Page 63 of Vengeance and Vipers
I scoff. ‘Understatement of the year,Tabby. By the time I was seven, Mom was gone, and Dad and the others had had their memories wiped of their mate. After that, they didn’t give a shit my mom was dead. They couldn’t remember anything about her except what her name had been.’
I pull away, not wanting to talk about this anymore.
‘I have to go,’ I mutter, and she looks at me with the pitying expression I saw on so many faces when my mom was found murdered and my dad and his clan went nuts.
Filled with anger, I make my way down to the gym to beat the shit out of some pads alone, but the talk with Tabitha has long-forgotten memories surfacing, the times Alex and Andy would play with me even though they were older. But Andrew is dead now. Our father killed him on a fucking whim and then had him erased from his brain like he never existed, either. After that, Alex left and got his own clan together. He forgot about me. I went from having a real family to nothing until Maddox found me and gave me a new one where I felt like I actually belonged.
I can’t lose my clan, not again.
* * *
JULES
I wake up the next morning feeling rested and pretty silly for yesterday’s drama. I put my head under my pillow and groan. I’m so ridiculous.
I get out of bed and shower, surprised that all my cuts and scrapes from yesterday are healed over. That cream Krase used must be magick, I decide. But my down below feels fine too, and I figured after Krase’s demon dicking down, I’d hardly be able to walk today.
I go into the closet and choose a dress from one of the hangers. This one is a plain purple chiffon, long with flowy little sleeves. I notice something sticking out of one of the drawers and slide it open to investigate. It’s now full of expensive, lacy bras and matching underwear. Clothes have been appearing for days, so I’m not fazed. I choose a set that fits, of course, and get dressed, wondering what I should do today. My options are pretty limited, and I’m starting to get a little bored, which sounds nuts after Krase’s little game yesterday, but I don’t think I’m up for anything like that again so soon.
The first few days out of the dungeon weren’t too bad. It was nice to have a little R&R after months of evading the other inmates, but it’s been days of sitting around being waited on and reading in the library. I mean, I’m not complaining, but my brain is starting to get antsy. I need something to do to occupy it besides thoughts of primal sex and hot demons.
Truthfully, I’ve been thinking about what happened with Krase yesterday for hours, and I still don’t know how I feel about it, only how Ishouldfeel as an uncontracted human being played with by demons, which is petrified. I am scared, but it has less to do with Krase and more to do withfalling for Krasethe way I did for Jayce and Axel.
That has me terrified and thinking I need to keep away from them all.
I leave my room and take the grand staircase down slowly, the little ballet flats I’m wearing making no sound as I make my way to the library. The door is closed, so I knock, but there’s no answer. I go in, but he’s not there. I let out a small huff. It’s ten-thirty, so earlier than he’s usually at his desk. I wonder what he does in the mornings.
Not feeling like sitting around with a book in the reading nook for once, I decide to go looking for him. It’s earlyish, but Maddox has never struck me as the type who lolled around in bed until noon.
I try the Billiard Room, Gym, Reception Rooms, Ballroom, Drawing Room, and Parlor, but other than finding a ton of spaces that I’d enjoy passing some time in, there’s no Maddox. None of the others are around, either.
I go by the kitchens and find Tabitha at the stove.
‘Do you know where Maddox is?’ I ask.
She turns with a smile. ‘Morning, dear. He’s usually out in the forest around this time.’ She closes her eyes for a moment. ‘Yes, where the spring feeds into the pond.’
‘Do you know where the others are too?’ I ask out of interest.
She smiles. ‘Or course. Daemon and Axel are in their rooms, Iron is in the Sunroom, and Jayce and Krase are sparring out on the lawn.’
‘Useful gift,’ I mutter.
She laughs. ‘It has its moments. Here.’ She hands me two mugs of steaming coffee. ‘Could you take the other to Maddox?’
‘Sure,’ I nod, happy to be useful to someone, even if it’s only for a few minutes.
I look down at my in-doors outfit. I need some other clothes. I can’t keep walking around like this now that the temperature is dropping.
I go to the side door from the kitchen that leads outside, putting on one of the long coats on the hook next to it. It dwarfs me, but at least I won’t be cold.
Outside, I take the white gravel paths towards the wood past where Jayce and Krase are sparring on the lawn, and causing Jayce to get punched in the jaw when he turns to stare at me going past. I grimace, mouthing a sorry that no one can see and not breaking my stride.
It’s hard to stay away from them even though I’m angry and I don’t trust them. I don’t even think I am angry anymore if I’m honest with myself. I’m just using it as an excuse to try to make it easier to keep my distance. But that is getting more difficult as the days pass. I thought I was imagining it, but this morning, it takes everything in me not to turn around and go back to Jayce just to be in his presence. Is this an incubus thing because we slept together? I feel the same way about Krase and Axel.
I stop in my tracks. Am I addicted the way on-call girls get?
I start walking again quickly. No, it doesn’t feel like I’m craving a sexual fix; I feel like I need a cuddle. I just want a hug. Is that all it is?
