Free Vengeance: The Niteclif Evolutions, Book 3 by Denise Tompkins

head. Please, forgive me.”
    “Once,” Hellion said. “I’ll forgive you once, based on your nature.”
    Darius’s spine stiffened at the words and he raised his head to meet Hellion’s stare. “A nature you’ve never lorded over me before.”
    “There’s never been need.”
    I’d had enough. I pushed past Bahlin and stepped between the vampire and the magus. “This nonsense ends, right now, and I’m talking about the bullshit happening between you, not the friendship. Clearly something abnormal just happened, something we’ll have to figure out, but it’s not entirely Darius’s fault.”
    “So you felt something too, then?” Hellion asked.
    “I’ll admit I was taken weird for a moment.”
    Micah stood up from his lounging position on the bed and my eyes shifted to the same manly bits I’d mocked moments before. They were soft but still large, and he angled himself to best show them off. I had to drag my eyes to his face, but I was slow making the trip.
    “Please, gentlemen, there are greater powers at work here. Darius is truly not at fault, Hellion,” Micah said in a gentle voice.
    “I’ll let this go once,” Hellion said, looking between us before turning toward the Nephilim, “but you’ll clear this mess up once we’re up to speed on Agares. He has to be the priority.”
    “Who’s Agares?” Bahlin asked and the entire room’s attention shifted back to him. I think we’d all sort of forgotten he was here.  
    “Say the word, Madeleine,” Hellion growled, a new outlet for his anger suddenly available.
    I shook my head and walked to Hellion’s side, slipping my hand into his. He held it, but it was neither smooth nor comfortable. Crap. The weirdness with Darius was going to cause problems. I squeezed his hand tighter but still his response was neutral. Suddenly my brain just overloaded.
    “I’m going to give every man here fifteen minutes to get his personal shit together.” I turned to each man as I spoke. “Micah, get some damn clothes on. Darius, step outside, find a vein, grab a smoke, whatever you need to do to gain a little perspective. Bahlin, go to the parlor, roll up the carpet on the floor and give it to Mark and Stearns to dispose of. Hellion, you and I are going to the library. You guys meet us there in fifteen.” No one moved, and I felt that familiar tic forming behind my right eye. “Move, damn it!”
    Slowly but surely, they started for the door.
    I pulled Hellion across the first floor, up the stairs and into the library, slamming the door behind us.  
    As soon as we were inside, he jerked his hand from mine and moved to pour himself a drink. “What do you want, Maddy?”
    I did the best I could to hide the hurt. “Nothing is going on between me and Darius other than a flirtatious friendship.” I followed him to the sideboard and poured myself a good two-fingered shot, throwing it back and hissing as the artificial heat spread down my throat, through my belly and out my limbs. Rolling the glass between my palms, I said, “He had the opportunity to press his advantage the other night while you were at Ballinlough Castle. He didn’t. He’s been nothing but a friend, so get that idea right out of your head. Capiche?”
    “And this is what you would have me believe? Despite what my own eyes saw, you want me to believe you’re only friends?” His words were caustic. He sank into the couch, never looking at me.
    “I won’t fight with you over this. I’ve never given you reason to doubt me. It was a wonky moment and it’s over.” Sitting on the sofa table across from Hellion, I set my glass down by my side and leaned forward. He watched me warily. “We talked about this before. You can’t keep punishing me for Gretta’s actions, particularly her infidelity.”
    He closed his eyes and took a shuddering breath. “You’re right. Of course you’re right. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” He reached behind him and pulled out the thong holding his