Page 79 of How to Entice a Fiend

Her expression hardens and she refuses to meet my eyes. “I… will admit that I once worked for him, but that was many years ago. I no longer see eye to eye with him.”

“I remember you. I remember that you had human slaves you treated worse than animals. Abel gave you someone special to me. You remember her? You remember me? We never met face to face, though, did we?”

She takes a step back. “I am different now.”

“Vivian, please leave the premises. I don’t know who permitted you entry, but we’d like you to leave. I’m not sure why the council thinks it’s their right to butt into everything,” Finn says. “Mads and Ender will be going with us. I would like to have a discussion with you when we’re done.”

“I refuse to let you take Mads,” she snarls, but she should know better than to snap at Finn when Marcus is around.

Marcus’s aura immediately becomes suppressing. “Don’t you dare speak to him that way.”

But Vivian holds her ground. “Mads is going with me.”

“How about letting me decide where I go? That could be fun,” Mads says. “Delightful, even.”

Vivian waves toward him. “Mads, let’s go.”

“Vivian, tensions are high. I’m going to go with them and explain to them what’s happening because it’s their job to keep us safe. Once we’re done, I’ll meet with you.”

“You’re coming with menow,” she demands.

Mads’s brow furrows. “Vivian, maybe if you act a bit more… civil, you can go with us, and we can all explain what’s going on.”

“I’m explaining nothing to a group of insignificant vampires who have absolutely no idea what they’re sticking their nose into. I have information on where Grady is. Let’s go.”

That piques Mads’s interest. “You know where he is?”

“Let’s go. I don’t have time for this.”

Mads looks over at me. “Let me get Grady, and then I’ll be back.”

“If you leave with that woman, don’t ever come back,” I say as I start toward Finn and Marcus. Everyone should just reward me for not ripping her fucking head off.

“But she knows where Grady is.”

“Yeah? She also drained and killed my sister-in-law because she ‘cried too much.’ I think that’s what you said, wasn’t it?” Iask Vivian. “Because she cried too much, begging to know what happened to her child you ripped her away from.”

“You act like you didn’t kill people,” she snaps.

“There was a fucking difference,” I snarl. “I was forced to. Were you?”

“I have changed. I really have. You can ask Mads. The guilt over what Abel convinced me to do weighs on me every day. That is why I’m dedicating my life to stopping him. But first we have to prevent him from getting any more information on how to kill vampires. Do you understand how horrific it’d be if Abel got access to the way to make that drug? You’d never even get a chance to fight him. He’d kill you instantly. I have information that Grady is being transferred. We know that they will intercept it. The whole reason for the transfer is to give Abel’s men time to take him. If he’s given to Abel, he’ll know how to make the ammunition and might not need Mads anymore. He’ll probably make it his goal to kill Mads so the information can’t be passed on to someone like me or the VRC.”

I still vote we kill her.

Mads seems a bit torn on what to do now. “I really do think we need to find Grady, whether you wish to work with her or not.”

“Let’s go somewhere discreet and speak about all of this,” Finn says. “Let’s go to the VRC.”

“I don’t have time,” Vivian retorts.

“If you want our help, you’ll make time,” Finn says sternly.

The very last place I want to go is somewhere with this woman. Everyone constantly wants me to make changes that suit them, never giving a shit what I have to deal with.

Mads reaches out and squeezes my hand. “Ender, Vivian really has been good to me. It’s very upsetting to hear what she did in the past, but I can honestly tell you that she’s been risking her life again and again to keep me out of Abel’s hands. Shereally wants to stop him, and I think that she could play a vital role in this. I’m not asking you to get along with her or forgive her, but please, hear her out. I fully understand that what she did is unforgivable. But if she can lead us closer to getting answers, then just use her for that.”

My eyes are transfixed by the gentle hand on mine. I stare at it for a long moment before nodding. “Fine.”

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