Page 227 of Blood Day

“Emine,” Lily breathed, her hand going to the handle. But I stopped her by placing my palm on her forearm, my mind cautioning her from falling into a potential trap.

However, all that happened next was Emine drifting down the stairs with a familiar vampiric elegance andgoing toe-to-toe with an ancient vampire—the very one who had made her.

His lips curled in amusement, his palm lifting to the back of her neck as he yanked her into him. “Perhaps not, but you’re still my pet mirage, yes?”

She wasn’t given a chance to reply, his mouth sealing over hers in a claiming kiss that made his intentions for her clear. He very much considered her his.

However, from the way she tried to shove him back, she didn’t seem to agree. Yet her nails curled into his shirt at the same time. So perhaps she did accept his claim. Or maybe she remained conflicted on the issue.

That was an emotion I could understand because everything about Khalid left me uneasy.

I couldn’t trust him—of that, I was certain.

But I found myself wanting to follow him onto that jet just to hear his offer, to find out what he had in mind, to finally gain some insight into the madness of his mind.

I don’t think we have a better choice,Lily whispered.Unless you want to try to run with me… But even if we escape, your plan is to hide me from Silvano. Which means cutting me off again.Her blue-green irises flashed as she turned to look at me.I don’t want you to cut me off again.

Would you rather I turn you?I offered.

I don’t know,she admitted.I… I don’t know what to do. But I know I don’t want you to sever our bond. Yet I also understand that you have to in order to keep me safe. I…

I waited for her to finish that thought. However, she couldn’t seem to form words.

So I spoke them for her. “You want to hear if Khalid has a better option to offer.” I uttered the words aloud, knowing he would be able to hear them. Just as I could hear him whispering words of patience to Emine now. She wanted to see Lily, and he was making her wait.

“I…” Lily swallowed. “I think we should listen to him, yes.”I don’t trust him,she added in a mental whisper.But I don’t like any of the strategies you’ve considered either. Turning me is only a temporary solution that might give me some strength, but once I’m discovered… they’ll hunt me.She glanced at Emine.Just like they’ll hunt her.

She wasn’t wrong. Turning a human into a lycan or a vampire without requisite permission was expressly forbidden by the Blood Alliance. That was why I’d agreed to help Khalid hide Emine. I’d thought it would be enough leverage to convince him to assist me with Lily. And perhaps I’d been right. His assistance just hadn’t come in the obvious manner that I’d expected.

Instead, he was still playing games.

As evidenced by the glance over his shoulder now.Take a risk,his expression said.Indulge in the temptation of my offer. Come play in my world.

All words I couldn’t actually hear, but I understood them well enough.

This was a man who had been engaged in political shenanigans for longer than I’d been alive. He was an expert at twisting fate to better his outcome. Which I supposed made him a powerful ally to have.

“All right,” I decided aloud, my hand catching the door handle. “We’ll get on the jet.”

“Good choice,” Viper replied.

I ignored him and pulled Lily out of the vehicle. “I assume you’ll be paying the lycan since he ended up helping you more than me?” I asked as I approached Khalid.

He grinned. “He doesn’t accept payment from me. But trust me, he’s well compensated.”

I wasn’t sure what he meant by that, but I assumed it meant I didn’t need to send Viper the remainder of his fee.Particularly as he hadn’t completed the job as described. I’d demanded Lily’s safety, and instead he’d handed us both over to a royal vampire with unknown motives.

“Shall we?” Khalid suggested, waving his hand toward the stairs.

But Emine and Lily didn’t appear to be listening. They were too busy staring at each other—Lily with a look of shock and awe, and Emine with a slightly more predatory expression.

Careful, Lily,I warned.She’s a freshling.And not all freshling vampires could control their thirst for blood.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” Lily whispered, her words for Emine as she moved into my side.

“I’m glad you’re okay, too,” Emine said, her lips twisting a little as she glanced down Lily’s soiled form. “There’s… there’s a shower…” She trailed off, her eyes moving to Khalid. “Can she…?”

Khalid shifted his focus away from her and met my gaze. “I believe my pet mirage is trying to suggest that Lily take a shower on the jet. I’ll leave that decision up to you. We have a long flight ahead of us.”