Page 107 of Kingly Bitten

32

Jace

Calina’s mind fascinated me.She was even more strategic than I’d earlier imagined, her brain a web of logic puzzles and intriguing information.

I sifted through some of her memories while she slept, curious about her time in the labs. All it took was a little nudge in the direction of her former work, and a whole slew of images followed. Many of them included Lilith and her lack of creativity where death was concerned.

From what I could tell, Lilith had never been sexual with Calina. She would demand a report, which myErosita—a term I would need to get used to thinking—would give promptly. Then Lilith would bite her and drain her dry.

Lilith died far too easily, I decided after witnessing Calina’s deaths on repeat in her mind.

There were too many instances to keep count.

It’d reached a point where Calina had just anticipated the burn of exsanguination and accepted it as her fate. No fear. No begging. Just logical acquiescence and a focus on other activities in her life.

Like the ones surrounding her potential escape. She’d designed several mechanisms, including the circumvention of Lilith’s information systems.

Yet you never tried to run, I marveled as I drew my fingers through her hair.How fascinating.

An image of James and Gretchen appeared next.

I see, I murmured, catching her familial attachment where the couple and their baby lycan were concerned.

A puzzled feeling followed, one that suggested she’d questioned and recognized her irrational behavior.

Acceptance came next as she showed me the intricate analysis she’d conducted in response to her emotions.

The web intrigued me more and more, causing me to continue probing into her psyche.

Many females would be furious by my intrusion. But I felt Calina’s awareness of my presence and her acknowledgment of my curiosity.

Because my mind piqued her own interest as well.

She’d thought my brain was heaven, her knack for strategy rivaling my own.

There were definitely benefits to this intense connection, ones that superseded the bedroom.

Calina yawned and rolled toward me, still asleep. Yet I sensed her in my head, pulling on my experiences and searching my knowledge base for enlightening information.

It was a bizarre mating of the minds fueled by our similar mental faculties. We both fancied strategic plays, our penchant for analyzing every possible outcome a foundation for a unique sort of partnership.

Practicality overrode our emotions.

She knew where I stood on monogamy. I felt her review the detail and dismiss it in the next second. This wasn’t long-term. This was beneficial for the moment.

I didn’t have to remain faithful to her to keep this bond alive. She saw the truth of that in my thoughts. Which had her examining how to break theErositabond next, her knowledge of sex being the key giving her pause.

Because she wasn’t a virgin.

I listened as she puzzled over the potential reasons for our link and frowned when she started searching for her links to immortality.

They were the foundation of her immortal life source.

Other vampires who had created anErosita-like bond with her.

I explored that more while she reviewed what I knew about vampire mating bonds, her brain working almost as swiftly as mine—which was an impressive feat considering her comatose state.

She seemed to be absorbing my knowledge into her own mind, cataloging my experiences and memorizing the key details.