Page 169 of Kingly Bitten

“I’m not sure what you mean,” I said, my attention divided between my conversation and hearing Calina in my mind.

Keep him talking,she was saying.Damien is doing a trace.

I didn’t reply or acknowledge her, just held Cam’s gaze. His dark hair appeared to be recently trimmed, as did the stubble along his chin. The Cam I knew liked his beard. It seemed this new version preferred the five o’clock shadow look.

Someone is there with him, I thought, my instincts firing.And it’s not Mira.

Which meant we still had an unaccounted-for party.

“Come now, Jace. Are we really going to play this game?”

“As I recall, it’s a game we both thoroughly enjoy,” I returned.

He gave me a pitying look as he shook his head softly. “My brother really did a number on you, didn’t he?”

“Cane?” Was that what the logs had told him, that Cane had been the one to organize the resistance? “Maybe you should wake him up. Find out more.” If Cam was in the catacombs like we suspected, then he was near Cane. Rousing him from his five-hundred-year sleep would be an eye-opening experience and would debunk whatever Cam knew.

“I’ll consider that after I review his files,” he replied, a note of irritation in his tone as he looked off-screen.

“I’m still looking for them, my liege,” a soft voice said.

My brow nearly furrowed. Instead, I pasted an inquisitive expression on my face and asked, “Who’s that with you, Cam?”

“No one of consequence,” Cam muttered, his annoyance palpable. “Find it now.”

“Yes, my liege,” the male voice promised. But it was too faint and submissive for me to recognize it.

Was it just some human?

Or another ally of Lilith’s?

“One would think my assistants would be more useful,” Cam said conversationally, his blue eyes meeting mine again. “Especially considering I saved his life prior to the revolution.”

The information swirled in my mind, piecing together in sequence with everything we’d learned from Bunker 37.

Calina’s father.

Michael.

Cam saved his life.

Michael became a vampire.

He’s the assistant.

It took significant effort to maintain my bored expression because inside I was shouting at Cam to see reason. But I knew it was too soon to fix this.

We needed to approach this strategically. Slowly. With information and proof easily at our fingertips.

And even then, it might not be enough.

The air changed in the jet, the presence one I recognized, but I didn’t look at him. Instead, I said, “So when do you intend to announce your awakening, Cam?”

Darius stilled at the doorway. I couldn’t see him, but I felt him.

“Soon,” Cam replied. “I have a few more tasks that need to be completed first, including a meeting with myErosita. Apparently, she’s grown a little too independent during my sleep.”

The way he said it sent a chill down my spine and had Damien freezing in front of me.