Page 60 of Villains and Vengeance
I keep thinking about the time she spent with us and, the more I do, the more I get the impression that getting close to us wasn’t part of the con. I’m betting she cared about us and the clan itself a lot more than she wanted to and I’m not above using that to make things go the way I want.
‘Take Iron to see her.’
I’m shaking my head before Maddox is even finished his sentence.
‘No way. I’m not letting him put the deal in jeopardy. She’s playing ball. I got more out of her than any of you. We just have to keep a close eye on her, that’s all. Then we can all have what we want.’
Iron lets out an angry growl. ‘I can compel her to come to me anyway.’
‘Then why haven’t you?’ I smirk. ‘I think your fae mind tricks have a limited radius even with the level-up you’ve got since we got here. Bet there’s ancient conjures keeping you in your place.’
The curl of his lip makes me grin. ‘I’m right. You said this place was fae and it’s increased your magick, but it’s keeping it in check too.’
He glances at Maddox and turns away with a scowl.
‘Ok, well, I just came by to let you know the news. I need to get back.’
I turn on my heel and leave, knowing that one of them is going to follow me, so I go straight to the main cavern where everyone usually congregates. Once I’m in there, it’s relatively easy to hide with a group playing cards and I see both Iron and Daemon scanning the room looking for me. I wait until they’ve walked past and I dart down towards the lower orc levels. I still need to grab my girl a decent meal.
Yeah, that sounds right.
My girl.
CHAPTER13
JULES
My stomach growls audibly as my mouth drops open.
‘You actually found take-out,’ I mutter, just staring at the paper bag Jayce is holding. It looks like he picked it up at a restaurant. Itsmellslike it too!
I can close my eyes and believe for a second that we’re at Maddox’s estate and it makes the oppressive aura of this place lift a little. I hadn’t realized how crushing it’s been steadily getting over the past month or so since the novelty wore off.
It’s sort of like camping, which I did with my parents once when I was a kid. The first few days are exciting and new, all s’mores and hide and seek. But when you’re sugared out and know all the hiding spots, all you’re left with is dirty clothes and a strong desire for a real bed.
I step forward, eyes on Jayce in case this is a trick. I’m almost certain it is, that he’s going to whisk away the bag and eat it himself or this is an Iron mind trick and there’s nothing in the bag at all but dead rats or maggots.
But he smiles at me and there’s a warmth in his eyes that wasn’t there before. I can’t stop looking at it, basking in it. It’s like no one else exists except me.
I gasp as I understand. ‘You’re love-bombing me!’
His smile widens. ‘I’m what?’
‘Love bombing,’ I say with conviction. ‘It’s where you shower someone with so much attention and gifts that they begin to crave it and then you take it away.’
He shakes his head, looking confused. ‘Why would someone do that?’
‘Control.’
‘I already have that,’ he scoffs, then he looks contrite. ‘I’m not love-bombing you, bana-phrionnsa. Why would I need to? The deal we have makes us equal.’
‘Bana-phrionnsa?’ I ask.
He grins at me. ‘It’s Gaelic for princess.’
My eyes narrow at him.
‘Where did you find this?’
