Rebel Bitten (Blood Alliance Book 4)

by Lexi C. Foss

  “Which question would you like me to address first?” I asked her, my lips twitching in amusement. Not only had Damien waited to get to the point, but he’d also stalled a bit before calling me.

  Good man, I thought. Not that he could hear me. My immortality gave him eternal life, not telepathy.

  “I want you to start by explaining what happened tonight. I’ve received a report of more than a dozen unsanctioned vampire deaths.”

  “Unsanctioned?” I repeated, scratching my jaw. “That can’t be right, as I’m pretty sure I sanctioned them all.”

  “Ryder.”

  “Yes? Am I cutting out?” I asked, looking at the screen. “This AI isn’t working for me. Perhaps I should call you back later from a better line?”

  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 just off the bedroom, then to the kitchen and dining table beyond. It wasn’t a large suite, but it worked as a temporary residence. There was even a balcony outside that overlooked the city. Not that I cared enough to catch the view, but Willow might enjoy it.

  I rummaged through the pantry and fridge and found it mostly stocked in blood. No human food.

  Because of course they wouldn’t consider mortals in their preparation of a suite.

  I tapped the screen on the fridge and grumbled when it revealed a similar layout to the one above the nightstand. Selecting the Activate button brought about the same response. After she finished her greeting, I said, “I want food.”

  “Please say what food you desire.”

  I arched a brow at the screen. “I want two filet mignons, a bowl of mashed potatoes, extra butter, and some plain green beans.” I hadn’t enjoyed a meal like that in ages; why not ask for the whole shebang?

  “When would you like it delivered?” the AI asked.

  “Now.”

  “Order submitted. Is there anything else I can help you with?”

  “Yeah, I want you to add vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, sprinkles, and whipped cream to the order.”

  “When would you like that delivered?”

  “Now,” I repeated.

  “Order submitted. Is there anything else I can help you with?”

  “You could vary your statements,” I suggested. “Repetition is boring.”

  “I’m sorry. You could vary your—”

  I hit the Deactivate button before she could repeat all my words back to me. “Fucking AI.”

  A strange sound came from Willow, causing me to look at her. She had her hand over her mouth, her eyes wide.

  “Did you just… giggle?” I asked her.

  She started shaking her head vigorously.

  “Why are you lying?” I demanded. “You giggled.” And it was a sweet little sound. I kind of wanted to make her do it again.

  She just kept staring at me with that deer-in-the-headlights look.

  “Do you think I’m going to punish you for showing amusement at my expense?” I asked her.

  No reply.

  “I’m not sure what’s more irritating: your silence or the AI’s inability to carry on a normal conversation.” I palmed the back of my neck and sighed loudly. “We’re alone here, Willow. What are my rules?”

  She visibly swallowed, her hand slowly falling from her mouth. “No rules,” she whispered.

  “Right. So if you want to giggle, then fucking do it.”

  “Okay.” Her tone indicated it wasn’t “okay�
�� at all, but I let it slide.

  We stared at each other for a long moment, her blue eyes firing with a thousand questions. “Ask me,” I dared her. “What do you want to know?”

  Her lips parted, then closed, and then parted again. “I…” She cleared her throat. “That was the Goddess on the phone, yes?”

  I snorted. “Lilith. Yeah. Not a Goddess, though. She’s just a vampire, and a young one at that.”

  Willow frowned. “Young?”

  “Compared to me and a few others, yeah. Why? How old does she claim to be in this world?”

  “She’s ageless,” Willow said. “And revered.”

  “By humans, yes. Not by my kind. She’s just a vampire with a penchant for power.” I folded my arms on the island and leaned against it while Willow stood on the other side. “I’m nearly five thousand years old. Lilith is maybe twenty-five hundred? I think a little less. She’s powerful, but not an almighty being.”

  Willow gaped at me. “You’re almost five thousand years old?”

  I lifted a shoulder. “I’ve been around awhile.”

  “And you’re a temporary royal?” Confusion marred her brow. “Are you not old enough to be official?”

  I snorted. “I’m one of the oldest vampires in existence, pet. Only Kylan and Cam are older than me. And there’s nothing temporary about my title. Lilith seems to think this is a trial run, but I outrank her in power and age. She can kiss my fine ass, as far as I’m concerned.” Issuing those fucking edicts. As though I’d ever listen to her.

  “Cam…” Something flickered in her blue eyes. “He challenged the Goddess and died.”

  “Is that the story she’s created for the young minds of this generation?” I asked, amused. “How wrong she is. Cam is very much alive.”

  “There was a public execution.” Willow blinked as though picturing the image behind her eyes. “I’ve seen it in history books.”

  “Photos can be deceiving, as can stories.” I pushed away from the counter, my dress shirt suddenly feeling a little tight.

  I hadn’t changed out of my clothes when I put Willow to bed, mostly because I preferred to sleep naked and hadn’t decided where I would stay tonight. The couch didn’t appear all that inviting, and I definitely wasn’t making a bed on the floor.

  Without saying a word to Willow, I left her in the kitchen while I went to the bedroom to change into something more comfortable—sleep pants. No shoes, socks, or shirt. Much better.

  I found her sitting at the counter when I returned, her eyes going to my inked arm before trailing over the rest of me. She’d studied my tattoos during our sparring lessons, too, but never asked me about them.

  “They’re tribal designs from my human years,” I told her now, feeling the need to share. They were nothing like the ones mortals had painted their bodies with in the last few centuries before the revolution. For one, I had no color, just black ink. And the symbols could only be read by the oldest of my kind.

  Willow traced the art with her eyes as I stopped to stand beside her. “Did it hurt?”

  “If it did, I don’t remember.” Mortal memories came and went, their histories so old I rarely ever thought of them.

  Her blue irises flickered up to meet my gaze, a look of awe passing through her features. “We’re taught that royals are lethal, demanding superiors. Not kind, or compassionate. And they obey and adore the Goddess. You’re… not like them.”

  I scoffed at that. “Sweetheart, none of us are like that. Your mind has been filled with bullshit meant to tame you and keep you in line.”

  She said nothing, her gaze incredulous.

  So I opted for a better explanation.

  “Why do you think Vigils are humans?” I asked her.

  “They’re the elite of the mortal class, meant to protect those they serve.”

  “Why?” I pressed. “Why would I need a human to protect me?” I didn’t mean it as a rude inquiry, just a straight one. “I could rip your head off in less than a second. Hell, you saw what I did in that room tonight. So why would I require a human army?”

  She frowned. “I… I don’t know.” At least she was honest.

  “Their primary job is to keep other humans in line,” I informed her. “This world has trained you all to fight against yourselves, thus creating a perfect society of oppression. You’re all taught at a young age to compete against each other for a slim chance at immortality. There’s no unity or loyalty among humans now because that would be a threat to the society Lilith and her cronies created. It’s utter bullshit.”

  I’d probably said too much, but who the fuck cared? I sure as hell didn’t. And what would Lilith do, come in here and demand I put down my pet for providing her with a kernel of truth? Fuck that. I answered to no one, and least of all that bitch who fancied herself superior to me.

  “You’re not what I expected,” Willow finally said.

  “Good. I like being different.” I winked at her, then took the stool beside her. “Maybe next time you’ll believe me when I say I have no intention of sharing you.”

  “You shared me with Damien,” she pointed out.

  “Did I? He only drank from you. I didn’t even allow him a kiss.” I arched a brow. “Is that the sharing you expected?”

  She fell silent for a moment, her expression contemplative. “No. I expected… more.”

  Because the university had taught her to bend over and take whatever her superiors required.

  So boring.

  What didn’t bore me, however, was the curious glint in her pretty eyes.

  “Do you want more, Willow?” My voice had fallen to a lower octave, my hunger rising to the surface.

  “More sharing?” she asked.

  “More in general,” I corrected.

  “With you?”

  “Yes.” I held her gaze.

  “Do I have a choice?” It came out a little saucy on her part, but I allowed it. Inch by inch, I would peel all the programming layers off of her until I found the gem lurking beneath the stone exterior. Because that was what it was—a harsh coating that society applied to all humans, making them boring and lackluster.

  But somehow Willow had cracked just enough to let her light shine.

  And I wanted to see more of it.

  “I haven’t forced you to please me,” I murmured. “Instead, I’ve only offered you pleasure. Perhaps you didn’t have a choice in that, but we both know you enjoyed it.” I dared her with a look to deny it.

  She didn’t.

  “You confuse me,” she said instead.

  “I confuse a lot of people.” It was a character trait of mine that I held in high regard. “Maybe you’ll figure me out someday.”

  “I doubt it.”

  My lips curled. “We’ll see.”

  A comfortable silence fell between us, only to be disturbed minutes later by the sound of a buzzer. “Your food has arrived, sir,” the AI announced.

  “You really do enjoy narrating the obvious, don’t you?”

  “I’m sorry. You really do—”

  I leapt over the counter to reach the refrigerator screen and slammed my finger against the Deactivate button.

  This time, Willow’s giggle registered as a complete sound and she didn’t cover her mouth, but she did try to give me her best straight face when I glanced at her. It made me wonder what she looked like when she smiled.

  I added it to my mental task list of things I wanted to accomplish with her.

  Leaving her in the kitchen, I walked to the door and opened it to find the female server from earlier standing outside with a tray in her hand. “I see Meghan already delivered my message,” I murmured, pleased. I hadn’t expressed the need for her to be the one to serve me during non-dining-hall hours, but I wasn’t going to complain.

  The girl didn’t say anything, just stood there.

  “Do you want to hand the tray to me or come in?” I asked her.

  She blinked as though confused. “I…” The tray began to rattl
e on her palm, her body beginning to shake.

  “Here, give it to me,” I said, reaching for the tray just before her arm gave out. I caught it in time to stabilize it, only then realizing how heavy it was for her frail body to carry up here. She fell to the ground in a bow, apologies running from her lips in rapid formation.

  What. The. Fuck?

  “Come inside. Now,” I demanded, stepping backward with the tray. The poor girl began to crawl, making it the slowest trip over the threshold I’d ever seen. “Walk.”

  She pushed up off the floor, her white uniform stretching across her shoulders as she moved. I caught a red flare, then the hint of iron touched my senses.

  She was bleeding.

  I moved swiftly into the dining area to set the tray on the table. Willow stood waiting by the counter bar that separated the dining room from the kitchen. When she saw the server enter, her cheeks flushed a pretty pink color, and a new scent entered the air, this one primal in nature.

  Territorial, I recognized. Willow didn’t like having another woman in the suite. Interesting.

  I’d address it later.

  Instead, I focused on the server. “Take off your shirt.”

  That scent from Willow grew, distracting me again.

  Definitely jealous, I thought.

  Whatever intrigue I found in that revelation was lost as the server removed her shirt, exposing a series of cuts across her creamy flesh. “Show me your back,” I demanded.

  She caught her lip between her teeth and turned, revealing the abused flesh between her shoulder blades. “Who the hell did this to you? And why?”

  The girl shivered violently. “I… I did not please you and I was punished.”

  “By whom?” I snapped, livid.

  “Madame Meghan,” she whispered. “I’m sorry, My Prince. I promise to be better. I won’t disappoint you again. I—”

  “Stop.” The word came out harsher than I intended and sent the poor girl to the floor again. This was exactly what I despised about this reprogramming. There was no backbone, no fight, just a bunch of mousy mortals bending over backward to appease their masters at the expense of their personalities.