Page 22 of Pride: Kneel Before None

The shadow’s stance stood strong and tall, the presence taking up most of the opening between the buildings. Where the figure’s eyes should have been, two orbs glowed with increasing brightness. My own eyes widened at the sight, equally captivated and terrified. The blazing shade rivaled the hottest hellfire, and even at this distance I could feel the heat prickling along my skin.

Accompanying the frightful sight, a growl rumbled straight from the shadowy man’s chest like it was drawn straight from the innermost circles of Hell. He didn’t make a move toward us. Rather, he remained where he was while radiating energy that screamed fuck around and find out.

Like a crack of thunder, his deep voice cut through the air. “She’s mine.”

The sound paralyzed me. Even my frantic heartbeat halted. Recognition straightened me where I stood, drawing my shoulders back, and the biggest grin spread across my face.

Despite the power that echoed off the words, I knew that voice.

Taking advantage of the unforeseen interruption from my Knight, I twisted my arms free from both frick and frack while their mouths were left hanging agape like fish out of water.

There was no hiding the smug purr in my voice now.

“You heard him, boys. I’m his.” At least until I got myself out of this shitty situation. Then I would set things straight with Ace.

Possessive fucking bastard.

CHAPTER 8

Sitting in my office one floor above the casino level, I drummed my fingers across the glossy black desk. My eyes remained on the two wide set monitors before me displaying a grid of camera feeds. The black and white images showed me the inside of my living room and outside the front door of my penthouse.

I watched Eve wander around, scoping out our place. Intentionally, I had left the door unlocked to see if she would immediately flee. There was no reason for my Little Spade to run from me, but I needed to know how much of an eye I needed to keep on her—a test of trust, if you would.

My phone, currently on speaker, rested on my desk as I waited patiently for my best friend to pick up my call.

“Caz, you lazy fuck,” I muttered right before his voice greeted me.

“You have reached His Royal Highness, Casimir. Speak,” he stated with a lofty and absurdly regal tone.

He should have added ‘Ultimate Lord of Laziness’ to his title. Rolling my eyes at his pomp and circumstance, I leaned back in my chair. “I’m impressed you answered the call yourself. It must have taken such a great effort on your part. You didn’t pull a muscle, did you?”

He sighed with an overdramatic flair. “You have no idea. Lily keeps insisting I do things myself.”

Good for her. She’s been the best thing for Caz since…well, ever. I’ve never seen the man work so hard in his life, which wasn’t saying much if you had ever met the bastard.

“Glad it’s not just me harping on you anymore.” I shifted in my seat to lean forward. “Look, I have a few things I want to run by you.”

I tapped a few keys on my keyboard and brought up the video feed of the vampire from the tournament earlier tonight. He currently paced within a cell located in Sevenfold’s basement. Supernatural warding prevented him from getting too close to the bars without extreme and debilitating pain.

“Mmm, hit me,” Caz purred into the phone, actually purring like a house cat.

I groaned. “Jesus fuck, Caz. What the hell is wrong with you?”

“Oh, sorry. Lily was doing this thing where she⁠—”

“Focus! Damn, dude.” I shook my head and continued on my original train of thought. “You ever have a vamp in your club by the name of Percy Corliss? He came rolling in here tonight, causing trouble with my Little Spade. I’m looking to figure out how much punishment he deserves.”

“Wait,” Caz’s voice perked up with interest as he interrupted me from speaking further. “Your Little Spade? You finally fucking found her, man? Halle-fucking-lujah! I hope you fucked her on the spot so I can stop hearing about how much your balls hurt all the time.”

Grunting at the reminder of how they still ached, my hand fell to the front of my pants and adjusted myself again. My eyes fell on the video where Eve admired the room I had put together just for her, and my hand squeezed the semi-hard outline of my cock before I forced myself to withdraw.

“You did fuck her, right?” He cut right to the chase.

“Not yet.” Not for lack of desire, that was for damn sure.

“What the hell, Ace! Are you just trying to see if your dick is going to fall off? What’s the damn problem? It turn out she’s ugly or some shit? Ow!”

I heard Lily in the background scolding him. He was getting off easy; I would have thrown a punch straight to his pretty boy face.