“In exchange for your help with one small matter, I promise to leave your precious comarre alone.”
He laughed, his body language calming a little. “Why should I care what happens to her?”
Tatiana raised her brows. This was new and different. “So you don’t then?”
“No. I’m done with her.” He leaned in until his body pinned hers to the wall and all she could focus on was his face. And the hard length of his body against hers. Old, human memories surfaced. She swatted them down and tried to focus on what he was saying. “But she’s my prize to take, understand?”
“Completely.” Not at all actually, but she nodded anyway, her chin bumping his hand. So he was done with the comarre but she was still off-limits? Curious, but an opening was an opening. Tatiana slipped her hand up to cup his face. Hades help her, but she still found him attractive. Maybe more so now that she knew he wasn’t smitten with the comarre. “Malkolm, we used to be so good together. We could be that way again. Help me and I’ll restore your noble status. You can return to Corvinestri with me. Rule as my Elder. You’ll never want for anything again. Power, money, blood, as much as you want whenever you want it.”
A long moment passed. He dropped her to the ground and stepped back, his eyes narrowing as he assessed her. “What exactly do you want from me?”
She reached up to rub her throat but stopped before she showed weakness, resting her hands on her locket instead. “It’s about the child whom you and the comarre came to take from me.”
A flicker of silver crossed his gaze then disappeared. “What about it?”
“She. As you know the ancients took her from me.”
“And you want me to get her back.”
“Not exactly.” She dropped her hands from the locket, settling one on the dagger at her waist. “I want you to kill her.”
Chapter Sixteen
The
Behind him, the sounds of her touching down barely registered. She squatted next to him, her wings now tucked away. “We have a problem.”
Creek nodded. “You have no idea.” He tipped his head toward the crime scene below. “Two murders in two days. And both pointing hard at a vampire killer.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about.”
He looked at her. “What’s up?”
The strobing blue police lights reflected off her protective shades. “Tatiana’s headed here. Might already be here. Our intelligence gathering has become a little more difficult with Octavian out of the picture.”
“Damn.” Chrysabelle would need to know that. He wondered what Annika would do with Chrysabelle’s news about Mal. Not that he was going to share that. He liked Annika, probably more than he should, and he’d even come to trust her as much as anyone could trust a KM sector chief, but therein lay the issue. She was still Kubai Mata and he was still trying not to be.
“Exactly. This could get ugly. We don’t know her intent, but it’s not hard to guess she’s here to exact some kind of revenge on the comarre. I’m sure Tatiana blames her for what went down at the Dominus ball.”
“Which we sent her to. Look, about Chrysabelle…” He hesitated, almost afraid to stir the pot further. “What’s the KM’s stance on her since she didn’t bring the baby back?” They’d threatened to strip the gold from the ring of sorrows out of her skin if she failed on that mission, which she had.
“With Tatiana in town, we’re going to let things ride.” His shock must have registered on his face more than he realized since Annika continued. “Trust me, the KM aren’t going soft, but the grand masters believe the ring’s power might give the comarre the edge she needs to take Tatiana out once and for all.”
“And if it doesn’t?”
Annika stared into the street below. “You’re assuming she’ll live through a fight with Tatiana.”
“She’s done it before.”
“She’s had the vampire with her.” Annika faced him again. “But we both know that situation’s changed, don’t we?”
He played dumb, something he hated to do, especially with his sector chief. “What do you mean?”
“We know he’s still alive and we know something’s changed between them. That’s all I can say.” Then she dipped her head toward the County Coroner’s truck that had just arrived on the street. “Who do you think is responsible for these murders?”
“Not Mal.”
She raised one brow over the rim of her sunglasses. “It wouldn’t take much to return him to his previous state. Especially if he and the comarre have parted ways.”
“They haven’t. I just spoke to her and that’s not the case.” Was it? After everything Chrysabelle had said and the way she’d been acting, he wasn’t so sure.
She shrugged. “Keep an eye out. That’s the only directive I’m giving you for now.” She stepped back from the lookout point. Her wings unfurled through the pleats in her jacket. “Just don’t be surprised if our killer turns out to be someone we already know.”
“Shall I hold dinner, Maddoc?” Isaiah asked.
Fi frowned. This dinner was specifically for Remo to get to know them better, but he wasn’t here yet. Not a great start.
Doc looked at his watch. “No. Everyone else made it on time.”
Barasa cleared his throat. “Maybe we could wait another minute?”
“Absolutely,” Fi answered, shooting Doc a look. He hadn’t been a fan of this idea, but she was determined to give it a go.
Frowning, Doc rolled his eyes. “Fine. Two more minutes and that’s it.”
“More than generous,” Omur added.
“Very good, Maddoc.” Isaiah nodded. “I’ll keep things warm.” He headed back to the kitchen, passing Channa, a female varcolai who’d been brought in to help serve.
She brought two wine decanters to the bar. “Can I pour anyone a glass?”
“A small glass of white,” Fi answered. A little wine might help take the edge off, plus with Doc here, she wasn’t as worried about drinking with Remo around.
A chime sounded, indicating the elevator was on its way up.
Isaiah reappeared on his way to the foyer. “At last, our missing guest.”
“About time,” Doc said. Omur and Barasa snorted in agreement.
“Be nice,” Fi said softly. “We’re trying to make friends.”
Doc patted her hand. “I know. You’re right. Sorry—”
“Out of my way.” Remo stormed into the room, eyes gold with anger. “You.” He pointed at Fi. “You murdered my sister and I have proof.”
Fi’s mouth gaped open. “What?”
Doc and his council members jumped up as Isaiah came running in after Remo. Doc stepped in front of Fi, flaring his arms out and clenching his fists. “You better step back before I—”
“Before you what? Murder me too? Look at my hand,” Remo shouted. “Look at it.” Fi stood as he shoved his palm at Doc. Tiny inflamed cuts covered it. The rest of the skin looked sunburned.
Doc’s lip curled. “What does that prove?”
“Silver poisoning.” Remo glared at Fi. “She gave me the vial of sand from the arena. I accidently crushed it in my hand.” His pupils thinned to vertical slits. “That’s when I felt the silver burning into the cuts. The sand was tainted. The fight was never fair.”
Omur and Barasa exchanged a look. Doc shook his head. “This is as much news to us as it is to you.”
“Your lies won’t save her.” Remo growled low and threatening. “Pride law says a life for a life.” He pointed
