Mal leaped to his feet. ‘Like hell you were. You’re the one who gave me that doctored blood.’
Mortalis held his hands up. ‘Hold on. What doctored blood?’
Mal ignored him as Katsumi lifted her chin. ‘I may have given it to you, but I had nothing to do with it being tainted.’ She laced and unlaced her fingers with theatrical precision. ‘I had money on you. A lot of money. Why would I do anything that would ruin my chances of winning?’
Mortalis nodded. ‘She’s got a point.’
Mal scowled. ‘No, she doesn’t. Why are you defending her?’
Mortalis, standing slightly in front of Katsumi, gave Mal a glare. ‘I’m not defending her. I’m trying to sort this out.’
Katsumi had the audacity to feign hurt. ‘I thought I could do something to help, but if you’re going to act like such a child, then—’
Mortalis turned to her. ‘You want to help? Go find Ronan.’
‘He’s still alive?’ Mal asked.
‘Yes.’ Katsumi sniffed. ‘The fight was declared a draw. No winner. Mortalis brought you here. I took Ronan back to the cells, then went to get a med kit. When I came back, he was gone.’
No wonder she was so bunched up. She’d lost money and a willing fighter. ‘Mortalis is right. Go find Ronan so I can finish what I started.’
‘You’ll fight him again?’ Her eyes lit up with appalling glee.
‘No, I’m just going to kill him.’
She jabbed a finger at him. ‘You want to take him out, do it in the pit. We have an agreement and you owe me.’
‘Getting poisoned canceled any agreement between us.’
She started to argue back, but Mortalis stopped her. ‘Enough. You have a club to run while your head of security is missing.’
She poked a long, red nail into his shoulder. ‘It’s Dominic’s club. He has a problem with how it’s being run, he can tell me himself. I don’t need to hear it from his boy.’
Boy? Mal raised his brows. Katsumi must have a death wish.
Mortalis stared down at her, his eyes black slits against his sooty skin. ‘You’d think a creature with no soul would take a little care around someone like me.’ He stepped toward her. ‘Unless you need reminding what my kind are capable of.’
Mal crossed his arms. ‘Never hurts to have a refresher.’
‘Bite me,’ Katsumi spat.
Mal sneered. ‘Not even the voices in my head are that insane.’
Mortalis laughed. Katsumi didn’t. With frost in her gaze, she stalked out, slamming the door behind her.
Mortalis didn’t wait for Mal to speak. ‘We need to talk.’
‘No, we don’t.’ Mal headed for the exit. He didn’t have time to make nice or buddy up.
Mortalis grabbed his bicep. ‘You can’t just go barreling out there and hope it all works out.’
Smoke trailed up from where the fae’s silver rings connected with Mal’s skin. He yanked his arm out of the shadeux’s six-fingered grip. ‘Watch me.’
The fae stepped into his path. ‘Katsumi’s hiding Ronan. I don’t have proof, but I can feel it. No one else claims to have even seen him in the holding cells after the fight.’
Mal shrugged. ‘That doesn’t surprise me.’ Katsumi couldn’t let him kill Ronan when there was money to be made. What else did Mortalis know? ‘What about Chrysabelle? I know she was here. There was blood on the balcony railing.’
‘She cut her hand, but she’s fine. She went home.’ Mortalis frowned. ‘That was yesterday, by the way. You’ve been out for a while.’
‘All the more reason I need to talk to her.’ Mortalis might think she was fine, but what did the fae know about comarré? Mal wanted to see her. Had to see her. And he’d had enough blood these past few days that he could face her without dropping fang and salivating like some newly turned vampling.
‘I don’t think that’s a good idea.’
‘Duly noted. Get out of my way.’
Mortalis didn’t budge. ‘No. There’s more to this. I know it. The fringe have started to organize. There’s talk of putting Ronan in charge.’ He exhaled like the weight of a thousand secrets lay on his back. ‘Something’s going on and I may be your only ally right now, so either listen to me or don’t, but I’m willing to help.’
‘You work for Dominic.’ Mal planted his fingertips on Mortalis’s chest and pushed to emphasize his point, causing the shadeux to sway. ‘And he’s just as guilty as the rest of them, so your help’ – he pushed a little harder – ‘I can do without.’
Mortalis stood firm. ‘Dominic doesn’t know about any of this.’
‘He tell you to come down here and feed me that line of bull?’
‘No, because he’s not here, and he hasn’t been since Maris died.’
That slowed Mal down. ‘Where is he?’
‘I’m not at liberty to divulge.’
Chump. Mal shook his head, disgusted. ‘You’re such a company man, Mortalis. Your clan must be so proud of you.’
Mortalis lifted his head, aiming the tips of his horns in Mal’s direction. ‘My choices are not yours to judge. I certainly don’t judge yours.’
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘You know what it means. You drank her blood.’
Mal cooled a notch. ‘Which is why I need to talk to her. To explain.’ To stop screwing up his already chaotic life.
‘Then I’m going with you.’
‘No.’ He pushed past Mortalis, headed for the door.
‘Tell Velimai I said hello. You know, from one deadly fae to another.’
His hand stopped on the knob. Son of a priest. ‘You’re driving.’
Chapter Nine
This time of night when the dying sun dusted the sky lavender and the early stars emerged, everything seemed draped in magic. Not the kind that waited around corners or bared its teeth when startled, but peaceful, benevolent magic. The enchanted dusk muted imperfections and smoothed rough edges. Chrysabelle could almost imagine that Maris was still alive, that the humming coming from the kitchen belonged to her. Chrysabelle knew it didn’t, but a strange
