Page 26 of Villains and Vengeance
I let out a chuckle to override my melancholy. ‘Try not to enjoy it too much, huh?’
‘No promises.’
That draws a half-laugh and then a groan out of me.
It’s a minute before Axel does anything, but I can hear him rustling around. I turn to look out of morbid curiosity and see him wiping the knife on some web.
‘Antimicrobial,’ he mutters when he sees me looking and I nod.
But this isn’t a scratch that some of Siggy’s sterile silk will fix. This wound is deep and infection is a very real worry after the poison has worn off. My life expectancy just took a nosedive.
He approaches and I tense.
‘I have to do it,’ he murmurs and it almost seems like he’s not looking forward to cutting on me.
‘Do it,’ I say, closing my eyes.
‘I don’t believe it.’ He sounds shocked.
I look up to see Siggy at the entrance. The white moss Axel sent her out for is in front of her.
‘Looks like your spider buddy is smarter than she looks,’ he says, trying to cover up his obvious surprise.
I give Siggy a wobbly smile, sorry that I’ve doubted her so many times.
‘Guess she does give a shit about you,’ he goes on. ‘She just gave you a fighting chance.’
He grabs a chunk of the moss and puts it in his mouth, starting to chew it as he nods at me.
‘This is going to hurt.’
I bite down on my shirt, putting my brain somewhere else as I feel him start to slice. I don’t make a sound and I know he’s surprised. Then he takes hold of the shaft.
‘Ready?’
He doesn’t wait, just rips it out. I hear my own low wail and then, thankfully there’s nothing at all.
* * *
Iron
‘They almost got her!’Jayce runs through the door like a puppy with a shoe, all excited bouncing and boundless energy.
‘Shit!’ Daemon mutters, sitting up. ‘Where?’
‘Dante’s private rooms.’
Daemon looks surprised. ‘She’s gutsy for a human, huh?’
I roll my eyes and see Maddox’s amused expression when he notices mine.
‘Not gutsy,’ I mutter. ‘Desperate. Her supplies are running low.’
‘Think Axel ate her out of house and home in two days?’ Jayce chuckles.
Daemon sniggers too. ‘I guarantee she lets him go because she can’t stand him being around for one more second!’
They both laugh again and their playful banter annoys me considering our position. We’re stuck in the fucking Mountain. We need to find Victoria before the demon king and his people do. If she has a way out and he gets her first, we’re stuck here. If shedoesn’thave a way out and he gets her first, we’re stuck herewithoutthe high standing from the deal we made with him.
