Page 95 of Kingly Bitten

Jace

It tookDarius and me thirty minutes to confirm that there were no cameras in the suite, just listening devices.

And another fifteen minutes to put our countermeasures in place.

Which meant I’d left Calina in a precarious position for no reason.

Well. Perhaps that was a bit of a stretch because I could absolutely create a reason for leaving a gorgeous woman half-naked on my bed.

Darius used his phone to set up the last of the automated recordings—a trick Luka’s mate, Mira, had taught us decades ago—and faced me.

“Silence truly is bliss,” he informed me. “I’ve set an alarm to automatically switch off before our midnight breakfast arrives, so we have a few hours to speak freely.”

“Cheers,” I murmured, handing him a glass of bourbon.

He clinked the rim against my own drink, then took a healthy sip.

I followed suit, my shoulders relaxing marginally at having altered all the bugs in the room. We were in one of Lajos’s finest hotels. I wasn’t surprised that it was riddled with surveillance, because all his visiting royals would stay here.

My fancier accommodations were also decorated with listening devices. Some even had cameras.

Vampires rarely trusted each other. We were too old to be that naïve. And only rare alliances formed true friendships.

Darius and I finished our drinks in silence, both acutely aware of the evening to come. “Best enjoy our solitude while it lasts,” I finally said.

“Can I make a suggestion?” Darius asked, his eyebrow inching upward in that haughty way of his.

“I suppose. Doesn’t mean I’ll listen.”

“No, you hardly do. But, in this case, I hope you’ll at least consider it.”

That all depended on what he intended to say. “What’s the suggestion?”

“Fuck her, Jace. You may not have another chance, and I know how you feel about missed opportunities.” He didn’t stick around for a response, just clapped me on the shoulder and headed to his room.

I glowered in his general direction, not at all pleased with the implication of his words.

He didn’t think Calina would survive this trip.

Given Lajos’s penchant for destroying delectable humans, it was a fair assessment. However, I had no intention of allowing it to happen.

And how strange was that?

I safeguarded my harem to an extent, but I recognized them for the pawns they were in this game. If a royal fancied one, I typically handed the mortal over to gain a favor.

Some survived.

Some did not.

It wasn’t exactly thrilling so much as practical. I’d survived this long because of my willingness and aptitude for playing the political arena. It took strategy and sacrifice.

Yet the notion of sacrificing Calina stirred an uneasy sensation inside me.

I rubbed at my chest, attempting to define the hesitation. Her delectable blood certainly appealed to me. I also hadn’t finished tasting her, which I supposed played into Darius’s recommendation.

Finishing the task would likely sever this desire to keep her alive.

Although, she was also useful.