Page 41 of Cruelly Bitten

“Well, perhaps not knowingly or actively,” he rephrased. “But there could be a chip implanted in her that’s allowing?—”

“A chip?” I repeated.

“Yes, as in a small technical device that could be implanted under her skin,” he clarified. “One that could be used to track her, or perhaps as a way to remote into our system based on proximity.”

Similar to how I instinctively knew all about computers, I also already knew what a chip was and hadn’t been repeating it for a definition, but more of an incredulous inquiry.

“I highly doubt her brother has implanted her with achip, Michael. But if you have a scanner or some sort of tool to check her with, then I can use it on her later.” And if we found one, we’d remove it. “Now, I need to meet with Mira.”

I turned toward the elevator bay once more.

“Or I can check her while you work with Mira?” Michael suggested.

I glanced at him. “No.”

His brow furrowed. “But if she has a chip inside her, we need it removed immediately. Otherwise, Damien will simply thwart our efforts and continue holding our communications abilities hostage.”

“You said your team hasn’t discovered the true cause,” I pointed out. “If you can prove it’s Damien, then I’ll re-prioritize scanning my blood slave. Until then, I need to oversee Fen’s reawakening.”

“But if she has a chip, then we’ll know it’s Damien,” he argued, his manner and change of tone surprising me.

He was directly questioning my authority, and while he had somewhat of a point, it wasn’t good enough for me to allow him near my nakedErosita—a fact my inner predator immediately agreed upon by growling deep in my chest.

“Who is liege here, Michael?” I asked as the elevator arrived. I ignored the opening door and faced him fully instead.

He swallowed and bowed his head slightly. “You are, my liege.” A low response, almost grating in sound because his teeth were grinding together over the words.

“I am the Liege,” I echoed. “And I am telling you to find me a device to use on Ismerelda when I have time. In the interim, work with the technical teams in determining a cause. If you can prove it’s Damien, I’ll escalate your request.”

Because no way in hell was I allowing him to go in there and put his hands all over my impassionedErosita. She was my present to devour later, not his.

“Do you understand me?” I pressed, the elevator closing behind me as I stared the other man down. Or rather, the top of his head since he wasn’t strong enough to look at me.

He swallowed again. “Yes, my liege.”

“Good.” I punched in the code one more time. “Now get back to work.”

“Yes, my liege,” he repeated, that grating quality still underlining every word. But fuck if I cared. He’d questioned my command. He wasmyprogeny andmyassistant. It was best he remembered that and left me to handle myErositaon my own.

I stepped into the elevator and waited for him to join me. There was no reason for him to remain on my floor now that I’d ordered him to stay away from Ismerelda.

He followed, but I sensed it was a begrudging movement.

Fortunately, he said nothing and simply selected the floor I needed as well as the one right above it. I didn’t speak as he left, simply allowed myself one final private moment with Ismerelda’s sweet taste on my tongue.

Then I focused on the task at hand when I arrived at my destination.

It was time to wake another Blessed One.

Fen.

CHAPTER TEN

IZZY

A Few Minutes Earlier

“Soon.”The word vibrated across my slick heat, followed by the kiss of a hot tongue right against my throbbing clit.