her mind caught between a state of euphoria and pain. But my kiss eased her back into our reality, my blood calming and curing her.
Willow’s breathing began to even out, her heartbeat slowing to a more reasonable pace, and when I opened my eyes, I found her watching me with an expression I couldn’t read. Rather than ask her what it meant, I opted to tell her what was on my mind.
“You’ve just initiated a dangerous game,” I informed her softly. “Because now I want to know everything the university taught you, and more.” I nuzzled her nose. “So I hope you’re prepared, sweet Willow. You’ve awoken my inner beast, and it’s going to take a lot to sate him.”
If that’s even possible, I thought, enthralled once more by the beauty beneath me.
However, one thing was astutely clear to me—Willow was my new outlet. She’d provide the escape I would so desperately need during this transition period. And afterward, I might just honor her with a new way of life.
“Get some sleep, pet,” I whispered, brushing my lips against hers. “You’re going to need it.”
18
Ryder
Two weeks of meetings had me reconsidering all this royal bullshit.
Yavi—one of Silvano’s pet sovereigns—sat across from me, droning on and on about his human shortage up in Mexico. He wanted permission to purchase more mortals for breeding. It was a ludicrous request with about a dozen flaws.
“Breeding,” I repeated. “So do you have all the necessary lodging requirements and supplies in place to raise humans for eighteen or nineteen years each?”
“Well, no. But there’s a sufficient market for infant blood, as well as that of small children. So the eighteen-year span isn’t required.”
Damien arched a brow from the corner of my new office—I’d destroyed Silvano’s space—and waited for my impending reaction. Only, Yavi wasn’t done, his lack of awareness marking him as an insufficient leader in my book.
“If I bleed the lot I currently have, I can create available space for breeding. But I’ll need at least three hundred females and maybe a dozen males to make it work.” His beady black eyes met mine. “Some of the women won’t make it to birth, but I’ve accounted for that in my request. There are also drugs that encourage twin or triplet litters, so I’d be requesting that as well.”
“So you can breed an army of humans to bleed dry,” I summarized.
“Exactly,” he said, sounding as though he was relieved that I understood his request.
I looked at Damien. “When’s my next call with Lilith?”
“In about two hours,” he drawled.
I nodded, considering my options. Meanwhile, Yavi radiated excitement. He thought I meant to talk to Lilith about the resources. Imbecile.
“You mentioned a popularity for infant and child blood. I assume that means you have clients requesting this service?” I asked.
“I do.”
“And do you have a list of those clients?”
He dipped his chin in the affirmative. “They pay top dollar as well. I always gave Silvano ten percent of the proceeds, so I’ll be happy to do the same for you.”
Liar, I thought. I’d already reviewed all of Silvano’s books and knew this sniveling little twit had given Silvano a hell of a lot more than a measly ten percent.
Damien gave me a look, but I gave him a subtle shake of my head. Not yet, I was telling him.
“I need you to share that list with me,” I informed Yavi.
He frowned. “Well, it’s a personal client list, so I would need to—
“No, Yavi,” I interjected. “You misunderstand. I’m telling you to give me the list, not asking.”
“I… It’ll take some time.”
Another lie. I leaned forward with my elbows on the massive oak desk and dropped my laid-back act so he could feel the power beneath my facade. “You’ll do it right now.”
“I don’t have that information with me.”
I nearly growled at the third lie he’d uttered in less than five minutes.
“Careful,” Damien warned, his focus on Yavi. “Ryder can smell untruths from a mile away, and if I can tell you’re full of shit, he definitely knows.”
Yavi gulped. “I… I…”
I cocked an eyebrow. “You what?”
He opened the binder he’d placed on my desk when he entered and began shuffling through papers.
I looked at Damien. “This is the guy on Lilith’s list?” She’d sent over several names of candidates she was considering for the royal position in Silvano Region. I’d reviewed it out of curiosity—mostly so I knew whom to kill if she decided to take her threat any further—but now I was just amused by it.
No one