Page 117 of Kingly Bitten

“Likewise,” Jace replied. “You know how much I fancy your clubs. It seemed like a reasonable place to take Jasmine up on her request for a meeting.”

A lie. One I could hear as clear as day in Jace’s thoughts. Yet he executed it with the ease of a skilled politician.

“Yes,” a sultry tone responded. “I’m so glad you thought of it, Jace.”

“Of course.” He kissed the female on the cheek—an action I felt through our bond that I didn’t fully appreciate because it resembled a punch to the stomach. When she grabbed him and returned the favor…on his lips… I nearly growled.

It was a bizarre reaction, one the scientific part of me realized was a reaction of our connection.

This was what Lilith had been trying to dilute through all the trials—the possessive urges that came with anErositalink.

How strange that I’d never experienced them for her. Yet she’d sensed them for me.

Would any of the other immortals feel this way about me? Or were they too far removed? I couldn’t feel them, but that was nothing new.

Although, I usually sensed my ties to immortality. At least subtly. And all I could feel now was Jace.

And that woman’s hands on his chest.

She had her nails digging into his jacket as he laughed at something she’d just said. A comment about sexual play on the stage. One I’d missed but heard whispers of lurking in his mind.

I refused to follow the thought because I didn’t want to know. Jace’s distaste for the conversation pacified me. He was a wizard on the outside, chuckling and putting on a show of pure enjoyment. But on the inside, I heard his mocking commentary.

It almost amused me.

But all my sense of amusement died as Lajos took the seat beside me.

And placed his palm on my thigh.

34

Jace

The crystal stemof my wine glass nearly shattered beneath my tightening grip.

Lajos sat behind me.

Next to Calina.

With his damn hand on her leg.

And there wasn’t a fucking thing I could do about it that wouldn’t create a scene.

Vampires were affectionate. We enjoyed stroking and touching others. Which was all Lajos had done for the last ten minutes while making idle chitchat with Darius.

I kept an eye on him through Calina’s thoughts. Unfortunately, that only made me angrier because I could sense her discomfort as he traced the top of her silk stockings.

Those were for my benefit, not his.

Except I’d dressed her this way because I knew he’d crave a more intimate view later. All her assets were temptingly covered, something he’d want to reveal with his own hands.

Darius intended to put on a show with Juliet, then offer the royal a brief drink before Lajos took out his lust-filled cravings on my consort.

Except she wasn’t just my consort now.

And I was very much struggling with the notion of allowing another man to touch her, let alonefuckher.

It was all part of our bond, this possessive need to keep her driven by our mental connection. Rationally, I understood that.