket to wipe himself. His eyes don’t leave mine. ‘It was my fault entirely.’
Vic’s phone rings again and he curses. ‘Busy night, I’m afraid. Give me five and then we’ll talk,’ he says to Maddox and before I can say a word, he’s gone again.
I eye Maddox and his clan warily, but they don’t try anything else. Instead, they talk to each other in a language I don’t understand but I know they’re talking about me. I can usually tell when people are, and incubi are no different it seems.
Another drink appears in front of me, but I don’t touch it.
‘Where did you say you’re from?’ Maddox asks, and I practically see all the others’ ears perk up.
