Page 101 of Cruelly Bitten

At this rate, I’m never…

That last thought trailed off as a staircase appeared before me.Hold on…

I crept forward, the steps leading up to a solid door. It was a nondescript set of metal steps, one I distinctly recalled from my memory.

Cam and I had met a vampire here, the entrance one humans didn’t know existed, thanks to vampiric compulsion manipulating their minds and visions.

I walked up the stairs and turned around to survey the catacombs, my brain immediately igniting with a vivid recollection.

“This area primarily consists of human remains,” Cam had told me. “But over there is the entrance to our ancient crypt.”

I closed my eyes and recalled where he’d gestured to, then descended the stairs to follow that path.

My memory led me to a nondescript part of the catacombs, the crypt closest to me lacking anX, which meant I hadn’t yet wandered down this aisle.

Swallowing, I stepped forward and shivered as a chill kissed my exposed skin.It’s in my head,I told myself.Just the past and the present combining in this warped version of my reality.

Unfortunately, that didn’t dispel the unease trickling down my spine. Maybe because I knew if Cam found me here, he’d be suspicious of my intentions.

I need to make this fast.

I had no idea what time it was or how I was going to make it back to his room, but if I could at least wake Cane…

Well, hopefully, it would do something. Or at least be enough to give Cam a reason to think.

This has to work.

I didn’t want to consider what would happen if it didn’t.

My hands clenched, my palms sweaty despite the cool air. Cam’s family crypt was in the middle of all the Blessed Ones, forcing me to pass several other resting places before I found the one I needed.

Unlike the other areas of the catacombs, these crypts had doors, all of them marked by their family crests and other shiny adornments. Cam’s family crypt had obsidian diamonds encrusted into the design, their crest topped with a crown to signify their leadership.

While all Blessed Ones and their progeny were considered royals, Cronus’s line was seen as the true monarchy.

Which probably explained the opulent gold etchings around his family crypt.

A fancy space for someone to sleep.

The vampires hadn’t bothered to invest in air-conditioning or heat but had put significant energy into installing lights and other comforts. And the craftsmanship was exquisite, something that was decidedly evident when looking at the beautiful caskets inside Cronus’s tomb.

Three, to be exact.

One was meant for Cam should he ever try to rest.

Did Lilith have you wake up here?I wondered as I slid into the room.Is that how she convinced you that you were asleep? Or did she keep you here the entire time? Trapped in that endless mental torture?

It seemed like such an obvious place for her to have hidden Cam. Why hadn’t we even considered looking here?

Because it’s sacred and shouldn’t be touched.

Of course, that logic wouldn’t have applied to Lilith. She’d fancied herself to be a goddess, allowing her to break the rules as she saw fit.

Bitch.

I had never been a particularly violent person, but if she were still alive, I would absolutely enjoy killing her. Painfully.

Focus, Izzy,I thought at myself as I gently closed the door behind me.Time to wake up Cane.