Page 93 of Bitten

A slight smile splayed across his lips as he saw the anger and turmoil bubbling up under Ralnur’s fear. He liked it. He liked that Ralnur was made of stronger stuff.

He reached out to caress Ralnur’s cheek, only to have the warlock pull away from him. He let out a growl of warning just as several guardsmen arrived, UV weapons raised.

Theis was among them, rage in his stare as it settled on Kane.

“Oh, how I’ve waited for this moment,” he murmured, intent on Theis.

“Set your weapons to stun,” the king ordered. “Take him down.”

Kane roared at the pain from the light weapons. His skin felt as if it were on fire… and he felt himself tumbling to the floor. But they didn’t have the impact the guards thought they would.

He took another step closer.

He was hit by another round of UV blasts.

Even on stun, four shots should’ve killed him. He chuckled, absorbing the power. It hurt. It hurt like a sonofabitch… but it didn’t take him down.

Kane took one more step.

Theis grabbed one of the weapons and turned up the dial before pointing it at Kane. Kane smiled at the man. “Hit me with your best shot.”

“No!” Ralnur screamed.

Theis pulled the trigger, hitting him square in the chest.

Kane dropped to his knees… the shot should’ve killed him instantly. It should’ve…

He reached out a hand to Ralnur before the blackness took him.

* * * *

Sex, Lies, and Dungeons…

“Take him to the dungeon. Quickly,” Adriel spat to his guards before turning to Ralnur. He slowly walked closer, giving the guards time to grab Kane’s lifeless body and drag him away.

Ralnur watched Kane’s inert form as they carried him off, shock truly settling in.

Theis looked at the weapon in his hand. “Those shots should’ve stopped him. Why didn’t they stop him?”

Adriel knew the UV weapons were a new addition to the Guard’s arsenal. They needed them to work—the vampire threat was mounting.

“They worked at the nest,” Noah said, taking the one Theis held and looking it over. “Maybe these two need to be tested. The tech is new.”

Ralnur had no care for weapons. He only had one concern. “What happened to Kane? Why’s he like this?”

“You’re not in a position to be asking questions,” the king said, his face a mask of contempt. “You lied to me.”

“I withheld.”

His nephew frowned more deeply. “You’ve known he was the one who’d changed you, haven’t you?”

Ralnur closed his eyes a moment before reopening them and eyeing the king. He shook his head. “Not at first. Not when Theis and the others questioned me after the attack. I couldn’t remember anything—and still have large gaps from my stay in the hospital. It wasn’t until Kane came to see me there did I remember a few pieces.”

“And you said nothing,” Adriel whispered hotly.

“I didn’t know what to say. I was protecting my mate,” Ralnur said. “Kane said he was searching for a way to save me. I wanted to give him time before he ended up imprisoned like me.”

“Varian only committed treason in order to save you. Kane broke Witch Law to save you. How many others will be caught up in this intrigue, uncle? You sit upon your nest of lies, and I wonder if there’s not more to all this.”

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