Page 35 of Villains and Vengeance
‘You have some brass balls coming here,’ snarls a voice behind me.
I whirl around to run, but Iron is blocking the door. I remember he’s part fae, but I had no idea he could …
‘You made me come here,’ I accuse, realizing he just manipulated my mind.
He looks uncertain for a split second before he smirks at me.
‘Let me leave or Axel’s dead,’ I say.
It’s not an empty threat. If I don’t come back, he’s a Slurpee for sure.
Someone grabs me roughly, yanking my shoulder and I yelp in pain. The hold gentles immediately and I look back to see who’s got me. It’s Maddox himself.
‘Put her in the middle bedroom,’ he orders, pushing me towards Jayce who takes me in such a punishing grip that it makes my whole body tense and I know there’ll be bruises.
But I don’t make a sound.
He smiles anyway, taking enjoyment in hurting me. ‘With pleasure.’
‘Close the door, so no one smells her,’ Maddox says.
Iron nods. ‘I’ll put a conjure in place along the hallway, which should help and keep her contained as well.’
I guess his fae powers aren’t limited to mind control. He downplayed his abilities when I was with them. I’ve completely underestimated him.
Jayce pushes me in front of him, making me fall into the door jamb with my bad shoulder. This time the cry I try to suppress makes its way through my clenched teeth and he laughs.
I’m in deep shit.
The Scotsman and his brother are wild cards. They never did anything bad to me while I was at Maddox’s, but I always got the impression that they were on their very best behaviors because I was in the house. What’s he going to do to me?
I make sure the fear doesn’t show on my face, but once I’m in the room and he pushes me down to sit on the bed, I know he can see it in my eyes.
‘Oh, Victoria,’ he tuts. ‘You dumb little human. Whatever made you think you could fuck with us and survive?’
He caresses my face and I let him.
‘I meant what I said. If I don’t return,Axelwon’t survive.’
‘You mean because of the arania?’ Jayce lets out a laugh at my surprised expression. ‘Yeah, we know where you’ve been hiding. The only reason we didn’t come in was because Iron was pretty sure he could get you to come to us. And Axel? He’s been playing you, baby. He can get out of there any time he wants.’
‘Bullshit.’
‘That arania will be dead by morning.’
Cold lances through my heart and he must see it because his expression turns even crueler.
‘Didn’t he tell you? Axel used to hunt them. It was his literal job. He knows exactly how to kill them and he is very good at it.’
My stomach twists. He might have mentioned something like that, but I thought he was bluffing becausewho hunts arania?I didn’t even know that was a thing!
‘Listen, Jayce,’ I try, ‘Whatever deal you made with Dante, he’s not going to give you what he promised. I can help—’
Suddenly Jayce’s fingers are tangled in my hair, holding my head in place as he presses his lips to mine.
My eyes widen as I squeal, rearing back, but he doesn’t let me go, doesn’t let me breathe.
When he finally pulls away, he’s breathing heavily and I’m lightheaded, gasping for oxygen. My lips are bruised and I know I’m gaping at him.
