Page 88 of Royal Bite
Hegna appreciated that her captain was looking at the greater picture, but there were some decisions that Hegna would be the one to gamble on.
“I appreciate your opinion, Captain, but that’s just what the humans need to see. They need to understand that we are still the top of the food chain. We are in control, and there is no one who can take that from us.” Hegna glanced over Nezera’s shoulder at the midnight sky with the trails of smoke drifting across it. “There are going to be times we need to remind the humans of our power. If not, they may take us as weak and may try to rise above us.”
It had been the same for the lycans. No matter how Azura spun it. The lycans thought they were more powerful than the vampires. Their lives had been good. Vampires had treated them well when they’d been slaves. Their alpha had convinced the masses that they were of a higher race and deserved to rule. It was the lycans who’d attacked first, starting the war. Azura had been fed lies by someone. Hegna was convinced of it.
Had the wretched animals stayed in their place, things may have turned out differently.
“Yes, Your Grace. Now I understand your point of view.” Nezera slammed her fist on her chest above her heart.
Hegna jerked her head in a nod and continued walking along with Nezera. They had requisitioned a storefront and used it as a command center in the midst of town. Her warriors were swarming the town. There was no way that a lycan could get past them. It would be a death sentence if they did.
Nezera jogged a few steps ahead of Hegna and held the door open for her. Hegna stalked inside, thankful for the warmth that greeted her. Vampires may be powerful beings, but they had to submit to the weather just as any other creature walking the earth.
At one point, this particular space had been used as a restaurant. Old tables and chairs remained strewn around. Nezera had brought in some of their communication and computers, where they would have access to outside the town. Some of her warriors were working and showed their respect to her as the passed them.
“The new prisoner is downstairs,” Nezera reported. “And our informant is in the back room. Who would you like to see first?”
“The prisoner,” Hegna replied automatically.
She and Nezera cut through the kitchen that appeared as if the place was just closed for the night. It had been cleaned, and everything was still in place. The lycans must have struck during the middle of the night. Had they attacked the humans during the day or evening, this kitchen would not be this clean.
They arrived at a stairwell near the back entry where the shipping dock was located. They were greeted by a warrior standing at the bottom of the stairs. He pounded his fist on his chest when she passed. The basement was open with storage along the wall and a few refrigerators and freezers lining it. It was damp, cool, with little light. There was a lightbulb hanging from the ceiling above the prisoner.
There were five vampires standing with their guns loaded with argentite bullets pointed at a large lycan kneeling on the floor. He was in his human form. Dark hair hung in tangled strands, brushing his muscular bare shoulders. Dirty jeans covered the lower half of his body. His wrists were held together by silver handcuffs that were chained to the collar around his neck. If he were to shift, the collar would inject a lethal dose of argentite liquid directly into his bloodstream.
Hegna stopped in front of him. His amber eyes rose and met Hegna’s. He appeared familiar to her, but at the moment she couldn’t place him. Hegna slid her cloak off her shoulders and handed it off to one of the warriors. She stepped closer to the prisoner, and he tilted his head back.
“Hegna Riskel,” his deep voice rumbled. A smirk appeared on his lips.
“You will greet the princess with respect,” the warrior directly behind the lycan snapped.
The five of them raised their weapons higher, waiting for Hegna to give the command.
“My apologies.” The lycan chuckled. His smile disappeared, and his amber eyes darkened. “But she is not who I bow down to.”
“Where is your alpha?” Hegna rested a hand on the hilt of her dagger. She didn’t have time for games. If he wasn’t going to tell her what she wanted to hear, then he would die.
“Even if I knew, I wouldn’t tell you.”
Hegna closed the gap between them and grabbed him by his face. Her grip was punishing as she glared into his eyes. His body vibrated from the growl echoing through his chest. He narrowed his gaze on her. She felt his fangs elongating underneath her fingertips.
“There is more than one way for me to gather information from you,” she said. Hegna’s fangs pushed through her gums, descending. Blood was the key to everything. Not only was it life for her kind, but information was able to be obtained from it.
“I don’t know anything. I’m just a soldier.” His words were muffled due to her grip on his face. From the size of him, he was more than what he let on. Lycans who were bitten and turned didn’t get to his size. They were learning that the true-born lycans were much larger. Maybe it was due to evolution or genetics or breeding.
It didn’t matter.
Vampires would still prevail.
“Then you won’t mind if I have a little taste.” Hegna signaled to her men and stepped back.
They all came and converged on the lycan.
“I said I don’t know anything!” he shouted.
He fought against them, but her men were able to bring him to his feet. His chest rose and fell rapidly. Hatred was evident in his eyes, but Hegna couldn’t care less. She would take what she needed from him and be done with him. The lycan would give her all the answers.
Compulsion would not work on him. He was strong and put up a valiant fight until her men were able to pull his arms away from his body and keep them outstretched for her. She was going to have to move fast. He wasn’t going to tolerate her biting him for long.
