Read Online Vex by Addison Moore - Free Book Online Page A

Trust me, nobody is more sorry than me that I ever laid eyes on you. And besides,” he softens with the look of a clear agenda written across his face, “if we’re going to live under the same roof and have the same enemies, we might as well be friends.”
    Friends? This should be good.
    “Tad is your enemy?” I wouldn’t even go that far in describing my decrepit relationship with my stepfather.
    “Chloe,” he gives a long blink as though he were tiring of my stupidity.
    “Tell us what you know,” Gage is as desperate as I am.
    “I don’t know Chloe’s secret. Only one person did, and she’s dead.”
    “Who’s that?” I ask, stunned.
    “My sister.”

Chapter Twelve
    I’m Gonna Kiss You All Over

    Holden shows up at Ellis’ party, and you would think he knew everyone here the way he paraded around and commandeered the crowd. Oh, wait, he does.
    “At least he’s not shy.” Logan leans over the kitchen counter as we observe Holden doing body shots off Emily Morgan’s stomach.
    “Most Counts aren’t,” I say, watching Brielle knock over an end table in an attempt to dance on it.
    Gage has been hijacked by Chloe for a meeting of the minds, with her proliferating her insanity, and Gage pretending to care. She swore up and down she heard Dudley was coming then gasped in surprise when my new boyfriend decided to stand me up me so publicly.
    “So, rumors are going around about you.” Logan points a finger towards my midsection.
    “Are you still here?” I’m completely annoyed by his presence. “Don’t you realize I would rather listen to Fems discuss the way they’re going to strip the flesh off my bones than speak to you?”
    “I swear, Skyla, I was trying to save you. It was an idea that came to me at the last second. When I saw you there, the first thing I wanted to do was take you home, then I realized you would be the perfect sacrifice.”
    “So the Counts couldn’t touch me again,” I scoff. “Brielle told me all about it.”
    “And you don’t believe it.” He looks down at the counter filled with disappointment.
    “Why should I? What would it gain Demetri to OK yet another throwaway Celestra? And a pure one at that?”
    “I don’t know,” Logan secures my eyes with his own, “but he was willing.”
    “And if he wasn’t? If he demanded my capture and had me hooked up to Pierce’s fangs by midnight—what would you have done then?”
    Logan’s amber eyes glisten as he hesitates with the answer.
    “Nothing,” I hiss. “Because if I didn’t get myself out of that one, I wouldn’t be here today, would I?”
    “Yes, I swear to you, you’d be standing right here. I could have taken you home after. We wouldn’t have to fight or win a faction war because you would have been untouchable to the Counts.” He steps in close until I can feel the heat emanating from off his body, feel his sad eyes stretch over me with pure agony. “Plus, that way you got a good look at some of the Count players on Paragon. They’ve always known who you are, and now the shoe is on the other foot.”
    “A lot of good that will do me. Did you get your initiation?”
    “We used a goat.”
    A vague thought begins to twitch on the outskirts of my mind. That dream I had weeks ago still bothers me, the one with a round flat stone, Brielle and her goat.
     “What?” He washes over me with a heavy look of concern.
    “Nothing.” I dreamed about the future, well, somewhat inaccurately, but I did. I haven’t dreamed anything significant since. I’ll have to start experimenting with Gage and his kisses, see how far they’ll get me while enjoying the ride.
    “There’s always Dudley,” Logan says looking behind me.
    “What did you say?” If Logan has procured some bizarre super power to hear my thoughts without touching me, we’re going to have a real freaking problem. 
    “Dudley—he’s behind you.”
    I turn in time to see Marshall wrap his arms around my waist from the back and kiss the side