Page 145 of Kingly Bitten

I considered our options, then typed in a master code that would have worked to open a door at Bunker 47.

“Access denied.”

Biting my lip, I thought,What would Lilith do?

It’d often taken thirty minutes to an hour for her elevator to arrive at Bunker 47. It was possible that she’d merely sent a signal ahead to announce her impending appearance. However, I’d always suspected that she’d entered the building and then occupied herself for a period of time while she kept us waiting. Sometimes I’d even sworn she was watching us stand in our requisite positions in the lobby, just to make sure we were obedient little pets.

She’d enjoyed keeping everyone in limbo because it had provoked fear.

However, she would’ve been pragmatic about it.

Which meant there was likely some sort of computer room on this level. Somewhere she could’ve passed the time, spied on her employees, and caught up on the research before demanding a verbal update.

It had always been a test with her. She’d wanted to ensure I gave every detail in accordance with what she already knew.

When I’d passed, she’d rewarded me by killing me.

A measure of control.

One I’d understood too well for it to be as effective as she’d desired, which had only angered her more.

So where would you go?I wondered, glancing around the corridor, scanning each door.If there are computers, you need them to be cool. Away from the elevator or train behind that wall.

There were only two doors on the opposite side.

Both had keypads.

With the watch not working, I’d need an override code.So what would you pick?

It’d be personal to her. Something few others would know about because she’d trusted no one. Nothing obvious. Nothing pertaining to her alliance life, but perhaps to secrets in other labs.

Like Bunker 47.

What is it you wanted to protect and hide?I mused, moving toward the first door to study the keypad and handle. Then I wandered to the other to compare them, attempting to note which was better used.

Hmm, but your code would have been known by Lajos,I thought, frowning. The Vigils had said he’d delivered the server farm order personally to them, which meant he’d frequented the bunker. And like Lilith, he’d probably spent time here before venturing inside.

So what would you trust him to know?I wondered, thinking through what little I knew about him. Jace’s mind helped fill in some of the blanks, but I knew this would be more personal. Something between Lajos and Lilith.

Did you know about me?I asked, the question for Lajos, not Jace. There’d been a hint of familiarity upon our meeting, a note that had left me uneasy beside him. Like he’d been playing some sort of twisted game rather than truly displaying interest in me.

It’d been written in his touch.

And his comments.

I recalled what he’d said about my name and his familiarity with the origin.

“A variant from Selene.”

His comment had sent a chill down my spine, something about it unsettling me at the time. Because Lilith had said that to me once as well. It was why she’d chosen my name.Selenehad meant something to her.

Selene was the goddess of the moon in Greek and Roman religion, Jace said, his mind otherwise quiet as he observed my thoughts. But he also relayed an important piece regarding Nyx’s origin as the goddess of night.

The two went together in name and ideology.

Deciding to take a chance, I typedSeleneinto the keypad, curious to see what it would do.

A click sounded, but the door didn’t open.