Last Blood

but I didn’t have time to worry about that. I had a body to bury.

As I dug in, my eyes started to sting. I tried to convince myself it was merely a reaction to the smoke, but a voice in my head whispered “guilt.” With ruthless determination, I shoved my conscience down, compressing it into a tiny knot and shoving it into a dark corner of myself. Maybe later I’d pull it out and examine it. Or maybe not.

Good assassins dispose of problems without remorse. Even if the problem was a friend.

PRAISE FOR HOUSE OF COMARRE

“Prophecy, curses, and devilish machination combine for a spellbinding debut of dark romance and pulse- pounding adventure.”

—LIBRARY JOURNAL (Starred Review)

“Gripping, gritty, and imaginative. If you love dangerous males, kick-ass females, and unexpected twists, this is the series for you! Kristen Painter’s engaging voice, smart writing, and bold, explosive plot blew me away. Prepare to lose some sleep!”

—LARISSA IONE, New York Times bestselling author

“Kristen Painter brings a sultry new voice to the vampire genre, one that beckons with quiet passion and intrigue.”

—L.A. BANKS, New York Times bestselling author

“Painter scores with this one. Passion and murder, vampires and courtesans—original and un-put-downable. Do yourself a favor and read this one.”

—PATRICIA BRIGGS, New York Times bestselling author

“Kristen Painter’s Blood Rights is dark and rich with layer after delicious layer. This spellbinding series will have you begging for more!”

—GENA SHOWALTER, New York Times bestselling author

“The romance is tense and fresh… I highly recommend this if you enjoy fantasy and want an original take on vampires.”

—USA Today’s Happy Ever After on Blood Rights

“Exciting and interesting!”

—RT Book Reviews on Bad Blood

Glossary

Anathema: a noble vampire who has been cast out of noble society for some reason

Aurelian: the comarre historian

Castus Sanguis: the fallen angels from which the othernatural races descended

Comarre/comar: a human hybrid species especially bred to serve the blood needs of the noble vampire race

Dominus: the ruling head of a noble vampire family

Elder: the second in command to a Dominus

Fae: a race of othernatural beings descended from fallen angels and nature

Fringe vampires: a race of lesser vampires descended from the cursed Judas Iscariot

Kine: a vampire term for humans, archaic

Libertas: the ritual in which a comarre can fight for his or her independence. Ends in death of comarre or patron

Navitas: the ritual in which a vampire can be resired by another, to change family lines or turn fringe noble

Noble vampires: a powerful race of vampires descended from fallen angels

Nothos: hellhounds

Patronus/patron: a noble vampire who purchases a comarre’s blood rights

Remnant: a hybrid of different species of fae and/or varcolai

Sacre: the ceremonial sword of the comarre

Signum: the inlaid gold tattoos or marks put into comarres’ skin to purify their blood

Vampling: a newly turned or young vampire

Varcolai: a race of shifters descended from fallen angels and animals