Page 253 of Cruelly Bitten

Regardless, it was the only thing for her to wear, as her clothes had also vanished. Same with her shoes, leaving her with just a pair of stiletto heels for her dainty feet.

I started toward the bathroom but paused as the door to the suite opened. Michael stood in the doorway, his blond hair tied back at the nape.

“My liege,” he greeted. “Prince Cane has requested that I lead you to the underground where all the other royals on the property are gathering.”

“Prince Cane?” I repeated, arching a brow. “And you dare refer to me asliegeafter everything that’s been revealed?”

Michael blinked, his innocent expression one I didn’t believe for a second. “Prince Cane made his desires clear, my liege. You are his chosen leader, and mine as well. Therefore, I will address you as such.”

“Hmm,” I hummed, tempted to tell him to refer to Ismerelda as my queen, then. Because if he wanted to play by the logic that I was his king, then he could see my mate as his queen, too.

But that would defeat the point of whatever game my brother had in store for us.

So instead, I simply conceded by not voicing anything at all and looked at Ismerelda. “Go in the bathroom and find a brush.”I also need you to try to locate the earbud in the cabinet,I added mentally as I showed her where I’d unceremoniously deposited it.Put it in your ear while I distract Michael.

There might be cameras in there,she said as she started toward the bathroom, her head bowed in an obedient manner for the benefit of our guest.

Try to use the cabinet to mask your movements like I did earlier,I told her. It wouldn’t be as easy since she had to actually set the device inside her ear, but I had faith in her to manage it.

“What protocol has been engaged?” I asked Michael, opting to acquire some information as a form of distraction. “I assumethat’s why all the royals are meeting underground, as you said. But to what end?”

“The rebels are coming. Prince Cane needs everyone to join him in the bunker before he deploys our security response.”

My eyebrow arched. “The rebels? As in Jace and the others?”

“No. Ryder and Khalid, as well as the lycans.”

Earpiece in place,Ismerelda whispered to me.It’s silent.

Let me know if that changes, I replied while I absorbed Michael’s comment regarding the rebels.It seems Ryder couldn’t sit this one out.

Are you really surprised?Ismerelda asked as she reentered the room, her blonde hair brushed and framing her pretty face. My only complaint was the way she lowered her gaze. She was doing it for Michael’s benefit rather than mine.

As she approached, I grasped her chin and pulled her in for a kiss. One meant to brand. To own.To claim.Thatwas my version ofbowingto Michael.

Was she supposed to be my plaything? Yes. But that still made hermine, something I needed myprogenyto understand.

Ismerelda melted into me, her heart racing through the thin fabric of her dress. I bent to sink my fangs into her neck, openly marking her and taking a long pull from her vein.I’m not going to heal you,I warned her.I want everyone to know you’re mine.

The blood you’ve given me this afternoon is going to heal me quickly anyway,she replied.

Then I’ll just bite you again,I told her.

She shivered in response, causing me to nearly grin against her neck. But I couldn’t afford to let Michael see me react in such a way.

Thus, I simply pulled away and met his gaze. “Touch her and I’ll kill you. She’s my toy, not yours. Now lead the way.”

Michael cleared his throat and bowed his head. “Of course, my liege.”

He stepped through the threshold while Ismerelda imagined all the ways she’d like to kill him. It made for an entertaining journey downstairs.I had no idea you were so creative, my queen.

Neither did I,she returned as we entered an elevator at the end of the hall.But I really want him to die.

Me, too, love. Me, too.

I needed to determine if the same could be said about my brother. He’d hurt Ismerelda, which had to be addressed. The problem was that I couldn’t determine how to ensure it didn’t happen again.

Other than to kill him.