Page 159 of Cruelly Bitten
“Stop,” I commanded, stepping in front of Cam and capturing their focus. “Stop acting like I’m not here. Stop insinuating that I can’t protect myself.And stop treating me like a porcelain doll.”
Ryder froze.
As did Damien.
Meanwhile, Cam grasped my hips, a content purr seeming to rumble from his mind to mine.My alluring lioness,he praised.You roar so beautifully.
I ignored him and the heat simmering along my cheeks in response to his remark.
“I’m over a thousand years old,” I said, focusing on Damien and Ryder. “If I was going to shatter, I would have by now. And the only one with a right to be mad at Cam for abandoning me is me.”
I looked between Damien and Ryder, then took in the other faces in the room, as well as the solitary table situated beneath a chandelier.
Definitely meant to be a ballroom,I decided, noting the velvet drapes covering what I assumed were more windows that likely overlooked the lake. Hence the name—Lake View Conference Room.
Clearing my throat, I glanced at Jace next. “Can we start with some introductions? I’d love to officially meet yourErosita,as well as the others.” I focused on Hazel next, then Khalid and the three people standing near him.
I only recognized one of them—Cedric. An old vampire who I thought resided in Silvano Region. Or,Ryder Region, as it was now called.
I had no idea why they were here, but I hoped someone would explain. And soon.
“Well?” I prompted when no one spoke. “Introductions?” It seemed like a good place to start and a way to calm the mounting tension in the room.
“You heard my queen,” Cam said, his voice ringing with authority. “She wants names. Provide them. Preferably now.”
Not the most eloquent way to begin a meeting, but it seemed to get the point across because Jace cleared his throat.
“Izzy, Cam, this is myErosita,Calina.” He gave the blonde female beside him an indulgent smile. “Calina, meet Izzy and Cam.”
Ryder grunted. “This is going to take forever.” He stepped back to stand beside another blonde woman, this one with slightly unique eyes. I assumed this was his mate, Willow.
From what I knew about her, she was a rare vampire-lycan hybrid. Which explained the glimmer of yellow I caught in her otherwise ice-blue eyes.
“Willow, meet Damien’s twin, Izzy,” Ryder drawled. “And that asshole beside her is her vampire mate, Cam. He’s the one who is apparently going to fix all this shit. But so far, I’m highly unimpressed.”
Kylan snorted. “Same.”
Hazel cleared her throat. “Perhaps we should all sit down?” she suggested.
“Oh? Is that supposed to facilitate this magic trick?” Ryder asked. “Okay.” He made a show of taking over a chair and pulling another out for Willow. “Come sit, pet.”
The female narrowed her gaze, some sort of silent conversation flowing between them. Whatever it was, it seemed to amuse Ryder.
He kissed her on the cheek as she sat beside him, the show of affection uncharacteristic for the notorious loner. The only fondness I’d ever seen Ryder exude was toward his guns and knives.
And that fondness had tended to be underlined in lethal intent.
“I forgot how fun you can be,” Khalid murmured, his attention on Ryder. “Emine, you should take notes. See how beautifully Willow obeys her master?”
The female beside him smiled as she gazed up at him. But it wasn’t a kind grin. It was one that said he’d better hide. “I’d rather die, My Prince.”
“I believe we’ve already been through that,” Khalid replied, his gaze going to Cedric. “Fond memories, hmm?”
Emine rolled her eyes.
Cedric said nothing.
And Ryder, well, he was staring at Emine with fascination. “Nowthatimpressed me.” He returned his gaze to Cam. “Your turn. Tell us all how you plan to fix this shit show.”
