Page 106 of Blood Day: Part Two

Silence fell over us all as we drove away from the compound. I studied our surroundings, searching for something familiar. I knew Ryder’s lands, at least the outskirts of them, as I often traveled near there to meet up with Damien, but we weren’t heading in that direction.

We weren’t heading toward Clemente Clan headquarters either.

No, we were going deeper into Texas. Toward Silvano Region.

My jaw tightened, my mind working through a plan to get us the fuck out of this car before we reached the border.

“I would think the future sovereign of this area would be more relaxed,” Khalid mused without looking at me. “This is the territory Silvano means to give you, yes? All this desert nothingness?”

“Part of it, yes,” I replied, my tone calm despite my rioting thoughts.

“I suppose all those days at the university will come in handy, then. You’ve more than mastered living in dry and dull climates.” His turquoise gaze met mine in the mirror. “Or you can listen to my counter offer.”

I glanced out the window again before returning my focus to him. “Given our direction, I’m not sure I have a choice.”

“You would be right about that,” he agreed. “But I did promise to keep your Lily safe, and I will be fulfilling that vow. Which is why she’ll be heading to Khalid Region. Whether or not you join us is your decision.”

The vehicle veered off onto a dirt path as he said it, causing my attention to shift once more to the windows. We were right on the border between territories, making it still not an area I felt confident enough within to teleport.

Fuck.

“I’m not cruel,” Khalid went on. “But I am pragmatic. Which is why I won’t say more until we’re in the air. I need to know I have your full and undivided attention, as well as your willing participation. Otherwise, we can’t proceed.”

A jet appeared in the distance, causing the hairs along my arms to dance.

He was essentially giving me a choice of either accepting his offer to board the jet and hear him out, or letting him leave me here while he supposedly took Lily to safety—something I didn’t trust him to do. And Lily’s mind told me she felt similarly.

Once he has us in the air, we’re trapped, I told her.And I suspect he’ll be heading to Khalid Region, which will be even harder to escape from.

And our only other option is to let me go alone with him,she replied, uneasy.

Not necessarily true—I could try to fight him.

But I would be risking Lily’s life in the process.

“As you’ve noted before, I am not Silvano.” Khalid’s gaze captured mine in the mirror again. “Give me a chance to prove my worth, Cedric. You’ve earned my respect. Now I intend to return the favor.”

The vehicle came to a stop near the jet, stilling the air with an ominous sense of delayed expectation.

“If you choose to stay, Viper will drop you off near Ryder’s property before making his way back to the compound.” The royal vampire glanced at the lycan. “I expect another update in one month’s time.”

Viper dipped his chin, the dark hair dusting his jaw seeming to glint in the stream of the setting sun. “Same protocol as always.”

“Yes, this was a special trip.” Khalid glanced at me. “For a very special purpose.”

“Understood, boss.” Viper relaxed into his seat, his near-black eyes lifting into the mirror. “What’s it going to be, Cedric? I need to report back soon, or someone will notice I’m missing.”

Khalid opened his door and exited the vehicle before I could reply, his movements quick and efficient. But rather than go for Lily, he walked over to the jet and whistled, the sound carrying through the windows to my vampiric senses.

“I am not a dog, Khalid,” a voice replied as a female appeared at the top of the stairs to the jet.

“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 and going 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.