Page 3 of Villains and Vengeance
They couldn’t know I’m here. This is a coincidence, that’s all.
‘Take us to the demon king,’ resonates the imperious voice I remember all too well, the sound carrying throughout the cave and making all the supes here stand up and take notice.
It makes my skin prickle. That and the sudden silence in the crowd. I’ve never heard these guys so quiet and it’s unnerving even though I’m safe up here.
A beefy looking shifter emerges from the crowd. He’s one of Dante’s guards. ‘No one sees Dante. Who the fuck are you?’
He’s on the ground a second later, not moving and I didn’t even see what happened, the incubus’ attack was so fast.
‘Take us to Dante,’ he says again.
Vampire Silas steps forward and I shiver. I didn’t even notice he’d arrived, he’s so sneaky.
‘Who are you?’ he asks.
‘Julian Maddox.’ The tone is arrogant, it’s owner used to getting what he wants. ‘Your lord is going to be very happy we’ve come.’
Silas looks Maddox and his guys over and then shrugs.
‘It’s your asses if you’re wrong,’ he says and starts leading them from the main room.
Maddox begins to follow the vamp, but freezes and tilts his head, sniffing the air. His clan does the same and Jayce whispers something to him.
‘Smell some sweet pussy?’ Silas chuckles when he notices they’ve stopped, and a rumble of assent goes through the crowd. ‘Yeah, there’s a female in here somewhere, but don’t get your hopes up. When we finally get her, she’s Dante’s.’ He grins. ‘At least at first.’
I shiver, goosebumps erupting over my skin.
‘A female,’ Maddox murmurs, the acoustics of the cavern magnifying his voice. ‘You don’t say.’
And then he looks up –directly at where I’m hiding!
I scramble back, hitting the wall with a thud. I’m breathing hard but trying to stay silent.
They can’t be here for me. They can’t.
Shit!
I shouldn’t have fucked with a demon clan like them, a supe like Maddox. The guy doesn’t like to lose, isn’t used to it. I knew better! But the payday wasbig, and they were so desperate it was easy to fool them. They were like shiny, ripe apples. I couldn’t have resisted picking them even if I’d wanted to. Besides, I think sardonically, I couldn’t haveaffordedto resist.
I’ve made my bed and now I have to yeet it out the window any way I can. That’s how Julia Brand has survived and that’s what I’ll keep doing.
I back out of the space and into the tunnel behind it, deep in my own thoughts.
It’s a dumb mistake to be so unfocussed on my surroundings outside Siggy’s territory and I’m reminded of that when I’m taken in a painful grip. A large hand covers my mouth.
‘Hush, girl. No screaming now. Wouldn’t want anyone else joining the party just yet.’
One of Dante’s scouts.
They don’t usually come this far into Arania Alley.
I pry the fingers away from my mouth with a ton of effort. Whoever has me is like steel, feels big. Escape is not on the cards.
‘Dante will kill you if you don’t take me to him directly,’ I hiss into the dark.
There’s a low chuckle and I cringe when I feel a wet tongue slither up my cheek.
‘Worth it,’ he rasps in my ear.
