Page 27 of Bitten

Chapter Five

Two days later…

After another brutal day of training, Kane pulled the enchanted armor from his shoulders and then rolled them. Even though the metal was lighter than air, there was still a constraint he hadn’t gotten accustomed to yet. In time, he would—the others had assured him of it, but Kane had his doubts. He placed his armor onto the hooks of his dressing space and watched as one of the young men who worked as squires of sorts came over to assist him with the lower half.

He also wasn’t accustomed to that. A dresser? Kane much preferred to be left alone. Here, he would have none of that.

“You’ve done well this week.”

Kane cast a glance to the side and saw Theis hanging near. Kane wasn’t doing his job in search of adulation, but he needed to be civil. “Thank you.”

“Do you think you’re ready for an assignment?”

Kane frowned. “Assignment?”

“I have a guard duty I need filled. Last minute.”

“Noah promised I would remain on the taskforce. That’s the only assignment I’m on.”

“We all share responsibilities here,” Theis said, lifting his chin. “You’re a part of a team. You don’t pick and choose your duties.”

Kane turned to face Theis. “I didn’t want to be a King’s Guardsman. Noah came to me and asked most persuasively—promising I would remain on the taskforce. I’ve already taken precious time away with this training. And with that foolish ball that the king left within a matter of hours.”

Theis narrowed his eyes. “You don’t have to be here if you don’t want. We don’t beg. We’re an elite force. Thousands of men have devoted their lives to the guard and all it holds dear. Thousands more have attempted to reach the status you now mock. If you’re not willing to become part of a team, then perhaps you should go.”

“A team? Of babysitters, perhaps,” Kane said, knowing he should’ve kept his fool mouth shut. But after spending the first half of his life quiet—accepting verbal and physical abuse—he struggled with figures of authority, especially those who openly seemed to dislike him. Noah was likely the only boss he’d ever had who hadn’t flipped a switch within him.

But Noah had never thought him less than because he was part vampire.

When Theis eyed him, he could see the distrust as easily as the nose on the shifter’s face.

Kane looked down to see how the work came along on his armor and noted the squire’s head popped up and mouth dropped open. His hands were moving. Kane glared and the young man went back to his work. Kane looked back up at Theis and raised a brow, unapologetic.

“If you think that’s all we do, you’re sadly mistaken.”

Kane clenched his jaw, reminding himself that he’d made a promise to Noah—and the king was Noah’s to protect. A king whose fall could mean the vampires would win the city. That was why he was here. Theis be damned. “What’s the assignment?”

Theis was silent a moment, but Kane could sense the shifter’s desire to speak. Kane could imagine all the things going through Theis’ head.

Eventually, he did. “We have a researcher—at the Library of Midnight. I need you to offer him protection.”

Kane frowned again. “A bookworm? What does he need protection from?”

Theis glared. “I gave you a duty. One you will either do without fail, or you may leave now.”

Kane glared right back, the desire to walk out paramount. He had to respect how Theis stood his ground, unwavering—and unafraid. Kane knew he was stronger than the panda shifter, but he’d also seen how tenacious a fighter Theis could be. He didn’t give in. Or give up. After swallowing a bit of pride, Kane released a breath. “A duty I will do without fail.”

A tiny corner of Theis’ mouth turned up, almost imperceptibly. “Our researcher got himself into trouble with a dangerous crowd and gave up some information—a price might’ve been placed on his head because of it. We need him—he’s looking for the source of Ralnur’s transition.”

At the name Ralnur, Kane stiffened. “Are there any new leads?”

Theis shook his head, narrowing his eyes a little. “Why does it concern you?” Theis smiled wickedly. “You have your own investigation you’re focused on, no?”

“I was the one who found Ralnur. Carried him to the healers. I know how bad his condition was.” Kane eyed Noah. “And given that he was found inside the nest we raided—I’d say the two intersect.”

Theis was quiet a moment before proceeding. “The strain of his virus is different than the one given him by the vampires who held him in that nest. An unknown strain of the vampire virus, it seems. It was most likely introduced into his system after he’d arrived at the hospital. We’ve interviewed every healer and nurse who has come into contact with him and are fairly certain they were not involved. We’ve had Solomon sitting in with the interviews, and he’s found nothing.Video surveillance shows… something… a barely visible outline of a man.”

“A vampire?” Kane offered, knowing full well who it was.

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