Page 74 of Bite The Terror That Feeds

“She’s my type.”

“They’re all your type, Cobra.”

I rolled my eyes. “I like a woman with a spine, you know? It’s a turn-on, and you don’t see it a lot.”

“Because you’re a vampire king who could kill anyone instantly. Not a lot of women are going to challenge you.”

“And that’s why it’s so sexy when it does happen.”

“Nonetheless, you’ve had your chance. We need to get to work.”

I’d made no progress with her—other than sympathize with her. “I’ve been thinking—”

“No.”

“Torture isn’t going to get us anywhere—”

“Torture works.Every time.”

“But we have a unique opportunity here. We’ve never captured an Ethereal alive. She could be a major asset to us—”

“Which is why I’m going to torture her.”

“You torture someone for information. Not to be an ally.”

“There’s no way she would ever be an ally—”

“Not if we torture her. If we could get her on our side, she could not only tell us about the Ethereal, but she could get usinsidethe Ethereal.”

Viper stared at me skeptically. “And how do you expect to achieve that?”

“I don’t know…I’m pretty charming.” I waggled my eyebrows.

He gave me a cold stare, like he wanted to scold me but was at a loss for words. “I’m torturing her, and that’s final. The Ethereal could be preparing to depart for war this very moment.”

“They wouldn’t have sent assassins if that were the case, and secondly, that’snotfinal. I’m King of Grayson until Kingsnake returns, which means you follow my orders without question. I need more time with her—andthat’sfinal.”

* * *

I approached the cage with the tray in my hand. “Hungry?”

She was in the same spot where I’d left her, propped against the wall, eyes empty of emotion.

“Don’t tell me your plan is to starve yourself.”

She turned her head slowly and looked at me.

“That’s a painful way to go.”

“Not more painful than this conversation.”

I cocked a smile then unlocked the door. “Come on.” I set the tray on the floor beside her.

With her eyes on me, she kicked the tray, making it tip over and spill all across the floor. Then she looked away again, back to ignoring me.

“That was dramatic.”

“Leave me alone, asshole.”