Page 183 of Glutton for Punishment

A few moments later he slams on the brakes, and the ATV skids to a stop. “Get out here,” he says.

I stare at him. “Tell me what’s going on right now.” I demand rage building.

“Just get out,” he says darkly.

Every instinct I possess starts screaming ‘danger’. Cautiously, I climb off the ATV.

“Maddox, where is—”

A massive crack explodes against the back of my head as my vision goes blank and pain erupts through my skull. The world tilts as my knees buckle and I fall forward.

I reach for my power on pure instinct, but nothing answers. I only find emptiness and the evasive vapor.

Which means—

Maddox isn’t here.

My pulse moves into my throat. The palms of my hands scrape across gravel as I struggle to push myself up. I wrench my eyes open and my vision swims. The toe of a combat boot grinds into the dirt just shy of my nose.

A figure crouches in front of me.

My vision comes back slowly, and the details of him sharpen one by one. Hair bleached white, silver teeth reflecting in the harsh light of the ATV… ink like blood drops.

Vex.

My heart hammers against my ribs in pure terror. I try to scramble back, but my arms buckle like dead weight. My legs drag through the dirt, not cooperating.

Behind him, a woman’s voice cuts through the darkness. “You need to get her out of here now. They’ll be by to patrol this area in fifteen minutes.”

I know that voice. Even through the ringing in my ears.

Daphne.

That bitch.

Understanding crashes into me. The strange urgency. Maddox’s behavior.

None of it was real. She got into my head again while my shields were down and vulnerable through sleep.

Vex glances over his shoulder. “Oh, we’ll be long gone by then,” he drawls. “Give my regards to Councilor Willshire. I’ll let him know your work has been good this year. We’re square now.”

His attention returns to me as his grin widens.

“Nighty night, Angel.”

Something sharp pricks the side of my neck as I jerk away on instinct, but my body is already failing me.

The drug burns through my bloodstream as my vision blurs again. The trees above me melt into shadows.

“Not again...” I think desperately.

Stupid Arwen.

Darkness rushes toward me.

Chapter 57

Arwen