Page 51 of Vengeance and Vipers
I’m pushed hard as I turn the corner, and I fall into the wall with a small cry.
Daemon turns me around roughly, and his hand grips my throat. I claw at his fingers, only just able to breathe. They feel weird. He’s wearing a glove on the hand he’s holding me with.
Relief mixes with my fear of being throttled, and I glance up at him, wondering why he’s wearing it, but lowering my gaze again just as quickly because he looks more than a little pissed.
‘What were you doing alone in the library with Axel?’ he snarls.
‘Who are you, my keeper?’ I snap, pushing ineffectually at him.
‘Yes! So, answer my question.’
His covered fingers grip me tighter.
‘Nothing!’ I gasp.
‘Liar!’
I try to swallow. ‘I was reading. He came in. We talked. I told him to leave me alone. That’s all!’
‘What’s with the waterworks?’ he grates out.
His otherunglovedhand comes close to my face, and I recoil as he catches a tear on my cheek with his finger, which he puts to his lips and licks, never touching my skin.
For a moment, all I can do is stare with my mouth open. But I come to my senses quickly. I shake my head.
‘Involuntary,’ I wheeze. ‘I was attacked in the hallway by a one-gloved assailant.’
One side of Daemon’s lip curves upwards for a second before his frown returns. He stares at me for a moment before he seems satisfied, and his hand loosens but doesn’t leave me entirely.
‘Another dress?’ He smirks.
‘I don’t have anything else.’
His eyes flick down to my chest. ‘No underwear?’
I take a deep breath, crossing my arms over my chest so he can’t see my nips.
‘Let me go, Daemon.’
He doesn’t move for a long, tense moment. Then, he pushes himself away from the wall, and his hand falls away.
I eye it. ‘What’s with the glove?’ I whisper.
‘My hand was cold.’
‘I’m glad,’ I say pointedly as I look into his face.
I see confusion followed by …hurt? Hedidfeel whatever it was the other day. That’s why he’s wearing it. He assumes it’s me, and he’s taking precautions so I don’t lure him in like he thinks I did with Axel and Jayce.
An incubus afraid of beinglulledby little old me. Ironic.
I think he’s just going to leave, but instead, he pushes me hard against the wall again, pinning me to it.
‘Stay away from Axel and Jayce, or you’ll see who I became without the clan to temper me,’ he hisses.
He turns on his heel and disappears down the corridor. I stay where I am, staring at the spot in front of me where he just was, my hands rubbing my neck.
That afternoon, I run into Jayce twice and Axel three more times, both in the garden and the house, and by the end, I decide that if they don’t stop, I’m going to have to live in my room until Maddox releases me. I know they’re doing it on purpose, but Daemon made it clear that I’m to blame if I’m caught alone with either one of them.
