Page 37 of Blood Day (Blood Alliance #7)
I followed suit, only I started with the fūl—the fava bean dip was always my favorite—and hummus. I added a bit of yogurt spread as well. Then I shifted to my own shakshuka dish.
“The first time I ordered this, they tried to add blood to the sauce,” Khalid said conversationally. “I’d wondered if that was because it was your preference.”
I considered the tomato-based dish and the poached eggs on top. “No. I typically only request the fūl and hummus.” Which wasn’t often, as I usually didn’t indulge in breakfast.
“That’s a boring meal.”
I shrugged. “I find most things in life boring these days.” A statement I probably shouldn’t admit out loud, but it was the truth. And as Khalid was even older than me, he would understand that boredom.
“Hence the fascination with your little flower,” he mused, making me still.
He’d used that nickname with purpose, ensuring I knew he was aware of my infatuation.
“I’m not going to deny your request,” he continued, his focus on spreading some yogurt onto his pita bread— with a knife . “But I am going to alter it.” He took a bite and set the blade down, something that seemed to serve a purpose in itself.
A gesture of sorts.
A way of saying he was a threat to me, but he wasn’t actively threatening me.
I forced myself to remain calm and play this dangerous game. “What alterations do you intend to make?” My voice sounded bored, like what he’d just told me meant nothing to me at all .
But inside, I was spinning questions.
Why does he care about Lily?
Does he want her for himself?
Is this all just a power trip? A way to remind me that he’s the superior in this situation?
Why is he even bothering with such frivolous things? Boredom, perhaps?
He finished swallowing and picked up his water, taking several long pulls before he answered my vocalized questions.
“She needs to finish her servitude course and the lycan politics class. But she can continue her sexual arts training here, as well as the combat course. And I’ll sign off on her revised living arrangements, assuming you prefer her in your bed and not the dorms.”
I couldn’t exactly fight him on the decision. But as far as alterations went, they were acceptable.
Except for one item.
“What kind of sexual training and combat course will she be doing here?” Because I strongly suspected there was a catch to that part of the curriculum.
He didn’t answer right away, playing his power card by eating slowly.
I followed suit, forcing myself to chew and swallow without actually tasting anything.
“She’s scheduled for a female-on-female course,” he started, then leaned back with his coffee to enjoy a few sips before looking at me. “She can practice with Prospect One Hundred and Thirty-Nine while we instruct them.”
My eyebrow lifted. “She’s still alive?”
He smiled. “As I said last night, death is wasteful.”
That hadn’t been his exact phrasing, but it summarized what he’d meant. “And the combat training?”
“Also with Prospect One Hundred and Thirty-Nine, but I will lead that instruction.” He gave me a serious look. “You may observe. But you will not interfere.”
So that was what he really wanted—a sparring partner for his prospect. I’d seen the two girls fight before. While they both possessed remarkable spirit, they weren’t physically capable of doing much damage. It seemed strange that he wanted to train them. But I wasn’t going to fight him on it.
I lifted my shoulder. “Seems reasonable.”
“Excellent,” he murmured, flashing his teeth in a rather threatening smile. “We begin tonight. When they return.”
I frowned. “When they return? My prospect is still here.”
He shook his head. “No. I arranged for her to be escorted to class after you left your quarters.”
My heart skipped a beat. “She’s at the university now?”
“As she should be, yes.” He gave me a look. “Is that a problem?”
Yes, it’s a fucking problem. I didn’t have a chance to warn her. “No problem,” I managed to say in as nonchalant a voice as possible.
I fucking hate these games.
These political maneuvers and word plays.
I thought Khalid despised them, too.
Apparently not.
“Good.” He set his coffee mug down. “I’ve always admired you, Cedric. I suspect this experience is going to bring us closer together.”
Another threat. A way of saying he intended to get in my head and fuck around.
And there wasn’t a damn thing I could do to stop him because of his royal title.
“I’m looking forward to it,” I lied .
“Me, too,” he replied, his blue-green irises sparkling with challenge. “And I very much look forward to getting to know your Lily better.”
My blood went cold.
He’s been spying on us.
It shouldn’t surprise me; Khalid thrived in the shadows and adored collecting secrets. I just hadn’t expected him to care enough about me to bother with my private matters.
“It’s a beautiful name, by the way,” he continued conversationally. “I chose one for Prospect One Hundred and Thirty-Nine as well. She’ll share it with you later.” He pushed away from the table and stood. “I’ve arranged for a midnight chase to warm up the prospects. See you then.”
He phased from the room, dismissing me and our half-eaten breakfasts.
What the fuck are you really up to? I wondered, his enigmatic nature making him impossible to read.
I suddenly had a new appreciation for Lily’s aversion to our games. Because something told me the one we were about to play with Khalid would come with high stakes.
High stakes that might just cost both of us our lives.