Page 59 of Vengeance and Vipers
‘Look what your selfishness has wrought,’ he snarls.
‘Enough!’ Krase hisses. ‘We can discuss this later. Go on ahead to the house. We’ll meet you there.’
Iron does what Krase says, swearing loudly as he leaves.
When we’re alone, Krase steps closer to me and tilts my chin up to look at my face.
‘Mo chridhe, I can feel you here now, I think.’ He presses his heart. ‘And I ken your sadness, but I don’t know the reason for it. Did I do something you didn’t want?’
I shake my head because he didn’t, but that’s the problem. More tears well in my eyes.
Who am I? I thought I knew.
I’m gathered into his arms, and before I can react, we’re airborne. I grip him tightly, shutting my eyes and pressing my face into his chest.
I don’t want to go back to the house right now. The thought of the rest of them seeing me like this makes me feel sick. I can just imagine Maddox and Daemon’s angry, supercilious faces, and who knows what Axel and Jayce are going to think when they find out I fucked Mr. Hyde when I just told them I couldn’t be around them.
Why do I care what they think anyway? In a few weeks, I’ll be gone from here.
But the thought doesn’t make me feel better. It makes me feel worse.
We land on a balcony upstairs, and I count my blessings that he didn’t decide to carry me over the threshold of the front door after ringing the bell to summon literally everyone.
He opens the door and carries me inside. He’s brought me to my room. I shift in his arms, but he holds me fast, not letting me down.
‘Are you still in here?’ he calls.
Iron appears at my bathroom door and nods. ‘All ready for her. I’ll see you later,’ he says to Krase in a tone that promises violence.
‘Stay,’ Krase mutters. ‘I might need your help.’
I’m taken into the bathroom, and there’s a steaming bath waiting for me. Krase checks the temperature with his hand, and then, with a kiss on my forehead that makes me frown, he lowers me into the tub gently. I hiss as the hot water makes everything sting for a moment.
‘Is it too hot?’ he asks.
I shake my head, drawing up and hugging my knees.
‘Talk to me,’ he murmurs as he gets the shampoo and begins to wash my hair.
‘Why are you doing this?’ I ask. ‘You don’t have to.’
‘I want to,’ he replies.
‘And Mr. Hyde? What does he want?’
Krase snorts. ‘He wants to fuck you again as soon as possible, but even he doesn’t want to force you, Jules.’ He sighs. ‘He thought you’d enjoy the game. We both did.’
‘I did enjoy it,’ I whisper.
‘Then what is it? Were we too rough?’
I shake my head and look up at him.
‘I loved it,’ I say so quietly that I don’t think he’s heard me.
But he answers.
‘Then I don’t understand. Why are you upset?’ he asks in confusion.
