Page 166 of Kingly Bitten
She’d done well in my absence, ensuring almost all of our plans had been carried out in an efficient and beautiful manner.
It was too bad Ryder had decided to take her head.
Alas, succumbing to him had just made her weak.
And there was no room for weakness on my council.
Speaking of weaknesses…I pulled up the footage from Bunker 37 with a sigh, disappointed in the evidence portrayed on my screen. My assistant had brought it to me hours ago, asking me how I wanted to proceed.
I sighed—a sound I’d made far too many times today.
It seemed my brother had impacted Darius’s and Jace’s mental capacities. My assistant had suggested a destruction protocol that would destroy the problem, but I’d told him that ancient blood was just too precious to waste.
Besides, with Lajos’s and Lilith’s recent deaths, we couldn’t afford to spill any more blood.
So I would let Darius and Jace learn more about the operations. Then I’d handle them personally when the time came. Maybe they would come to their senses along the way.
A knock sounded at the door, drawing me from my musings. I’d sent my assistant off on an errand to find the files on my brother several hours ago. Hopefully, he’d found them. “Enter,” I called to him from my desk.
He entered with a fully executed bow, his long blond hair touching the ground before he finally straightened. “I’ve finally heard from our asset.”
“Oh?” That news certainly interested me. Of course, finding the lost files would, too. But we’d address that momentarily. “And?” I prompted, arching a brow at the young vampire.
Apparently, I’d saved his life once. He’d been serving me ever since, even while I’d slept. And, according to Lilith’s logs, he was quite useful, too.
He started through the center of my room, bypassing the two couches and the coffee table before reaching the chairs on the other side of my desk. Rather than sit in one, he continued forward and set a tablet on the table for me.
A message scrolled across the screen.
My position here has officially been compromised. I’m on my way, my liege. And I’m bringing yourErositawith me.
I read it twice, then sighed. “I suppose it was only a matter of time before the resistance realized Mira’s true loyalty.” I’d reviewed her files when refamiliarizing myself with my allies. She was the original lycan, immortal, and devoted to improving this world by strengthening our superiority over humankind.
To prove that, she’d been in charge of watching myErositafor me while I’d slept.
Apparently, Ismerelda had a penchant for disobedience. I couldn’t remember a damn thing about her, which told me she’d never meant much to me.
But I suspected the blood I craved was hers, something I would soon confirm.
Well, that news did appease me greatly.
“When do they arrive?” I asked.
“In ten hours or so, my liege.”
“Excellent,” I replied, drawing my hand down my tie before glancing at the surveillance on my computer again. It was several hours old, but I kept watching it. There was just something about the way Jace had looked at the camera, like he couldseeme. “I suppose that means the resistance is aware of my awakening, yes?”
“It’s likely that they are, yes,” my assistant replied.
I nodded, considering what to do with that information. Most of the logs had been reviewed, leaving me certain of the path forward.
The question became, could I convince the rebels to join me? Or would I be forced to fight them?
I drummed my fingers on my desk, considering my options.
Well, if they already know, then what choice do I really have?I mused, grinning as I met my assistant’s bright green eyes. “I need you to find me a phone, Michael.”
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