“You brought an angel.” Darko all but spat the word out.
“I did.” Since he had no intentions of explaining himself to the male, Kaj peered over at Darko’s mate. “You’re looking lovely as always, Talia.”
As was custom, the female curtsied before him.
Unlike Kardobahn, Kaj wasn’t all that keen on the formal customs; however, he’d long ago listened to the wisdom of his elders. If and when the time came for him to rule his race, shucking custom was the equivalent of making all males believe they were equal, when in truth, the race wouldn’t survive if that were the case.
He’d been learning quickly, having been thrust into the role after his father’s demise. Needless to say, these past few months had required patience as he dealt with not only the slaughter of his people but their underhandedness as well.
“How’s Bijou?” Darko asked, motioning Kaj toward seating in the back.
“As well as can be expected,” he answered, taking a seat and ensuring his back was to the wall. “I think she still hates me for forcing her to leave Georgia.”
“I can imagine. But she’s safer here. I assume she’s close by.”
The comment seemed out of character for Darko, but Kaj chalked it up to concern. They were all dealing with a wealth of devastation. It made sense they were looking out for one another.
“She’s safe,” Kaj said, watching Darko until the male met his stare. “It’s my understanding you’ve got some rogues in the area.”
Darko’s wide shoulders squared, a defensive move that gave Kaj the answer he was looking for.
“We’ve gotten word of a few, yes. However, they’re being taken care of.”
“In what manner?” Kaj glanced around the club, his senses scanning vampire and human alike.
“As of right now, they’re being held on charges of treason.”
Kaj’s eyes narrowed, once again settling on the vampire. “Held where?”
“There’s a reason this place was dubbed the Dungeon. We’ve got a handful of cells belowground.”
Which explained the additional sounds he hadn’t been able to place.
“And who’s seeing to them in the meantime?”
“I’ve got males rotating in and out, twenty-four seven. I assure you, they’re safer here than they are out there.”
“How do you figure?”
“You’re not the only one who takes offense to traitors,phaal.”
Kaj would hope not.
“But I hope you aren’t here only on business,” Darko continued. “Be a waste to ignore the pleasures laid out before you.”
There was only one pleasure Kaj had any interest in. For the past eighteen months, he’d refrained from taking a female—human or vampire. Of course, feeding was a different sort of beast. It wasn’t as though he could ignore the biological function that kept him alive.
“Perhaps I could find someone who pleases you,” Darko offered, motioning a human female over.
Kaj shook his head. “Absolutely not.” He pinned the male with a stare. “If you knew anything about me, you’d know I don’t partake of humans.”
“My apologies,” the male said quickly. And while his words were apologetic, the gleam in his eye was not.
Not that Kaj was surprised by the blatant disrespect. He’d encountered plenty from the males of his race in recent months. As with any aristocracy, there were those who resented the families who’d held power through the centuries. Being that Kaj was Kardobahn’s oldest son, he’d been the heir to the throne, so to speak. And now that he was stepping into his role as Alpha, there were plenty who would prefer to see him in the ground like his father.
Fortunately for them all, Kaj had no intention of being overtaken anytime soon. Not by death and certainly not by some misguided vampire.
Because it went along with the wholesocial thing, Orianna had never been big on parties.
