Page 266 of Cruelly Bitten

Because fuck compliance.

I wasn’t apet.

And anyone who expected me to act like one had better think again.

Cam had told me to play the game. However, Cane had essentially just admitted that his goal was to have me killed.

So fuck whatever the hell this was supposed to be.

Cam’s thumb paused against my leg, his palm squeezing slightly.Your anger is intoxicating, love. But we’re not ready to act yet.

He was right. I knew he was right. But I wasn’t sure how much longer I could just?—

A suddensnapsent a shiver down my spine, the human limp on the ground. “Fond memories,” Michael murmured, his gaze still on me as he lifted the now-dead human into his arms.

Cane chuckled.

Cam’s hand tensed.

“Are you threatening myErosita, Michael?” he asked, his voice low. “Because I wouldn’t recommend it.”

Silence fell, the others clearly listening to every word spoken in our area of the room.

“I don’t know how many times I need to explain this, but she’s the only link to my memories,” Cam went on, his focus shifting to Cane. “Memories I can’t access because of yourcure. Until I’m done using her, she’s not to be touched by anyone other than me.”

“No one is touching her, brother.”

“No, but you’ve made your position clear—my link to Ismerelda is a weakness. However, your actions are the reason that weakness needs to remain intact. So while I appreciate what you’ve shown me, it’s a moot point. She’s not my mate; she’s my link to the past. She’s also a good fuck.”

Cane studied him for a beat before looking up at Hazel. “Thoughts?”

She lifted a shoulder. “From what I’ve observed, he’s not the old Cam at all. As I mentioned to you already, he told the others he had no interest in leading their little rebellion. And he’s been almost silent during their meetings.”

That wasn’t true.

Well, it was true. But it wasn’t the full truth. Cam had denied his place the first day. Then he’d made it clear he would lead… for me.

However, Hazel had left that part out.

Why would she do that?I wondered.

“So why did you stay?” Cane asked, his attention back on his brother. “Why not come back here?”

“Come back to what, exactly?” Cam returned. “After gaining access to Ismerelda’s memories, I learned I wasn’t the liege and that everything was a fucking lie. So I stayed with the others to learn more about the last one thousand years of my life. How would I have even known to return here?”

All while Cam spoke, his mind was busy analyzing Hazel’s intentions.Is she trying to coax me into a lie? Playing a word game of some kind? Or is she playing Cane? Why offer him all the other details, but not this?

Cane considered him for a long moment. “I suppose that’s fair.” He looked at Michael. “Is there a reason you’re still standing here? I thought I asked you to remove the trash.”

“Apologies, My Prince,” Michael murmured. Then he bowed a little haphazardly with the dead woman in his arms and left the room.

“I suppose if he was all I knew from the compound, I wouldn’t return either,” Cane muttered to himself before shaking his head. “I apologize for how I’ve gone about this, Cam. I truly wanted to help you, not hinder you. But I realize now that I made some errors in judgment.”

“Apology accepted,” Cam replied, his body seeming to relax a little beside me even while his mind continued processing everything around him. “I assume we’re waiting for the next phase now?”

“Indeed. Once Cedric arrives, we’ll secure him with Khalid and Ryder and begin the process of curing them. Perhaps seeing the methods in action will give you a better appreciation of what I went through to fix you.”

Highly doubtful,Cam thought. However, aloud he said, “Perhaps.”