Page 150 of Blood Day

His blonde prospect shivered in response, her blue-gray eyes darting up to Khalid as her cheeks turned a prettyshade of pink. Whatever he meant by “demonstrate” seemed to have her intrigued.

He reached over to brush his knuckles across her cheek in an endearing sort of manner, then he picked up the bell on the table to solicit service.

Apparently, that meant his comment was a demand, not a request.

That didn’t surprise me.

He’d been overly generous this evening.

It was time for his motive for that generosity to appear—in the form of a “group session.”

Lily squeezed my thigh, her nervous energy loud in her mind. But she didn’t outwardly react at all other than her grip on my leg.

I ran my thumb along the back of her hand.

Whatever Khalid intended for us, we’d survive.

Hell, we might even enjoy it.

Be sure to eat everything I put on your plate, little flower. I suspect you’re going to need your strength.

Especially as Khalid had a penchant for drawing blood and testing sensual limits.

Just like me.

Only with a bit more violence.

And lethal toys.

Like knives.

Chapter 32

Lily

“Strip.”

The single-word command felt like a whip against my senses, causing my heart to skip a beat.

My eyes automatically shifted to Cedric. He dipped his chin in confirmation, telling me to do as Master Khalid had indicated.

Prospect One Hundred and Thirty-Nine, whom Master Khalid had calledEmineduring breakfast, removed her clothes without hesitation. All the boldness I’d witnessed in her yesterday seemed to have disappeared.

I swallowed, then did as commanded and bowed my head to match Emine’s position.

Which was what I should have done from the beginning.

“First lesson,” Master Khalid started, his voice soft. “I’m a royal, Lily. You obey me, not your mate. When I ask you to do something, you do it without question.”

I shivered. “Y-yes, Master. I mean, My Prince.” I winced. Master Cedric told me not to call him that. But how could I not after that last rule?

“Don’t,” Master Cedric said, his tone underlined in steel. “You just told her you’re a royal. She’s addressing you appropriately.”

“You realize defending her gives away your feelings for her, yes?”

“She’s myErosita. My toy. My mate. My fuck doll. Whatever you want to call her. But she ismine. And I will not allow a minor infraction to be the cause of you ending our link.”

Master Khalid sighed. “I wasn’t going to bite her, Cedric. I was merely going to sternly request that she call meMaster.”