Page 88 of Vengeance and Vipers
I turn away, not knowing what to say to something like that.
‘Take the passage down and then the long one that looks older all the way to the end. It’ll bring you up in the center of the maze.’
I nod and, still not trusting myself to speak, I leave, taking the passages that I’m beginning to learn well. I reach the end of the tunnels in a few minutes and walk up the steps. It looks like a dead end, but there’s a stone in the wall that looks smoother than the others. I press it and hear a click. The wall slides open, and I poke my head through, finding myself where Jayce said I would.
As soon as I’m out of the tunnel, the door slides closed, and the bench that sits on top of it straightens. You’d never know it was there unless you knew about it.
I start walking along the path. Knowing the maze, it’ll let me out pretty easily. It likes me. The first time around, the clan warned me away from it, but I was drawn to it in the weirdest way.
Apparently, in Supeland, a row of hedges can be sentient, and this intelligent maze fuckinghatesalmost everyone who enters it. It changes to make people get lost and traps them in squares of high, thorny bushes. Some of its victims never re-appear. Axel even told me about a rumor that the statues on the plinths that litter the paths came alive and killed a bunch of party guests in the 1700s. Why you’d want something that dangerous in your backyard, I have no idea.
Fucking supes.
But, for me, the maze … I listen hard and hear the far-off strums of a harp … plays music and leaves me presents like scarves and shoes. I like to think they’re possessions others have simply misplaced in here rather than objects that have been stolen from corpses the maze has allegedly murdered.
As I walk through, every path I choose is the right one, and the music gets louder.
‘It’s beautiful,’ I whisper to the hedge next to me and get this odd idea in the back of my mind that it’s happy that I’m happy.
I exit easily via the main path and say goodbye. It’s only polite. Plus, I think it’s best to stay on the right side of Murder Maze.
I start walking back to the house, shivering in the drizzle. As I turn a blind corner, I run right into Maddox’s chest.
‘There you are.’
I mumble an apology, immediately wondering if I cleaned myself enough that he won’t smell Jayce on me. I lick my lips where I kissed him goodbye, and I watch Maddox’s eyes focus on my mouth.
Shit! He knows!
I keep my game face on, and I wait him out. My nerve has gotten me out of trouble more than once. Hope it doesn’t fail me now.
‘Were you looking for me?’ I say breathlessly.
‘Yes, for ages,’ he grumbles.
‘Sorry,’ I say. ‘I was taking a walk in the maze. It was playing music for me and everything, so …’
He eyes the hedge next to us and lets out a grunt. ‘It’s dangerous,’ he mutters.
I smile sweetly. ‘Only because it doesn’t like you.’ I raise my brows at him. ‘Me, it loves.’
‘Fuck knows why,’ he mutters. ‘Come to the library. I have some folders to give you. I assume you still want to plan the ball?’
‘Yes, of course.’
‘Well, you haven’t got all that long to sort it, so best get to it.’ He leads the way, walking quickly, and I have to half-jog to keep up.
‘Are the Iron I’s still here?’ I ask.
He stops abruptly, and I bang into him. ‘Why do you ask?’
‘Just curious,’ I say, wondering what the problem is.
His eyes narrow at me. ‘I’ve informed them of your proclivities,’ he states.
‘And what are those?’ I ask, my tone as arctic as I suddenly feel.
He looks a little sheepish. ‘Let’s just say they won’t be letting their guards down around you, and I doubt they’ll allow their mate anywhere near you again.’
