Page 89 of The Vipers' Vow

Those words should terrify me, but they don’t. They ground me and make me feel safe.

But then I think of something.

“What about your dad?” I ask the twins. “He’s not going to like this.”

Lex shrugs. “We’ve decided we don’t care what he thinks. He can’t force us back to France. We’ve both got enough money to last us. He can cut us off completely if he wants, disown us, even. Then, when our time is done at Verona Falls, we can do whatever the hell we want. The four of us can travel the world together, if we choose. Maybe even go to Greece.”

Zane grins, and I picture us all on a big boat with Zane at the helm.

They take turns kissing me, and I block out the rest of the room. Their kisses are a promise for what comes later, after the party’s finished and it’ll be only the four of us again.

Worried the blood is going to make a mess of my pretty dress, I go to wash my hand and find a cloth to cover it up.

A feminine voice comes from behind me. “Congratulations.”

I turn to see Mackenzie grinning at me. She pulls me into a hug, and I squeeze her back. “I’m so happy, I think I’m going to burst,” I say.

“You deserve it.” She holds my hands, careful of the cut on my palm, as she smiles at me.

The party is already back in full swing. Everyone is drinking and dancing. I’m so dazed I can’t take it all in.

“Oh, great, she’s here!” Mackenzie suddenly announces, half standing on tiptoes to see over everyone’s heads. “I asked my friend Camile to come tonight. I wanted you to meet her. You’ve had such bad luck with the way Angelica glommed on to you from the start, so it’s time for you to meet some nice people, and there are some here, I promise. Camile is one of the good ones.”

Her friend approaches us. We’ve been introduced before, but never really had the chance to meet properly. I did hear a rumor that at some point Saint and Lex were being dicks to her. I didn’t pay it much heed, as I was new then, but they better treat her with only total respect from now on. I won’t have them being sexist pigs.

Camile is pretty, but she’s not alone. There’s a girl with her, and I find myself unable to look away as I watch her approach. She’s striking but not pretty; that word doesn’t suit her.

She’s beautiful, in an ethereal way. Her hair is iron straight, and a natural pale blonde. Her eyes are huge, and her lips are a small, pretty bow shape. She’s wearing a white dress, which with her pale skin makes her look almost ghostly. She has her chin down, her hair half-falling over her face. Her eyes, which could almost be gray in certain lights, dart from side to side. She looks fucking terrified, as though she’d rather be anywhere than here.

“That’s the new girl,” Mackenzie says softly. “Ophelia. I’ve not met her to talk with much yet, but Camile has been asked to show her around for the next week or two. I think she’s had a bad time before coming here. There are lots of rumors, and I’m not sure what is and isn’t true, but they say she escaped a cult or something terrible like that.”

I smile at Camile as she reaches us, and turn to Ophelia, giving her what I hope is a reassuring smile. I know what it’s like to be the new girl. How scary it is.

Ophelia smiles back, but it’s distant. Her right eye has a scar down the side, and up close it’s a paler shade than her left eye.

There’s something almost spooky about her.

“Hey, gorgeous,” Camile says brightly to Mackenzie, and the two of them hug.

I’m soon saying hello, too, and then Ophelia is introduced to me, and then to the Vipers.

They surprise me with how polite they are with her. Gentle, almost as if they can sense she’s broken somehow.

“Shall we grab you a drink?” Camile asks.

“Just soda, please,” Ophelia says, her voice a surprising contrast with her waiflike looks. It’s husky and kind of sexy.

They head past us to the kitchen.

“My Duchess, will you do me the honor of a dance?” Kirill grabs Mackenzie’s hand, and she giggles as he pulls her to the dance floor.

I’m about to ask Zane to come dance with me when Saint straightens and shakes his head. “No, you’re not fucking invited,” he shouts.

I turn to the door and gasp.

In the doorway, wearing fucking masks like the freaks they are, stand the Preachers. The memories of the night they took me rush back, and I feel as if I’m going to pass out.

The two who held me are there. I recognize their builds even if I can’t see their faces, but the third guy is fucking huge. Cain, I think Saint said his name was when I asked.

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