Chapter 13 Maeve
MAEVE
“Eat rocks, Tarun,” I say brightly. If I had my way, I’d slash his throat with my knife for the pain he’s caused Ari.
Rejecting someone as perfect as her should’ve been a death penalty for Tarun and his pathetic herd.
Somehow, he’s standing here in front of me as if he’s completely untouched. No evidence of pain or regret. He’s polished, in control, and not even slightly remorseful for his actions.
He knows I know.
But like the rest of his poisonous bloodline, he doesn’t care about the repercussions of his actions.
Graves men take and take, no matter who they destroy in the process.
The elephorian shifter sneers but quickly smooths out his expression. Can’t have anyone catching him stooping to my level, can he?
Fucker.
“It’s nice to see you again, Little Cousin,” he says unflinchingly. “I’m pleased to note you’ve not lost your spirit.”
“Don’t talk to her, Cousin, not after the shit you’ve caused for me,” Lucifer says with an annoyed huff. “You’re an embarrassment to the Graves name.”
I burst into giggles, and actual tears prick at my eyes when both Lucifer and Tarun exchange a confused look, leaning in towards each other.
For family who claim to hate each other, they’re very similar and very willing to ally with one another when needed.
“What’s so funny, pretty princess?” Lucifer asks, cocking his brow.
“The fact that you think that the Graves name means anything other than embarrassment.”
Tarun’s lips twitch, but I have no idea if he’s angry, amused, or something else. The elephant has a very good lock on his emotions.
“If things were different, ice queen, I think we could’ve made very good allies,” Tarun offers, glancing across the room to where his uncle is chatting with one of the Tribunal.
I don’t recognise their back, but they’re still marked as a threat. Anyone who laughs at a joke Adrian makes is—the man just isn’t that funny.
“If things were different, Tarun, you’d not be breathing,” I reply without hesitation. “The moment you fucked with—”
“Don’t,” he hisses, his pale grey eyes flashing a very bright, icy grey. A small crack in his scent has my own eyes widening.
Smoked amber. Dark oak.
A Graves man for sure.
It’s curdled, a bit of fear entwined up, before he clamps it back. I don’t know how he has such control, but he’s just revealed something nobody wants me to know.
His greatest weakness.
“I see.” I adjust my stance, relaxing far more than I ever have in the fake elephant’s presence.
“I don’t, so tell me so I can tattle,” Lucifer says, kicking his cousin hard. The elephorian doesn’t even flinch, his gaze unwavering from me. “That’s what we do in this family, right?”
“Don’t be a tease, crazy devil,” I murmur, glancing at Lucifer for a beat before smirking at Tarun. “Good to have some leverage on you. Goodness, Graves men are so easy to see through.”
“And who else is easy?” Gavin asks, appearing behind me. A shiver tingles my spine, and I turn, dismissing Tarun as I regard the light pegasus with disdain.
He’s not alone this time, his mate by his side. She’s easy to place, considering she’s got the same hair colour as the twins, and the same brooding expression that Hadrian wears.
“It’s nice to finally meet you, Maeve,” Leanne says, smiling. It’s a tight smile, though, the kind that the entitled rich people give to peasants.
To those they presume to be beneath them.
Someone really should update this family on the pecking order.
“I’d return the sentiment, Leanne,” I say, “but I never actually wanted to meet you. Bad parents carry a bad smell, you know? If you’ll excuse me.”
I move away from the mated couple and let Lucifer lead me through the crowd. He’s careful to clear a path and to help keep a wide berth for me.
I’m not sure who people are avoiding, mind you—him or me. We’re both social parasites in this scene.
I spot a familiar head of hair, and my stomach churns, hoping that Dr Jones is not going to try and force herself upon me.
Evil bitch.
Luckily, the best person in the world steps into my line of sight. Well—the best person in this world. The mythical one.
“Hey there,” I say softly, smiling up at my boss.
My chromius relaxes, some of her edge fading, and everything feels… better now that he’s here. His familiar energy washes over me, the demanding and relentless ursarix shifter who carries an air of danger.
It shouldn’t be comforting, but in this room, it’s good to have one ally.
“Angel,” he returns, and there’s almost a shy note to his deep voice. Like the first time we met, the air crackles between the two of us, and I’m torn between leaning into the warmth of it or backing away from the familiarity.
I let Lucifer fool me. I let myself believe we were on the same team. How long will it be before Draven reveals his own truth, one that puts him against me on the battlefield?
Who knows.
My chromius doesn’t care. She’s excited, restless, happy. But that’s because she has no survival skills and prefers to trust the biggest liars of the world.
“Maelstrom,” Torin greets, and I groan, not having noticed him there.
In my defence, it’s extremely hard to look away from Draven. His energy is magnetic, and he’s beautiful. Even for someone like me, it’s hard not to be mesmerised.
He’s taller and broader than anyone I’ve ever met, which makes me quite lucky that he’s blocking the view of me and the rest of the crowd.
I can’t imagine them pushing past him to touch me.
But it’s the hint of danger on his face, the deadly look in his golden eyes, that has me enthralled. I don’t know what caused the brutal scar down his face, but the thick, jagged blemish is one of the most hauntingly gorgeous attributes I’ve ever seen.
“Daddy D!” Lucifer cheers, leaning forward to hug my boss, and I smother a giggle behind my hand when Draven grumbles but accepts the hug.
Sure, he doesn’t respond, but he doesn’t snap Luc in two for daring to touch him.
“Your invite should be revoked,” I say when Torin’s eyes don’t move from my face. “What are you even doing here?”
“Didn’t you get the memo, starlet, that he’s a respected member of the Tribunal?” Hades asks, coming to stand next to Draven. He gives a firm nod that my boss returns.
“Oh, wait, no, that was someone else. Torin’s a wannabe,” Hades taunts, and I grimace at the dark flash of anger from Torin.
Lucifer pouts when Draven laughs at Hades, and I know the imp is jealous.
Weirdly, when Julian approaches, I feel the familiar knot in my stomach unloosen. Ew.
My chromius needs to stop affecting my emotional state like this—it’s the only thing keeping us prepared for an attack.
“Since you’re all here, let me make the introductions,” Torin says so fucking smoothly, and I don’t know why he thinks he’s in charge.
Lucifer clearly feels the same way. “Sorry, pussy, but you’re not the leader here. You might act like it in the real world, despite also not having any smidgen of power there, but it won’t fly with us.”
“Right,” Torin says, dragging out the vowel sounds. He looks at Draven for support, but the bear shifter doesn’t budge.
He smiles at my questioning look, causing another layer of warmth to surround me.
It’s very clear who his allegiance lies with.
For now.
“Then, who is?” Torin sneers at the imp. “You?”
“Daddy here is the leader, of course.” Lucifer winks at Draven, and I don’t know if he’s more delighted at the sputtering from Torin or the flush of Draven’s cheeks.
“Luc’s certifiably insane,” Hades admits to the politician as if it’s a secret.
“Ah, ah, ah, no, I’m not,” Lucifer argues, wagging his finger at his cousin, “my parents didn’t love me enough to get me tested. Anyways, since Dravvy isn’t bothering to introduce anyone, let me do it. Pussy, meet Julian—the weakest of the Graves men, even before he was injured.
“Jules, meet Daddy. The sexiest, hunkiest—”
“I warned you to behave,” Draven says, and I shiver at the darkness in his tone. Hadrian laughs, and I just listen to the bickering and taunts between the three of them.
Lucifer’s protesting, Draven’s lecturing, and Hadrian is just stirring the pot. Like me, Torin’s content to stay on the outside. He’s not trying to intervene, instead, scrutinising the way Draven holds himself in this situation.
I don’t know how long they’ve been friends, but I do know that Draven trusts him.
Julian, on the other hand, is envious of the easygoing banter between the trio, and I know he’s determined to find his place with them.
I’d give him my spot if they’d accept the change without drama.
Fuckers.
A sharp chime rings through the room, and the entire group of us fall silent. Not a bell, not a glass tapped with a fork. But something that probably cost more than my… well, my toothbrush, maybe.
Insulting their expensive purchases is very hypocritical considering how I live. Good thing I don’t mind being a hypocrite.
Conversation cuts off instantly like someone hit mute on the world.
It’s obvious who is causing the scene, then—especially when all five of the guys subtly close ranks around me.
Their bodies shift closer together, their shoulders squaring, as they form the most unimpressive little perimeter.
Honestly, the Maeve-is-a-fragile-little-girl narrative is getting old.
This is why I have to hide the anxiety. Why I lie through my teeth and pretend that I’m fine. That the shitshow of my life doesn’t hit me the way it hits normal people.
Because the moment I slip—the moment I show even a crack—the egotistical predators of the world decide it’s their job to guard me.
Whether I ask for it or not.
In this instance, I wish ‘predator’ meant what it should—wolves, pegasi, and panthers.
Nope.
The only predators who pretend to care about me are the lying ones.
The manipulators. The toxic. The… dangerous.
The type that comes with hands instead of claws.
The kind who learned to blend in a crowd and to stalk in the daylight.