He’dlived this solitary life for centuries, long ago accepting that thebulk of his years would be spent alone. With Marissa’s arrival,that acceptance had begun to erode. The ground beneath his feet grewdangerously thin. “There must be a way for you to leave him.”
Shewent paler still “There is, but…it’s not somethingI’ve ever known another comarré to do.”
“Telme.”
Shehesitated, staring deeply into his eyes as if hoping to find hercourage there. “I could claim libertas. But then I must fightArnaud and if I lose, I die.”
Chapter Eight
Libertas.The word erased the last whorls of pleasure from Dominic’s kissand left fear in their wake. Marissa had thought about it, butthoughts and going forward were two very different things.
“Whatdo you mean, die?” he asked.
“Idon’t know how to make it any clearer. Either I kill Arnaud orhe kills me. It’s a death match. The winner gets their freedom.
Ora new comarré.” She shuddered. “There’s noway Arnaud would turn me down, either. He’d relish getting anew comarré and the chance he’d lose would never enterhis mind.”
“Youcannot fight him. I will not allow you to do that.”
Shestraightened. “You will not allow me? You don’t have thatkind of say in my life.”
Heheld up a hand. “You’re right; I do not. I spoke out ofturn, but it is insanity to think you could fight Arnaud and win.”
“Hah.”She glared at him. As much as she wanted to tell Dominic about heryears of training in many different types of combat and her skillswith daggers and swords, she didn’t.
Thosewere comarré secrets. Revealing them could get her into deepertrouble. If only she could just run away with Dominic, but that wouldsimply give her a life of fear. She needed a life of freedom.
“Whydo you laugh? You think you have a chance against him?”
“Idon’t think it. I know it. I just don’t know how much ofa chance.”
Dominicleaned against the workbench and studied her. “You could beathim?”
“Icould.” Maybe. “Or at least come close.”
“Closestill means you would be dead.” He shook his head.
“No,I do not want to be a part of this. Perhaps it is my own foolishness,but I find myself having…feelings for you. I am a passionateman, and I tend to give those passions free rein. What they want mostis you. So you can understand why I do not wish you to go throughthis. Or anything that might harm you.”
Despitehis declaration, her frustration built. “There is no other wayfor me to get free. No other way for us to be together.”
“Wewill find a place safe from Arnaud.”
“Thatplace does not exist.” She got to her feet and paced toward theother end of the room, thinking. Books, bottles, and papers crammedevery available space, making it hard to believe Dominic couldn’tfind an answer among them somewhere. She Dominic couldn’t findan answer among them somewhere. She shook her head. “I willhave to go back to him. And you will have to find a way to change myblood.”
Hewas quiet for a while, letting her pace. At last he spoke. “Ihave another idea.”
Sheturned and looked at him. “I’m listening.”
“Yousay libertas is the only way you’ll feel safe leaving him?”
“Yes.”
“Doyou think you could ever care for me? Not as a patron but as a man?”
Tinysparks went off in her belly, the kind she’d never felt before.The kind that promised both pleasure and trouble. The kind that saidher plan to use Dominic for her own end was quickly turning intosomething very different. “I have very little experience withthis kind of thing, but I believe I have already begun to care foryou.” There was no point in lying to him. They could both bedead in less than a month, depending on what Arnaud decided.
Hiseyes glimmered silver and his face relaxed with confidence. “Thenwhat if I give you an advantage?”
“Whatkind of advantage?”
“Whatkind do you want? Strength? Speed? Agility?”
Forthe first time since they’d begun the discussion, her footingfelt firm and even, not like she was struggling to climb aninsurmountable cliff. “Al of the above.”
* **
Twonights later, she and Dominic were in his recreation hall, a spacebig enough to hold a variety of sports events normally reserved foroutdoor arenas. He lounged in a chair at the edge of the floor whileshe faced off with a fringe vampire she assumed was one of his staff.Nero was a half meter taller and outweighed her by probably thirtykilos. Essentially, Nero was a beast.
Dominicprobably employed him as security.
“Ready,Nero?” Dominic’s voice echoed through the cavernousspace. “Don’t hurt her.”
Nerogrunted. Presumably that meant he understood.
Shefrowned at Dominic. “Does that mean you have no faith in yourwork?” He’d injected her with a large dose of a newserum. Something he named Belona, after the Roman goddess of war.
“Ihave great faith in my serum. It’s your abilities, cara mia, Ido not know enough about.”
“Prepareto learn, then.” She’d keep things simple but efficientwhile trying to hide her true skills enough that he wouldn’tsuspect the comarré’s greater purpose.
“Iam prepared.” Dominic gave her a wink. “Nero, down.”
Thegiant fringe went to his knees.
Marissabacked up a few steps, took a running start, and leaped over him. Shelanded lightly and looked back at Dominic.
“Thatwasn’t a challenge” She snapped her fingers. “Nero,“That wasn’t a challenge” She snapped her fingers.“Nero, stand up, please.”
Hedid as she asked. This time, she crouched and jumped from where shestood. She sailed over him, coming down a little bit harder. She gaveDominic a thumbs-up. “That was half me, half Belona.”
Dominicjust nodded. “What else can you do?”
Shewalked toward Nero, stopping in front of him. “Keep your bodyvery stiff.”
Hegrunted.
Shegrabbed his upper arm and midthigh, barely getting a grip on thethick muscle, then bent and pressed him overhead. He went rigid sofast she knew he’d been shocked at her actions.
Shewobbled a little but held her ground.
Dominic’sbrows lifted. “Strength is not an issue, then.”
Shedropped Nero to his feet. He growled softly and looked at her as ifseeing her for the first time.
Dominicstood but didn’t approach. “The two of you race to
