Escapewas the last thing on her mind.
“Si?”He faced her, his eyes flecked with silver and his body tensed. Therewas no question he felt something, too, just…
What?
Shedidn’t know how to ask him to explain what he was doing, notwithout sounding foolish, so she changed the subject.
“Whattime should I be ready for you?”
Hiseyes flashed completely silver, then went back to mossy green. “Assoon as the sun sets, come to my laboratory. A servant can directyou.”
Butthat wasn’t really the question she wanted answered. She foundher tongue. “What exactly is Arnaud paying you to do to me?”
Dominichesitated.
“Ihave the right to know.”
“Si,you do.” He sighed. “I did not wish to discuss this now,but I will not withhold the truth from you, either. He wishes me toalter your blood.”
“Alterit? Isn’t it good enough the way it is?” The thought ofundergoing such a thing doubled her with fear and hatred for Arnaud.She was truly nothing to him but a possession.
“Hewants your blood to make him impervious to sunlight.”
“That’simpossible. And if you somehow accomplish it, you will relegate everyother comarré to the same procedure.” She ground herteeth as her anger grew. “That pompous fool, he wants too much,thinks too little—” The realization that she’d justspoken her thoughts aloud stopped her abruptly. Her strength drainedfrom her. She collapsed back into her chair.
Strengthdrained from her. She collapsed back into her chair.
“Please,I beg you, forget I said those things.”
Dominicpulled out the chair next to hers and sat. His knees brushed hers.“Arnaud is everything you said and worse. I am sorry for what Imust do, but I have no choice.”
Shefrowned. “Of course you have a choice. Refuse his money.”
“Heisn’t paying me. He has forced my hand by obtaining informationabout me that, if revealed, would ruin me.”
Shestared at him. Why would Dominic willingly share such facts with her?“He’s blackmailing you?”
“Si.”He smiled weakly. “And now you are wondering what I have done.”
Hermind raced. “No, I—”
“It’sall right. I would be wondering myself. I can assure you, I didnothing that wasn’t wanted, nothing that caused anyone trouble.But it was enough that should Arnaud wish it, he could destroy me.”
Heseemed so genuine she couldn’t help but feel sympathy for him.But he was still a vampire and she’d known enough of them toknow they couldn’t be trusted, no matter what her instinctssaid about him. “So you will destroy me instead.”
“Marissa,I give you my word, I will do nothing to harm you.”
Withoutthinking, she snorted softly. “Your word?”
Herested one arm over the back of the chair. “Because I am avampire, my word is no good?”
“Wouldyou trust a vampire if you were me?”
Hissmile spread slowly. “Excellent point. How do I convince youotherwise?”
Shedidn’t return his smile. “Find another way to give Arnaudwhat he wants.”
“Iintend to, but I am an alchemist, not a magician.”
“Thenhow can I trust you? I can’t.” She stood and started pasthim. She’d find her room on her own. If she even stayed thenight. Running seemed more and more like her only way out.
Hisfingers wrapped around her arm. “Sit.” The gravity in hisvoice hadn’t been present before. “I will tell you thecrimes Arnaud holds over my head.”
Shewent back to her seat. “You would do that?”
“Itwill earn your trust, no?”
“Whydo you care if I trust you?”
Hisbrows furrowed. “You ask much of me. So much explaining.”He shook his head. “I do not wish to spend four weeks with anangry woman. And I like the”—he waved his hand betweenthem as he seemingly searched for words—“the easiness ofspeaking to you. Catarina does not want conversation with me. Or muchelse, for that matter.”
“Whyis she like that with you?” A comarré was supposed toprovide companionship if her patron desired it.
“Aren’tmost comarré that way? Keeping to themselves when possible? Ijust assumed it was your way.”
“Notif their patron wishes otherwise. If you don’t drink from “Notif their patron wishes otherwise. If you don’t drink from thevein, how does Catarina maintain her youthfulness and her stamina?You know the bite works both ways.”
“Isaid I rarely drink from the vein, not never.”
“Isee.” She nodded, wondering if Dominic had done something toCatarina or if Catarina just didn’t appreciate the patron shehad in Dominic.
“Ilike drinking from the vein very much.” His gaze flickered overher throat. “Do not mistake that.”
Sheleaned back, raising her chin enough to give him a little more tostare at. “So, these crimes of yours. What are they?”
Herested his face against his hand and stared directly into her eyes.“I am a killer”
“You’rea vampire. That comes with the position.”
Heinched closer and planted his elbows on his knees. The twinkle in hiseye was unmistakably devilish. “Si, but I kill other vampires.”
Shestraightened. “You’re caedo?” The word was rarelyspoken aloud, but all knew and understood the role of the caedo. Evenvampires needed assassins once in a while.
Abarking laugh answered her. “Mamma mia, no! But I am honoredyou think me that dangerous.”
“Thenexplain.” She felt far too comfortable around him, despite whathe’d just confessed. Or perhaps because of it. A vampire whokilled other vampires? Exactly just how different was he from therest of the nobility?
Washe from the rest of the nobility?
“Thereare those among us who grow weary of eternity.
Thosewho lack the will to face the sun. I provide a gentler alternative.No pain, just one last, final daysleep.”
“Butit’s still breaking the rule all vampires live by.”
“Thoushall not kill your brethren.” He nodded. “With thisinformation, Arnaud could cause me to become anathema. Or worse.”
“Soyou either do what he tells you to do—”
“Atyour expense,” Dominic interjected.
“Orlose everything.”
Henodded. “Now you understand my dilemma.”
“Ido. And I thank you for sharing it with me. I will not betray thattrust. And I believe that you are worthy of trusting as well”
Shecanted her head at him. “You are unlike any vampire I have everknown.”
Hesmiled broadly. “Imagine what you’ll think of me in a fewmore days.” He stood and held out his hand to her. “It’slate.
“I’vekept you up too long. I’ll show you to your room.”
Shetook his hand and let him help her up, but then pointed to theuntouched goblet of blood, now congealed. “I’m afraidI’ve ruined your dinner. Catarina will not be pleased.”
“Catarinawill never know.” He pushed both
