Page 118 of Death Game: Supernatural Battle

And sure, lack of experience too.

I was going up against people who had playedIngeniumfor one hundred and fifty years. They’d had two human lifespanslivingthe rules of the game. By now, the complexities of this battle were second nature to them. Meanwhile, thus far, I’d had a crash course that barely skimmed the surface.

The door opened.

I didn’t budge my eyes from the chapter on the end cascade. “Fred, I may need you to take over estate tasks again for a few weeks. It’s piling up.”

Fred didn’t answer.

I blinked at the sudden thudding of my heart and jerked my head up.

Kyros entered the office, shutting the door before stalking around the room. His gaze darted to the book in my hands.

Shit.

Recovering from my shock, I set the manual on the low table without a word, face down in case he didn’t managed to catch the title.

“A bit of light reading?” he purred.

Yep, totally saw it.

“Kyros,” I greeted.

I crossed the room and turned on the noise-cancelling.

He froze, no doubt feeling the pop in his ears and the loss of one of his biggest senses.

“More secrets,” he muttered.

I ignored the comment, checking my phone.

11:00 a.m.

He strode behind my desk, scanning the contents there before reading the computer screen.

“You about done?” I said, folding my arms.

The vampire didn’t answer, completing his circle around the room. The act was an almost exact replica of King Julius when he entered Kyros’s home for the first time. With the king, I’d seen it as a protective thing.

With Kyros, I got the vibe I was on trial.

He stopped by the low table and turned the two books over, reading the titles.

I waited for him to demand answers. When he didn’t, I couldn’t resist saying, “You know I won’t rest until I find a solution to this.”

Despite the menacing entrance, a quick check told me much of his bitterness was gone. Instead, the bone-deep weariness was in the driver’s seat once more. Then again, would I sleep if nine of my family members could be dead in six days?

Ten, I corrected myself, recalling Kearra.

“You expect to find an answer in a handful of days, three of which you’ll spend in a thrall?” His green eyes bore into mine.

He was so angry at me. So disappointed and heartsick.

A perverse part of me didn’t care because my vampire was standing before me. Mymate.Maybe for tonight, he could pretend I hadn’t signed his family’s death warrants, and I could pretend he’d forgiven me.

I lowered my arms. “You’re here for the sixth exchange?”

“Why else would I be here?”

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