Shetook off, covering the distance faster than she’d ever gone.She dug her feet in as she approached the wall, skidded enough toturn, then headed back. She passed Nero on the way and reached thestarting point a few seconds later.
Dominicwalked toward her but held his hand out to Nero.
“Stay.”
Thegiant lumbered to a stop several meters away.
“Thisis all very impressive, but you’re not challenging Arnaud to anevening of track and field. I still have no proof you can hold yourown against him in a fight to the death.” His countenancedarkened. “There is only one way I can agree to this.”
Sheplanted her hands on her hips. “What’s that?”
Helowered his voice. “Kill Nero.”
“What?He’s a member of your staff.”
“Hewas found by a member of my staff. He’s a local thug, one ofthe fringe who’s come to Tesoro in hopes of working for anoble. Spent a good deal of time terrorizing the mortals who residehere.” Dominic shrugged. “No one’s going to misshim.
He’sonly here because he thinks I’m going to hire him permanently.”
“Idon’t care who he is. I won’t do it.” Nero mightnot be the poster boy for vampire reformation, but it wasn’tenough reason for her to end his existence. She was not withoutrational thinking.
Heleaned in. “If you can’t take a fringe down, how do youthink you’ll be able to handle Arnaud with his age andabilities?”
“Ihave a reason to kill Arnaud.” That she would have no issuewith.
“Youhave a reason to kill Nero, too. If you don’t, I won’t gothrough with this.”
Sheneeded Dominic. Going up against Arnaud in libertas would undoubtedlyleave her broken even if she did win.
WithoutDominic’s resources, what would she do? Where would WithoutDominic’s resources, what would she do? Where would she go, andhow would she get there? She’d be banished from the PrimorisDomus. Being turned out onto the streets of Corvinestri without theprotection of her house would be a death sentence.
Dominicwas her best, if not only, hope. She glanced at Nero.
Inall her training days, she’d never faced an opponent thatlarge.
Alit really meant was that he’d make a louder noise when he hitthe ground.
Dominicgently gripped her arm. “Listen to me. What you feel forArnaud? The way you loathe him? Channel that toward Nero. There ispower in emotion. Harness it, and he cannot beat you. Let it controlyou and you’ll be lost.”
“That’swhat I’m afraid of.” She looked back at Nero. There wasno point in hiding her abilities from Dominic. Not at this stage inthe game.
“Iwon’t let him kill you.” He cupped her cheek. “Andif you lose, we will just find another way to deal with Arnaud.
“Together.”
Together.That was not a word she’d much used. Alone, yes. She took asecond long look at Nero, then lifted her chin and faced Dominic.Compassion shone in his eyes like a promise. “Bring me aweapon.”
Chapter Nine
Dominicwaited until Marissa and Nero had taken ten paces back from thecenter of the boccie ball court. He hated to destroy the carefullycultivated sod there, but there was every chance he’d beleaving this estate in a few weeks and never looking back.Unblemished grass wouldn’t matter then.
Heraised his hand, pride and fear warring in his chest.
Marissahad chosen a long sword, a weapon he’d tried to dissuade herfrom, but she’d held firm. It was a smart choice, even if shedidn’t know how to use it. A blade of that length would giveher a little protection against Nero’s reach. He, on the otherhand, had laughed and refused any kind of weapon, raising hiscleaver-sized hands instead.
“Thereare no rules to this fight. Nero, to win, you must simplyincapacitate Marissa. She needn’t be harmed. A cry of mercy onher behalf would be sufficient. A clean win will also earn you a job.You harm her and I’ll kill you myself.
Understood?”
“Si,”he grunted.
“Thatdoesn’t seem fair,” Marissa argued. She gave Nero a starethat would have been more at home on the face of a weathered soldier.“After all, I intend to kill him.”
Nerogrowled at her statement. Of course, this was news to him. Dominicwished Marissa hadn’t shared that bit. By doing so, she’dlost any advantage it had given her.
Dominicraised his hand. “Prego?”
Nerohunkered down, arms hanging loosely at his sides.
“Prego,”he snarled.
Marissa’sposture changed very little, other than the subtle turning out of herfront foot; then she, too, answered, “Ready.”
Dominicdropped his hand. “Begin.”
Hewatched it unfold as though time had slowed, but he knew it was onlyhis heightened sight that made it possible to catch each detail ofthe action.
Marissaleaped, tucking her body into a ball as she went over Nero’slunging form. She landed on his back, flattening him. He roared, butby the time he’d pushed to all fours, she spun around andplanted her feet on his shoulder blades. The sword, already heldhigh, came swishing down. A hard glint of silver preceded abrilliant, wet flash of red.
Followedby a cloud of ash.
Dominic’smouth fell open.
Shestrode toward him, tiny whirls of gray spinning out behind her steps.She held the sword hilt out. He took it, still speechless.
hersteps. She held the sword hilt out. He took it, still speechless.
Shesmiled. “How’s your faith in me now?”
“Thatwasn’t even a fight.”
“Didyou want me to draw it out? You said kill him; you didn’t saymake a show of it.”
Henarrowed his eyes, too amazed to let her sauciness affect him. Much.Mamma mia, she was a curious creature. One he was coming to desiremore than was prudent. Perhaps that explained the pride he felt inwhat she’d just done. “How do you know how to do this?”
“Neverunderestimate a comarré.” She brushed her hands off.
“Ifyou don’t mind, I think I’ll take a bath before dinner.”
“Howmuch of that was the Belona and how much of that was you?”
Shesmiled. “Your eyes are so silver right now I can see myselfreflected in them. What’s going on in that head of yours?”
Wicked,improper thoughts about her. “I am trying to understand you.”And what it would be like to wake up next to her, if he was honest.
“Buonafortuna.” Laughing softly, she leaned up, kissed his cheek,then walked out of the recreation hall
Goodluck might not be enough. He stared at the smattering of ash
