Page 2 of Blood Day: Part Two

I’d dealt with the Clemente Clan problem by reminding Walter that he did not want to fuck with Silvano. Or he’d send me in to handle it. And Walter did not want that to happen, as evidenced by the two enforcers I’d sent back to him in pieces.

I was efficient and redefined the meaning of the term for him, proving that his little pups were no match for my strength and unique skill sets.

Sighing, I kissed Lily again, then left her on the bed.

I’d already showered and dressed, aware of Lily’s lingering scent on my skin. I hadn’t wanted to share that part of her with Khalid, so donning a suit as armor had felt appropriate. Besides, he’d likely be in some designer label as well.

I wore my usual black on black.

And I wasn’t surprised at all to find him waiting in the formal dining room in a similar color scheme.

His dark hair was still damp from a recent shower, his thin beard neatly trimmed. And he held a mug of coffee in his hand, the rim of which he had at his lips when I entered.

A human servant knelt at his side, her head bowed, waiting for his next command.

They all did that.

Especially around royalty.

“Evening,” he greeted.

“My Prince,” I returned formally.

He grunted. “Please don’t. We both know I fucking despise the titles.”

“Is that why you’re masquerading as a Master at the university?” I asked, taking the seat beside him, which kept the servant kneeling between us.

“It’s fascinating, actually. I arrived and only one person recognized me. So I just kept the title they gave me and started teaching. After silencing the one who had noticed the truth, of course.”

I studied him. “I had no idea you were that bored.”

“Says thesovereignwho chose to teach over assuming his mantle.”

“It’s not technically mine yet,” I corrected as I reached forward to pour myself a cup of coffee from the carafe. I could ask the female on the floor to do it, but her shivering shoulders made me doubt her ability to serve me without making a mess.

“Semantics,” Khalid replied.

I shrugged. He wasn’t wrong. “As to why they didn’t recognize you, I imagine it’s due to your haircut and lack of head scarf.”

All the formal photos of him shown to humans in the political courses were of him dressed in clothes that hid most of his notable features, something I knew he did to keep himself disguised in photographs.

Not that he’d admit it out loud.

“It’s called a keffiyeh,” he informed me. “And I only wear it because Lilith hates it.”

My lips twitched, amused by his antics. We both knew he only did it to hide. However, the fact that Lilith hated it simply added to the allure. “I’ve always liked you.”

“A lie, but the feeling is mutual,” he murmured, sipping from his mug again.

I followed suit, noting his cultural influence on today’s coffee. I approved, Middle Eastern–style coffee having always been one of my favorites. It was more potent and stronger than my usual European-style blend.

The world might be different now with the regions and countries all renamed to meet our standards.

However, I still very much preferred the former cultures when defining something.

Lilith might have restructured the maps, but the history remained.

“So. How was Clemente Clan?” Khalid asked.