Page 53 of Kingly Bitten

“Makes the building look less suspect,” Damien added.

I considered the surveillance feeds that I’d had access to at Bunker 47 and conceded that there had been none that faced outside. But I didn’t agree with his comment regarding appearances.

“That door is very suspect.” And perhaps too obvious as an entry point. “I think we’re meant to waste time here. There’s another way in somewhere.”

It would be just like Lilith to design her property in that manner to lure unwelcome visitors into a trap.

Damien paused, his nostrils flaring. Then he set the screen down and pressed a finger to his ear. “Rick. I need you to bring me some of Ryder’s thermal toys.”

17

Lilith

The recovery teamhas been dispatched. Update expected within twelve hours.

Press the green arrow to continue reviewing the logs.

Next log to commence in three, two…

Log year five. Day one.

We’ve just survived another successful Blood Day ceremony. All humans were allocated evenly, as prescribed. Several candidates for immortality have been relocated to the arena to fight for their fate. The alliance appears amused, and they’re already placing bets on their favorites.

Lajos has agreed to allow Stella Clan first pick of the two winners. I awarded him a blood virgin to thank him for simplifying the selection process. It should hold him over temporarily until I can find anotherErositafor him to break.

Which reminds me, your idea to devalue the vampire mating bond is playing out beautifully. Soon, we will be able to introduce the renewed line of immortal human offerings without much interference as the old ways of our world continue to die out.

There is, of course, the matter of your ownErosita. I’ve done my best to dull the connection between you, but the possessive instincts likely remain.

Don’t worry. I will continue our research on this topic and share all results with you via the logs.

Attached is a photo in case you wish to see her. She’s a pretty little blonde. Untouched and innocent, just the way you like her.

But I do intend to test the limits of this link.

More on that later.

To begin reviewing the files for theErositareclassification project, press the green arrow.

End transmission.

18

Jace

My eyes burned,the rising sun giving me a headache of epic proportions.

It seemed like my sensitivity to the elements grew with age, leaving me almost impaired as I stood in the open field between the trees and the server farm building.

Damien didn’t appear to be as bothered, his focus on an array of equipment Rick had carried out from the plane. Calina stood beside him, hands on her shapely hips, as she studied the screens with him. I tried to admire the view of her bending over at the waist, but the splintering through my skull dulled the appeal.

“Fucking daylight,” I muttered.

“Indeed,” Darius agreed beside me.

He slid his arms around Juliet’s abdomen to tug her back to his chest and bent to hide his face in her neck. Her full lips curled into a smile, then parted as his incisors slid into her vein.

She quivered against him, a sight that would have made me envious only days ago, but I found my gaze returning to Calina and the tender column of her throat.