Page 73 of Blood Day: Part Two

My brow furrowed. “Is that our evening plan?” Because I really hoped that wasn’t what he intended for us to do tonight. I would sooner die than touch someone who wasn’t my Lily.

He smiled. “Well, I intend for it to beyourevening plan. I’m going to give you my new pet as a gift.”

My jaw threatened to unhinge, something he caught because his smile widened.

“You’re surprised.” Not a question, but a statement. “Good. I thought you might approve after hearing you enjoyed one of Khalid’s pets. So I’m procuring one for—”

“This concludes our annual Blood Day,” Lilith announced, interrupting Silvano. “Vigils, if you would please escort your respective teams to their exits. The harem prospects and Immortal Cup participants shall remain.”

Silvano didn’t look at her, just continued to smile at me. “Have a look and tell me three or four that interest you. When it’s my turn, I’ll select the pet and hand her to you.”

Fuck.

Of all the times for Silvano to attempt to be kind—or whatever the hell this act of giving me a “gift” could be called—he had to choosenow.

Which meant escaping him unnoticed would be impossible.

And saving Lily…

Is going to be impossible.

Once she set foot on that bus, I might never be able to find her again.

The system contained prospect details and assignments, but that didn’t mean she’d survive long enough to reach her final destination. Or that there might not be a shuffle along the way.

What if one of the lycans fucks her on sight?

It’ll shatter our bond.

It… it couldkillher.

Silvano clapped me on the shoulder with a chuckle. “Are you too shocked to pick one? Shall I try to go for the redhead, then? Or maybe Prospect Nine Hundred and One? Perky tits?”

I don’t want a fucking pet. I already have one.

Instead, I wanted to teleport away, grab Lily, and run.

I wanted to kill Silvano.

I wanted to fucking disappear.

I wanted to go back in time and oppose this whole goddamn process.

I wanted to—

“I suggest looking at Prospect Four Hundred and Nine,” Khalid said from beneath his robes, his voice silky and smooth and cutting right through all my desires.

Scratch all that. I want to kill you, I thought, looking right at him.I want to fucking murder you for making me think I could trust you.

“You tend to like delicate things, yes?” Khalid continued like I wasn’t about to leap across the seats and strangle him. “This one reminds me of a flower. Easy to break, and almost like that darling little thing we buried earlier this week, hmm?”

Flower. That single word—a nickname that went straight to my heart—gave me pause and kept me from fulfilling my desire to annihilate him.What game are you playing now?

Khalid lifted his tablet—something I hadn’t even realized he was holding in his cloak—and my heart stopped at the image of Lily’s naked body on the screen.

Beneath her name, it saidMoon Chase Candidate.

And under that were the details regarding her shipment.