The Blood King by Calle J. Brookes, BG Lashbrooks Page B

allowed them to feed without interference, though the human was aware the whole time, unable to fight or move. Green eyes followed him as he circled her where she stood, inert. Terrified.
He inspected his small instrument of vengeance, fingers trailing over the dove gray suit she wore. He knew which one this was. This was the heir, the one his sources told him would replace old Leo Taniss himself. This was Emily.
He stroked one finger down the side of her delicate, feminine face, lingering a moment on her lips, before trailing to her neck. He'd always been partial to feminine necks. Hers seemed so frail beneath his palm.
“You will be quite a delicacy, my little dove. Pity you won’t live long. You were Taniss’s heir, but not now.”
He lifted her into his arms, tucking her floral-scented head beneath his chin. She weighed very little. At any other time, a Dardaptoan Rydere’s size wouldn’t look twice at a human such as she. She wasn’t even snack sized.
He was the first back to the hotel that served as his home. The hotel housed twelve hundred of his kind; an additional thirteen thousand lived in the area surrounding the hotel. Rydere’s suites were on the bottom floor, and it was there he headed.
He carried his captive into his sitting room and placed her on the couch, more gently than he had intended. Her eyes were wide and frightened, young. Her flesh was chilled and he frowned before grabbing a blanket and covering her while he studied her in silence. Cormac arrived carrying a bound blonde woman and leading a dog. He dropped the blonde on the couch.
“Find a new pet?” Rydere studied the woman as she struggled. They shared the same eyes, his little captive and this woman. Leo Taniss’s eyes. Damn them.
“Present for Aodhan’s wolf. She’s in heat and seems to be a smart dog. Figured Aodhan might want to breed them. I’d like a pup or two.”
Rydere nodded. “Aodhan and Theo?”
“Already in their suites. Aodhan had a bit of trouble. His prey was a bit of a fighter.” The darker man touched his face where Rydere could see several fresh scratches. “Seems to be a family trait. You have any trouble?”
He waved a hand toward Emily. Rage filled Rydere when the other man’s hand grabbed her chin, when the other man pulled her face toward him. “Ahh, you’re too compassionate, Ry. You’ve mind-numbed her.”
“Why didn’t you numb yours?” Rydere knew what they were to do was necessary, but was there any reason to keep the women so terrified? It was almost cruel...it was cruel the way they were toying with them. Shame hit him but he shook it off. Cruelty was war, and war was cruelty. He’d learned that long ago. Both sides would host sacrifices.
“Where’s the fun in that? Besides, damned woman is deaf. She couldn’t hear me issue the command.” Cormac tilted his blonde’s chin up and she tried pulling away. He smiled and held her still. “Pretty thing, isn’t she? Scared and pissed, too. As is yours. Only they’re now more terrified for the other than themselves. Both of them are. Admirable. Pity.”
Cormac could read the minds of animals and humans and some Dardaptoans. That trait suddenly angered Rydere—he wasn’t sure he wanted Cormac knowing what his Emily was thinking. Fearing. Rydere nodded toward the blonde woman. “I suggest you adjourn. I’ve a desire for privacy while I eat this evening.”
“Why don’t you let her say goodbye to her cousin here? Might prove interesting, since they are so concerned with each other’s welfare.”
Tears were in green eyes as Rydere looked at both women. The one, Cormac’s blonde, could not understand the language they used; her deafness prevented that. But the heir could hear them. Which would be worse? “No. I’ll keep her as she is. It’s less cruel that way.”
“Compassion for the enemy? How many battles have you fought in again?”
Rydere knew they both remembered the fights at each other’s sides. They numbered too many to count.