Her growl echoed through the room from the speakers strategically placed along the ceiling. “Cut the shit, Ryder. If you can’t handle your job, I’ll come down there and handle it for you.”
“Who said I can’t handle it?” I countered.
“You just killed over a dozen vampires!” she shouted.
I arched a brow at the screen, not that she could see me. Or maybe she could. Who the fuck knew how this technology worked? “Yes, and?”
I could almost picture her pinching the bridge of her nose, her annoyance palpable even over the phone line. “Did you give them a trial?”
“Is a trial needed?” I asked her, feigning innocence. Oh, I knew the new society laws required paperwork and proper reasoning to sanction a death, but I couldn’t give two fucks about Lilith’s whole law-and-order charade. “I mean, they tried to kill me. I merely returned the favor by demonstrating how it should be done.”
“What do you mean, they tried to kill you?”
“I mean, Janet sent a pack of vampire children to my estate in Texas to assassinate me. I killed them all, by the way. So there’s actually over two dozen bodies on my scorecard at present.” And I intended to add several more over the next few months.
Silence met my explanation.
I gave her five seconds before saying, “Lilith? Did my AI hang up on you? Silvano’s technology truly is dated. As is his entire regime. Hello? Are you there?”
“I’m digesting your statement,” she replied through her teeth.
“Ah. Well, do you require five days to ponder and deliver a verdict later?” I couldn’t help the taunt.
Lilith had recently forced me to endure a five-day stay in Clemente Clan territory while she decided how to handle an issue with leadership replacement. After all that, she still hadn’t delivered a true verdict, instead promising to apprise all the royals and alphas at her next council meeting.
Which was scheduled to take place roughly six weeks from now.
I supposed that meant I would have to attend.
Ugh. Fucking Chicago. It was so much better before Lilith redecorated the city to suit her vampiric bloodlust.
“Are you even listening to me?” Lilith snapped.
“I’m sorry. You cut out,” I informed her. Technically true, except I’d really just tuned her out. Oops.
“No more killing,” she demanded. “Vampire lives are sacred. Trials are required for offenses, and rehabilitation is used to correct misbehavior. Stop fucking around or I’ll remove you from your temporary role.”
I’d love to see you try, sweetheart, I thought at her. “Of course, Your Highness. Any other edicts you wish to bestow upon me?”
“Yes. Call me daily. I want updates.”
I was about to counter that request when the AI said, “Call disconnected.”
“Bitch,” I muttered, both at the AI and Lilith. I ran my fingers through my hair and blew out a breath. “Fuck.”
I had no intention of listening to Lilith or following her asinine rules. This was my territory now, and there was nothing temporary about it.
A sweet scent tickled my nose, reminding me of Willow’s presence. I inhaled deeply, allowing the perfume to calm my nerves, then glanced down to find her looking up at me.
I frowned. “You should be asleep.” I’d compelled her to dream.
Was I so distracted by Lilith that I released the compulsion? I searched my mind for the link and found it missing. Huh. Well, that’s new.
“How much of that conversation did you hear?” I wondered out loud.
“Enough,” Willow replied, sounding very much awake and not the least bit tired.
I considered her for a long moment. “Do you need food?” I hadn’t fed her since we left the house earlier. Humans usually needed several meals. I’d been caught up in our arrival and had forgotten that fact. Rather than give her a chance to reply, I said, “Come on. We’ll raid the kitchen together.”
I pulled the blankets off of her, indicating it wasn’t a request but a demand.
She slid out of the bed, her exposed legs drawing my gaze.
I’d ripped the lace off her earlier when she was lost in her pleasure state, then re-dressed her in a white shirt from my bag. It hit her midthigh, leaving her delicately exposed beneath the fabric. All I had to do was inch the fabric upward to bare her sweet pussy to my view.
Mmm.
The taste of her still taunted my tongue, and I was eager for another bite.
But first, I needed to feed her.
15
Ryder
Rather than speak, I turned toward the door and led her into the living area