Page 206 of Cruelly Bitten

I relayed that reply to Cam, the words seeming to confirm our understanding of the situation.

My mate remained quiet as he evaluated how to play this, his strategic mindset flaring to life.Tell my brother that I have no desire to lead, he finally said.Then ask what he wants from me.

“Cam has no desire to lead,” I told Cane, allowing that statement to settle first.

“Oh?” Cane set his glass aside, his palm going to the back of the woman’s head as he fisted her hair. “I find that hard to believe.” He started guiding the female’s movements, his jaw clenching a bit while she moved.

It was a very clear depiction of this current world, his actions speaking much louder than words ever could. Because he was showing me with his hand how he controlled the human race. How mortalsbowedandserved.

Worse, that glimmer in his gaze suggested he was imagining me being the one to service him.

And just thinking about that had my insides churning in discomfort.

Because no.Hellno.

I would never kneel for him or anyone else.

Ismerelda, Cam murmured into my mind.Ask him what he wants from me.

My throat worked as I forced the bile back down, my stomach rioting at the act unfolding before me. Mostly because the human was clearly struggling to breathe, her body tense and quivering and depleted of energy as Cane fucked her mouth like she was just some doll.

Some being to be used.

Just like Cam had done to me the other day,I thought, my heart skipping a beat. Except unlike Cam, I suspected Cane wouldn’t feed this woman his blood to help revive her afterward.

If she died, she would remain that way.

A discarded doll.

Not a life.

I hated it. Hated this. Hated them.

We might be physically inferior, but our minds… our spirits… are equals.

Cam didn’t reply to me, but I heard him processing my words and debating their merit.

“What do you want from Cam?” I forced myself to ask, needing to refocus on this conversation and not Cane’s crude actions. “Cam is asking, not me,” I clarified. I wanted to know the answer as well, but I suspected Cane would respond better if I pretended to be a translator rather than an interested party.

“Mmm,” Cane hummed. “Tell my brother that I’m going to personally ensure your bond is broken—just like it should have been the other day.”

His words sent a chill down my spine, my brain automatically parroting his sentence to Cam.

“Unless…” Cane went on. “Unless he meets me at the compound.”

He relaxed more into his chair, his grip seeming to tighten on the female as he worked her over his cock, his gaze never leaving mine.

I focused on repeating his comment to Cam rather than on theview.

“He has three hours,” Cane continued. “I suggest he borrow Kylan’s jet. Tell him Damien can fly it. But no one else is allowed to join them.”

My jaw clenched as I reiterated all of that to Cam.

He means it, I added.I can see it in his eyes, Cam. He…I trailed off, the words unnecessary. Because Cam could no doubt hear the fear blossoming in my mind.

I couldn’t help picturing it.

Cane issuing commands meant to seal my fate. Commands about my purpose and the way I should have died a thousand years ago.