Page 51 of Kingly Bitten

He returned to Europe to show me Sofia and Helias, two identities I had heard of from Lilith. “The Coventus is under Sofia’s jurisdiction,” I said, recalling that detail. “Yes?”

“No, the Coventus properties and surrounding areas are considered neutral zones, and they used to be maintained by Lilith,” Jace replied. “However, Sofia’s region borders former-day Italy, which is where one of the Coventuses is for blood virgins.”

Juliet visibly shivered, and Darius grabbed her thigh again before pressing a kiss to her neck.

“Is she a blood virgin?” I wondered out loud.

Jace didn’t look up from the screens, aware of whom I meant. “Yes.” He scrolled to a new image. “How about this one?”

A blonde female with dark brown eyes appeared on the screen.Hazel.Royal Vampire.

“Her region encompasses Greece, Macedonia, Albania, Hungary, and a few other Eastern European countries,” he added, like he did for all the others.

“I don’t know her.” She had kind eyes. Very different from Lilith’s crisp and cruel appearance.

“As much as I’m enjoying the geography and political lesson, we’ll be landing in about five minutes,” Damien interjected. “We need to be ready.”

Jace nodded, shutting down his device and slipping it back into his pocket. “We’ll continue that discussion after we finish here.”

“I didn’t meet many vampires or lycans outside of the labs,” I promised him. “Everything I know is just from hearing Lilith speak.”

“Which could prove exceptionally useful if you overheard the right thing,” he replied, reaching across me to check my belt. Then he fixed his own, relaxed, and closed his eyes as the shades around the plane began to rise.

My focus went to the windows, my lips parting at the sight of the sun glistening brightly outside. We’d flown the entire way here with shutters on, disabling my ability to see the sky. Now that I could, I was hypnotized by its radiance.

How many years have I lived without this phenomenon?I thought, awed by the sight.

I remained glued to the window throughout our entire descent, my eyes watering from the brightness. But I couldn’t stop staring. It was magnificent. I’d seen photos, but those just did not do this experience justice.

Jace’s finger slid across my cheek before going to his lips, tasting my tears.

Then he unbuckled my seat belt, pressed his lips to my ear, and whispered, “Time to prove your worth, little genius.”

I didn’t want to leave my seat, but the prospect of going outside and witnessing the unfiltered sky had me standing immediately.

Jace pressed his palm to the small of my back, guiding me down the aisle of the jet and to the stairs. Juliet and Darius had already disembarked, the two of them standing on the ground in matching outfits of black pants and dark, long-sleeved shirts.

I descended the stairs to join them, but my gaze instantly went upward to the bright blue sky and blistering sun.Beautiful.

“She’s going to blind herself by doing that,” Damien drawled as he joined us with a backpack slung over his shoulder.

Jace drew his finger down my cheek once more, then pinched my chin to gently pull my focus away from the dazzling display of light overhead. I blinked at him, seeing a black spot where his face should be.

“I think she already has,” he mused. “Protect your eyes, Doctor. I still need them.” He tightened his grip just enough to tell me he meant it. Then he released me, leaving me blind beside him.

Every time I closed my eyes, dots danced against my lids. It reminded me of what happened when I stared at a fluorescent light too long, only worse.

I kept blinking, waiting for it to subside.

Jace’s palm found my back again, giving me a little nudge to move alongside him. I glanced at the ground, wanting to watch my steps, but those damn dots decorated my view, making me stumble.

He chuckled a little. “It’ll pass,” he promised, his arm sliding around me to help move me along with him.

Damien said something in a language I didn’t understand, making Darius snort. Jace replied in the same foreign tongue.

It painted a picture of just how old these beings were. They likely spoke dozens of languages, having lived through centuries or millennia of culture and life.

Jace struck me as the oldest of them all, but Darius wasn’t far behind him. They both held a regal, ancient air that reeked of power and opulence.