“Forget them. They’ve given your child to another vampire to raise.”
“What?”
“I can take you to her.”
Lola stood. “When can we leave?”
“Do you have access to a private plane? We can’t go commercial, obviously.”
“I can find one.”
He nodded. “As soon as you can arrange it, we can leave.”
She clutched the back of the nearest chair. “I could be meeting my grandchild by this time tomorrow.”
“That’s right. Imagine being able to hold her for the first time. Being able to bring her home.”
Her hands were trembling. “At last. This is what I’ve been working for.”
“What you’ve sacrificed for,” he added.
“Thank you, Octavian.” She’d misjudged him. “I owe you.”
He smiled. “Just seeing you with her will be payment enough.” The smile vanished. “I’ll be at the private airport waiting. Get that plane as fast as you can and meet me there. The longer it takes, the less chance we have of making this happen.”
She was about to ask why when he scattered again and flew out the window.
Tatiana’s home was enormous, but Mal also knew it was the Dominus estate. Its size and grandeur came because of its status, not from the vampire who currently lived in it. Still, to think that the woman who’d once been his human wife, a woman who’d eked out her living by stealing and conning, a woman who’d ended up on the gallows to pay for her crimes, now resided in a mansion that could house hundreds… He shook his head. There was no justice in the world. He was certainly proof of that.
He snorted softly. The voices were really having a hard time adjusting to his old self being gone. He almost felt sorry for them. Almost.
Having to pretend to be on her side was going to be undiluted torture, but if it meant a safe future for his family, he would play his part with every ounce of imagination he had. He reached for the heavy door knocker, then paused. Old Mal wouldn’t knock.
Hefting his bag in one hand, he shoved the door open and walked inside. “Tatiana,” he bellowed as he walked through the main hall. “Where are you?”
A moment later, a female servant ran into the room. “May I help you?”
“Who are you? Where’s Tatiana?”
“I’m Kosmina, my lord. My lady is in her study. If you’ll just wait a moment—”
He walked past her. “Which way?”
She hurried to catch up with him. “I’d be happy to get her for you. Who did you say you were?”
Farther down the hall, a door opened and Tatiana stepped out. She raised her brows, but her surprise quickly turned into a smirk. “I was beginning to think you weren’t coming.”
“Well, you were wrong. As usual.”
Kosmina went to Tatiana’s side. “I’m sorry, my lady. He just barged in and—”
Tatiana held her hand up. “It’s fine. I’d expect nothing less from him.” She strode toward him, sashaying her hips in that way of hers, a not-so-subtle smile playing on her lips. “So happy you decided to join me. I’d hate to put you on my naughty list again.”
He grabbed her hand as she reached for him. “Let’s get one thing straight. I’m not here for you. I’m here for the payoff. Understood?”
“Just like the old days.” She laughed, wrapping her fingers around his. “If that’s what gets you through, it’s all right with me.”
Kosmina cleared her throat. “Is there anything I can do for you, my lady?”
“Yes,” Tatiana purred, never taking her eyes off Mal. “Take Lord Bourreau to the guest suite. The one in the north wing.” She slipped her hand from his, only to trail her fingers down his arm. “I own a comarre. I’ll send her in to feed you.”
That was news to Mal. “Why do you own a comarre?”
The mirth left her face and her eyes silvered. “She belonged to my late consort. And since he won’t be needing her anymore…” She smiled again but it was noticeably forced. “Consider her my gift to you.”
“You know I can’t drink from the vein.” Unless it was Chrysabelle’s. He had no intention of trying that feat on anyone else. Just the idea of drinking another’s comarre’s blood felt like cheating, especially after being with her on the plane. All for the cause, he reminded himself.
She shrugged. “Bleed her, then.” She waved her hand as she walked back to her study. “Be back here in one hour. We have much to discuss.” She snapped her fingers. “Kosmina, our guest.”
“Yes, my lady.” But Kosmina answered to a closed door. She curtsied toward Mal. “If you would just follow me, Lord Bourreau. Shall I take your bag, sir?”
He wanted to say no, that it was ridiculous for a woman to carry his bag, but that wasn’t the proper response. He tossed his bag in her direction, inwardly cringing at his actions.
She caught it, but just barely. “Very good, sir.”
He followed her to his quarters, noting they were only two halls away from Tatiana’s. He would have liked more space between them.
Kosmina opened the door and went in, dropping his bag on the bed. “Shall I unpack you, sir?”
“No.” The room was everything he’d expected it to be. Completely overdone and stuffed with priceless antiques and art. Tatiana must have wept with joy when she’d been able to move in here.
The servant didn’t leave. “H-Have you known Lady Tatiana long?”
Interesting. And brave. He studied the fresco on the ceiling. Blue sky, white clouds, darting swallows. Vampires loved to remind themselves of what they’d lost, didn’t they? “Since she was human.”
Kosmina’s eyes went wide. “Are you
He turned to face her. “That’s right. I’m Tatiana’s husband.”
Chapter Thirty-one
Chrysabelle hoped Mal was having better luck than she was. Rennata may have allowed the comarre here to let her in, but she had yet to show. So far, she’d kept Chrysabelle waiting for almost half an hour. Maybe she wasn’t coming out at all. Maybe this was some strange new punishment. Chrysabelle got off the couch and walked toward the passageways that led back into the heart of the Primorus Domus. Could she still access those halls or did becoming disavowed change that?
“Thinking about visiting your old cell?”
She turned at the voice. “There you are, Rennata. I was beginning to think you weren’t coming.”
“I shouldn’t have.” Rennata stared at her with more hauteur than Chrysabelle thought possible in one woman. “I had to see for my own eyes that you dared come back here. Your sense of what’s appropriate astounds me.”
“Get off your high horse, Rennata. A bigger problem exists than me being in your precious house. An
Rennata was quiet for several seconds, and then her face cracked into laughter. “Oh, give me a moment to catch my breath.” She wiped at her eyes. “You do live such a drama-filled life, Chrysabelle. How do you manage to always be in the center of so much excitement?”
Chrysabelle strode forward and grabbed her by the shoulders. “This isn’t a joke, you foolish old woman. You know Tatiana’s vampire baby, Lilith? I’m sure you’ve heard of her. The ancients decided to feed her their blood and in doing so, turned her into a full-grown monster.”
