Page 75 of Kingly Bitten

“Is it still just my vampiric prowess, little genius?” he asked against my ear.

I swallowed, his question one he’d asked numerous times throughout the last twenty-four hours. Like every other time, I refused to answer.

Which only made him chuckle against my throat.

“I’m interpreting your silence as a request for a more in-depth study of the topic.” He kissed my cheek, his gaze meeting mine in the mirror. “Consider this my acceptance of your challenge, Doctor. I look forward to engaging in several rounds of experimentation before you draft a summary of our results.” His icy irises glittered with intent. “And I’ll expect you to recite those results while deep-throating my cock.”

My stomach burned as he released me, my insides turning to liquid heat at the promise in those words.

And his resulting expression told me he knew it.

This male took confidence to a whole new level, his age and experience only adding to the arrogant flair of his features.

Lilith had exuded a similar air about her, except with an added layer of superiority. Jace struck me as someone who knew he was powerful and didn’t need to lord over others to prove it. While Lilith had loved being in charge and wanted everyone to bow to her as a result.

Very different approaches.

At least from what I’d observed.

Now that we were entering his territory, my conclusion might change. But something told me it wouldn’t.

He paused at the door and held out a hand toward me, his gaze once again finding mine in the mirror. “Calina.”

I turned and gave him my best curtsy. “My Prince.” It was the term he’d told me to use. OrYour Highness.

“Beautiful,” he murmured. “Stand.”

I happily did because holding that pose made my thighs burn. I wasn’t sure how Juliet had held it for so long earlier, her discipline resolute in obeying these vampires.

Are all humans that indoctrinated into this world?I wondered.

I knew bits and pieces about the old one, mostly from my time in the labs and the research files I’d been able to review. Which was how I knew about San Francisco, the location now renamed as Jace City. It used to be a popular technology sector in the previous era.

“Now walk toward me.” Jace continued to hold out his hand, perhaps to catch me if I fell—a likely scenario, considering the wobbly nature of these thin heels.

However, with the jet parked, I found I could more easily move across the carpet. Not elegantly or seductively like Juliet, but eloquently enough to function.

“Good girl,” Jace praised, taking hold of my arm as I reached him. “Now just keep your head down and only speak when I tell you to, and you’ll pass your first test.”

I didn’t reply, earning me a chuckle.

“Off to an excellent start,” he murmured, his lips pressing into my cheek again.

The praise bled into my psyche, giving me the strange urge to smile. I ignored the inclination and focused on the task of walking with Jace and not falling—a task that proved much harder as we navigated the stairs outside the jet.

“Well, not entirely graceful,” Darius said by way of greeting from the ground. “But she’ll pass so long as you don’t let go of her.”

Jace released my arm and drew his finger up my exposed spine. “I can think of more unpleasant activities in my life.”

“Indeed,” his sovereign agreed, his tone telling me he’d just done something similar to Juliet. I couldn’t see them since my focus was on the ground, which happened to work in my favor as we began to move because it allowed me to watch my step.

“Straighten your shoulders and only bow your head,” Jace said against my ear, correcting my posture with his palm against my lower back.

I adjusted my position without comment, causing him to gently stroke my spine once more. A chill accompanied his touch, not because I found it particularly unpleasant, but the cool night air around us began to seep in through the thin lace of my dress.

This outfit was entirely impractical for the weather, something my arms seemed to agree with as goose bumps pebbled along my limbs.

It took restraint not to shiver, each step chilling me more than the next.