Page 254 of Cruelly Bitten

Which a dark part of me longed to do.

However, he was my brother. My only kin. If I could find an alternative, I’d take it. I just feared there wasn’t one.

Sleep obviously hadn’t worked.

Nor would it work—a point Ryder and Kylan had readily made earlier this week.

So what alternative is there?I wondered as we reached a floor deep underground. I hadn’t recognized the code Michael had used to bring us here, confirming we were in a different part of the compound.

That fact became even more evident when the doors opened to resemble a crimson hallway lit by gothic-looking candles.

Wow. Talk about stereotypical vampire,Ismerelda said.

Stereotypical?I echoed, not following her logic. Only, her memories of a more modern era—one I didn’t recognize or remember—helped fill in the gaps.I see.

It didn’t feelstereotypicalto me so much as dark and deadly. The crimson color reminded me of blood.

Which was a theme that continued as we entered a large room decorated with red and black fixtures.

Instead of a table, there were leather couches adorned with gold accents. Coffee tables made of glass and stone. Candles flickering with low flames. Scantily clad humans in every corner.

And a group of ancient vampires and lycans lounging about, some with females in their laps, others with men on their knees.

All the royals donned suits and dresses, while the lycans wore jeans and sweaters.

“King Cam,” Michael announced to the room, causing me to glance at him as he bowed.

My brother stood, tossing a human to the floor, her head landing with a thud that suggested she was either already dead or close to it.

The gash on her breast told me why, as did the blood on my brother’s lips. He licked them clean and excused Michael with a flick of his wrist. “Go help Mira.”

“As you wish, My Prince,” he uttered reverently, leaving the room while Cane wandered to a naked man holding a tray of champagne flutes and a bloody knife.

Michael called him “my liege” on the plane,Ismerelda informed me.I know he explained it back in the suite, but it still feels sudden to me.

Yes,I agreed, taking in the room once more.Either they’re playing with me, or my brother believes I’ve already accepted my role as king.

No one seemed all that intrigued by our appearance. Hell, most of them hadn’t even noticed my arrival, too lost in their feeding frenzies to care.

If I am their king, they’re not very respectful,I remarked to Ismerelda as Cane started back toward us with two glasses in his hands.

From what Luka told me, the royals and alphas all consider themselves to be equals. So their ignoring you doesn’t confirm anything.

Hmm.

“Brother,” Cane greeted, handing me one of his crystal glasses. The liquid inside appeared to be fresh blood from the human waiter’s wrist—something I gathered because the male now appeared ashen and ready to pass out. Yet he remained standing as though compelled to do so. “Sorry for the alarm. It appears we’re expecting company.”

“So I heard,” I murmured, my grip tightening around Ismerelda’s hand while my other hand held the flute. “Lycans?”

He nodded. “Yes, my source says they’re gathering. There are a few rebellious royals on their way, too.” His tone suggested excitement rather than dread, something that didn’t bode well for the situation. “I’ve been waiting for a chance to test our defense system, and it seems that chance has finally arrived.”

“I don’t recall seeing any logs on thisdefense system,” I told him.

“No, we didn’t reach that point in the learning process. I had you focused on immortal blood bags instead, hoping to re-create the joy I’d experienced upon perfecting the solution.” He glanced at the mortals on display throughout the room, his pride evident.

Ismerelda didn’t comment beside me, but her mind was whirring with discomfort. Primarily because of my taunt just hours ago, as well as the comments I’d once exchanged with Mira.

I’m not replacing you.