Page 152 of Cruelly Bitten

He didn’t finish his statement because it was clear where he was going with this—we’d be stranded.

“We need to prepare our backup team,” I decided aloud, leaving the cockpit. “Jace! Stop fucking around! I need you to call Ivan!”

“I take it that means we’re moving forward with the plan?” Kylan drawled, his tone only mildly irritated.

“Yep,” I replied with a popping sound on thep.

Hazel might have an army waiting for us. Or maybe just a few vampires.

Regardless, I adored a good challenge.

And more than that, I loved killing shit.

“You don’t think we should vote on what to do?” Kylan stressed, causing me to pause and look at him.

“What would be your vote?”

“To shoot them all,” he answered immediately.

“Then what’s the point of a vote? That’s two against one, and we’re both older than Jace.” Darius’s vote didn’t count because he wasn’t a royal. And even if it did count, I knew he’d approve of the plan. He might pretend to favor his books; however, a beast lurked beneath his fine suits.

“Who are we shooting?” Jace asked as he entered the cabin, his shirt only partially buttoned.

“Anyone related to the potential trap waiting for us in Hazel Region,” Kylan explained before elaborating on what we’d been discussing with Damien.

“You know, a simple solution would be for me to call and confirm again with Hazel,” Jace suggested. “We’re close enough now that she might accept my call.”

“What would be the fun in that?” I wondered aloud.

“What fun, indeed,” Jace deadpanned, his English accent thicker than usual.

Rather than debate me, he pulled out his phone. “Hazel, darling,” he murmured a second later. “Kylan and Ryder seem to be under the impression that you have an army waiting for us on the ground. Given how volatile Ryder can be, I wouldn’t recommend proceeding with that plan, assuming they’re right.”

A gentle snort followed. “Cam was right to include you, Jace. However, I had no idea you were bringing so many guests to my region.”

“I would have called you to warn you, but I suspect you wouldn’t have answered the phone had I tried.”

“I guess we’ll never know, will we?” she returned, her voice more amused than annoyed. “Who exactly is with you other than Ryder and Kylan?”

“OurErositasand mates,” Jace answered honestly, making me roll my eyes. “Darius and Damien, too.”

Way to ruin the element of surprise,I told him with a look.

He ignored me, his focus on Hazel.

“I see.” She seemed to consider him for a moment, then shrugged. “Hold on and I’ll show you who is waiting for your arrival.”

Kylan and I wandered over to peer at the screen, the only sound the subtle clicking of heels over cement. Hazel had pointed the visual away from her, giving us a view of the hangar and the two jets tucked inside.

“Ryder and Kylan think we mean to attack them upon arrival,” she said to a shadow lurking near one of the jets.

My lips curled down as the shadow stepped out into the light, the hood-wearing royal unmistakable. Primarily because healwayswore that or a formal headdress.

“Khalid?” Jace inquired, voicing the obvious.

The male on the screen pulled his hood down to allow us a glimpse of his gleaming gaze, the black marbles flickering with touches of turquoise. A very unique appearance, one that seemed to be enhanced on-screen.

“Was Ryder hoping to spar?” Khalid mused. “Because I might enjoy that.”