Last Blood

stalking her like she was a snack. Poor Chrysabelle. After everything she’d endured, now this? Fi resolved right then to stick with her and be there for whatever Chrysabelle might need. Besides, what good was being the pride leader’s mate if she couldn’t help a friend?

She sighed with the realization that Chrysabelle’s secret was now her secret too. How was she going to keep it from Doc? That was going to be tough. She told Doc every—she smacked into a hard, warm body. A step back and she looked up into the eyes of…

Remo.

He grinned at her. “Hello, Fiona.”

Barely controlling the urge to shiver, she looked behind her, but her driver had already disappeared and apparently her bodyguard had gone with him. She forced a smile to cover her nerves. “Sorry for running into you. I have a lot on my mind and I wasn’t paying attention.” She started to move around him. “Good night.”

He stepped into her path. “What’s got you so flustered?”

“Nothing. I’m fine.” She made the smile bigger, causing her cheeks to ache. “If you’ll excuse me.”

He didn’t move. “We should get to know each other better, you and I.” He shifted slightly and somehow ended up blocking her path even more. “I had hoped to do that at the welcome dinner last night, but I barely saw you.” A shimmer of gold slipped through his eyes. “Anyone else might think you were avoiding them, but I know you wouldn’t do that.”

“Of course not,” she answered weakly. The fake smile was pointless now. “I was just so busy with the other guests.” Where was Doc when she needed him? Her hand went to her necklace, hidden beneath the vintage rock band T-shirt she’d worn to Chrysabelle’s. At least she didn’t still have the gi on. Remo would know something was up then.

His gaze dropped to her shirt, scruffy jeans, and combat boots. “You looked so beautiful last night. I didn’t expect to see you dressed like…”

“Like what?” His criticism irked her and she decided to let it show. She crossed her arms, waiting for his answer.

“Like a street urchin.”

“Let me guess. Your sister would have never dressed like this and you don’t think it’s becoming for the wife of the pride leader to be seen—”

“Wait a minute. I never said any of that.” His face colored. Almost like he was embarrassed.

“No, but you were thinking it.”

His brow furrowed. “No, I wasn’t. I was thinking how nice that you do not feel so confined by the role of pride leader’s mate that you’ve lost yourself to it.”

Her jaw went slack. “That’s what you were thinking?”

“Is that so strange?” He threw his hands up and strode away. “Go about your business. I see what you think of me. What you all think of me.”

Against her better judgment, she called after him. “Wait.”

He stopped.

“I know it must be hard for you to be here, not knowing anyone, still mourning your sister, and I haven’t been very friendly. I’m sorry.”

He turned around.

“Maybe we could start over?”

“I would like that.” He smiled and nodded, then sadness took his smile away. “Heaven would have never reacted that way. You are much better suited to this position than she. She was my sister, but even I admit she was too spoiled and self-centered to be the kind of partner a pride leader needs.”

Amazed at his confession, Fi saw him with new eyes. He must feel like no one wanted him here. Like a complete outsider. Kind of the way she’d felt right after Doc had killed Sinjin and they’d found out that pride law stated Sinjin’s wife was now Doc’s. The spoils of war and all that. The general vibe from the rest of the pride hadn’t exactly made her feel welcome. She still got a few stink eyes now and then. “Thank you for that.”

He hesitated, then pointed toward the door. “I was headed out to get a drink. Bar Nine isn’t really where I want to hang out at the moment. Do you want to come with me?”

“Where to?”

He laughed. “I actually don’t know. I just thought I’d walk until I came to a place.”

“How about the VIP section of Bar Nine? If the rest of the pride sees we can get along, maybe they’ll get the idea that they should too.”

“You’d do that for me?”

“Sure.” Also, she had no intention of going anywhere outside headquarters with him alone. She might understand where he was coming from, but that didn’t mean she’d lost her common sense. Doc could be very jealous when he chose to be and there was no point in starting unnecessary rumors. Or chancing it with Remo. This whole poor-me thing could be just an act. “Just give me a few minutes to run upstairs and change.”

“Excellent. I’ll meet you at the bar.”

She nodded. “Back-corner booth. It’s reserved for me. Tell them I said it was okay.”

He stepped aside and as she started past, she caught an odd gleam in his eyes through her peripheral vision. She whipped her head around to look closer, but the expression was gone.

“Something else?” he asked.

“No.” Nothing she could pinpoint. Other than the feeling she might be getting played.

Chrysabelle entered Dominic’s office behind Mortalis, who’d set up the appointment for her. The anathema vampire sat behind his desk, but stood as she walked in. She nodded at him. “Thank you for seeing me on such short notice.”

“Cara mia, per favore, you know you are like family to me.” He came out from behind his desk and approached her with his arms out, but stopped a few feet away and wrinkled his nose. “You are wearing your body armor, are you not?”

“Yes, I am. Sorry, I know this much silver and holy magic so close to you must be very irritating.”

Mortalis spoke up. “I told her to wear it whenever she leaves the house. We have good reason to think Mal is… after her.”

Chrysabelle sighed. “He was watching me last night. The alarm in the house next door was tripped and when the police showed up, they found a dead deer on the property, throat torn out, blood drained.” Just retelling it set her on edge.

Dominic’s brows shot up and he mumbled something in Italian. He snapped his fingers and a lean, dark figure emerged from the sitting area at the far end of the room. “Luciano, you want to make things right with me? You will go to Chrysabelle’s house and protect her. This is what you do, no? So do it.”

Chrysabelle held her hand up. “No, please, I don’t need that.” She sat in the closest chair, her head swimming a little with the number of thoughts running through it. At least her morning sickness had really only hit her during the day. So far this evening, her body seemed fairly normal. She looked at the new vampire. “You’re Dominic’s nephew?” Then back at Dominic. “I have Velimai. I really don’t need anyone else at my house protecting me.”

“It’s a good idea,” Mortalis said. “Luciano is Paole. Mal wouldn’t be able to detect him.”

“He’s also caedo,” Dominic added with an edge of anger Chrysabelle didn’t understand.

Luciano threw his hands up. “Zio!”

“Great,” Chrysabelle muttered. “A vampire assassin. Just what I need.” She rubbed her temples before speaking to Dominic again. “I’m still missing a piece of the puzzle, though, aren’t I? You’re angry at Luciano for something? What does he need to make right with you? If he’s going to be at my home, on my property, I need to know the whole story.”

Dominic went back behind his desk and sat. He crossed his legs and took a long, hard look at Luciano. “This one thought he was doing me a favor.”

Luciano rolled his eyes skyward. “I meant no harm, zio. I swear it.”

Dominic lifted a hand to silence him. “This one…” He shook his head as he turned his attention to Chrysabelle again. “Took it upon himself to help me. How? By giving the mayor what she wanted.”