Page 11 of Kingly Bitten

“In my office, yes.”

“Show me.”

I shook my head. “You have to prove you’re allowed to see it first. Use your watch on my door, and I’ll know you’ve been sent here to help me finish the job.”

“I don’t need to prove nothin’.”

I always knew Officer Gerald wasn’t my favorite guard. And not just because he felt it was acceptable to call meSunshinewhen I’d never actually seen the real sun before.

“You seem to be forgetting who is in charge here, Officer. I am the lead researcher for Bunker 47. You are a member ofmystaff. Yes, Goddess Lilith is our superior in all ways, but I’m her creation. I’m the one she left in charge here, and my word is law on her behalf. Now open my fucking door, or I’ll call Lilith myself.”

I brought up my watch and made a show of finding her contact information.

The Vigils didn’t have her number.

But I did.

Just like I had a mark on my neck that denoted me as Lilith’s personal property. A mark I exposed subtly now by tilting my head.

“I’m not just a lab employee, Officer. I’m the head researcher. Now either obey me or face the consequences.” I uttered it with all the confidence I could muster and hoped it was enough.

I lifted my finger to hover over the screen and knew from the resulting expression on Officer Gerald’s face that I’d won. His tan skin turned white. Then he dropped the gun. “I’m sorry, Doctor Calina. I-I must not be familiar with this part of the operation.”

I forced a sigh. “Well, I hope it’s that. Otherwise, my intended guard will kill you as soon as he or she arrives.” I gestured at my door. “If you would please prove your worth, I would be much obliged, as I really do need to return to my research transmission.”

He eyed James and Gretchen warily. “And them?”

“As I said, they’ve been assigned to assist me. That’s why we ran here from the lab a few minutes ago.” I added that last part because I was very aware of the cameras in the hallways.

I’ll need to dismantle all surveillance, I thought, cataloging the task.I’ll do that the second he lets me back inside.

“And the mutt?” he asked, earning himself a death sentence from the question alone. Because James would not allow a Vigil, let alone a human, to insult his pride and joy. But a glance from me held him in check.

Not yet, I said with my eyes.

“I told Gretchen she could keep her child with her a little longer before we engaged in the extermination process. It’s what we were discussing when you arrived. She’s agreed to my terms and understands what must be done. I’m rewarding her loyalty with a few extra minutes of familial memories.”

He eyed me with clear suspicion.

So I lifted a shoulder to feign indifference. “As long as he doesn’t get in my way, I don’t care,” I continued. “But I do care about the fact that you’re stalling. Why is that, Officer? Will your watch not work and fail inspection?” I arched a brow again, just like Lilith, doing my best to prove my superiority over the Vigil.

I’m immortal, I told him with my eyes.You are not.

He swallowed. “Just tryin’ to make sure we’re all followin’ the rules,” he said, holstering his gun.

“Of course,” I agreed, shifting purposefully to my right. It kept me on the same side as his firearm, just in case this test didn’t work. I had no idea if his watch would override mine and be able to let us back inside.

If it didn’t, I’d go for his gun.

If it did, I still might go for his gun. That decision depended on what I found waiting inside.

He moved forward with purpose, his expression giving nothing away. But I caught the hint of perspiration dotting his neck. He feared what I might do to him if he failed this mission.

Good.

Because that meant he fearedme.

I notched my chin up just enough to continue my air of superiority—a feat, considering his six-foot-plus frame dwarfed my five-foot-four one—and maintained a cool expression as he tested his watch against the locking mechanism.