“Ican imagine.” Catarina cleared her throat. “Look, whathappened, happened and I hate to admit it, but you were right. Ishouldn’t have spoken to Dominic that way. He’s not a badpatron. He’s just not the patron I signed on for.”
Marissalooked up, relieved her apology had done the trick.
“Whatdo you mean?” Playing dumb always got one so much moreinformation.
Catarinagot up and went to the tea service on the side table.
“Wouldyou care for a cup?”
“Thatwould be lovely, thank you. Extra sugar.”
Catarinabegan to pour. “Dominic inherited me. My patron was a verywealthy, very old vampire. He treated me like a treasure, not apossession. Our life together was wonderful until the eldest of hissired children was killed under very mysterious circumstances. He wasconvinced the murder was the work of the caedo and that he’d benext.” She brought a cup of tea to the caedo and that he’dbe next.” She brought a cup of tea to Marissa, then sat withhers. “Eventually he became so paranoid he hired Dominic tohelp him end things on his own terms.”
Shesipped her tea, looking over the cup’s rim at Marissa.
“That’swhere Dominic’s wealth comes from, you know. Al this”—sheslanted her eyes toward the suite—“paid for by the deathsof other vampires.” Another sip of tea. “Very blackmarket and highly illegal if the council ever finds out…”
“Butyou’d never say anything.”
Catarinalaughed and put her cup down. “Of course not.
Dominic’sone of the best unsuspecting allies the comarré have.
He’sremoved more aged vampires these last few years than infighting evercould.” She sighed, her fingers working the fabric of the silkthrow resting on the arm of the chair. “Still, I miss LordItsak.”
Marissanodded. Catarina was a strange one. “Did you go directly fromhis house to Lord Falconetti’s?”
“Yes.”
“Really?I’ve never heard of that. Usually one takes a small sabbaticalat their house of origin. It seems to me you were never allowed timeto grieve.”
Catarinashook her head, her memories reflected through the sadness in hereyes. “No, I wasn’t. I should have gone back to theSecundis Domus for a few weeks. It never really occurred to me.”
Marissalaid a gentle hand on Catarina’s arm. “I’m sorryMarissa laid a gentle hand on Catarina’s arm. “I’msorry things have been so hard for you, and I’m sorry you’vebeen unable to properly say good-bye to Lord Itsak.” Shegripped Catarina’s arm a little tighter. “You know, youcould still go.
Takesome time off as it were.”
“Idon’t think I could. That would mean leaving Dominic—”
“Wouldhe notice? He’s been locked up in that laboratory since wereturned from Corvinestri, and now with this dictate from my patron,I can’t imagine that will change.”
Catarinanodded. “That’s how he spends every day.” Sheseemed lost in thought. “He rarely drinks from my wristanyway.” She looked a little sheepish. “I’m afraidthat’s my fault.
Ihaven’t been the most accommodating.”
Marissasat back. “Drain some blood before you go. As long as you havesome in cold storage, he’ll be fine.”
“There’splenty there already.” The other comarré’s eyesbrightened. “Do you think he’d really let me go?”
Marissatipped her head to one side and made a show of thinking. “Whatif I told him that you and I had argued again and I sent you away?Then I can take the blame if he disapproves.”
“Youwould do that for me?”
Tosave her daughter, Marissa would do anything. “I would be happyto. After all, I owe you for being so inconsiderate when we firstmet.”
Catarinajumped up. “I’m going to pack immediately. Thank you. Ifeel better already.”
Marissanodded. So did she.
Chapter Seven
Forthe third time in what had been a very long evening, Dominic loweredthe lens of his microscope too far and cracked the glass slideprotecting his sample. “Vacca Boia!”
Hisinability to concentrate was Marissa’s fault. No, that wasn’tright. He could concentrate, but only on the blue of Marissa’seyes, the curve of her pale neck and the way her sweet aroma made hisjaw ache.
She’dtried to get him to bite her and she’d almost gotten her way.
Buthe was stronger than that. Wasn’t he?
Hisbody said no. And his body was right. He sat back on the stool,arching his back and feeling his hunger right down to his bones. He’dgone without feeding for too long. Also Marissa’s fault. Maybehe should bite her. Take the blood he’d been denied. She’dgiven him every indication that’s what she wanted.
No.
Arnaudalready had reason enough to destroy him. Drinking from Marissa wouldbe a very wrong step in a very bad direction. What he needed to dowas get Catarina in here and feed, regardless of her mood or how shefelt about it. As patrons went, he was beginning to realize he wasmuch too permissive.
Heyanked the belpul near the door. Several long minutes later, aservant entered. “You rang, my lord?”
“SendCatarina in to me.”
“Verywell, my lord.” The servant left and Dominic returned to hiswork. The sun would be up in less than an hour and he was only nowjust finalizing the sunlight serum.
Thedoor opened a second time, but he didn’t bother looking up fromthe microscope. The sweet scent of comarré rolled over him ashe added a drop of heliotrope essence and watched the serum cometogether perfectly. “I don’t want any discussion.
Justgive me your wrist and we’ll get this over with as quickly aspossible; then we can both go back to tolerating each other.”
Warmthinvaded his space and the air stirred as pale, gilded flesh filed hisperiphery. “I’d prefer you take your time.”
Hejerked at the sound of Marissa’s voice, his body instantlyprimed, his fangs descending. “Where’s Catarina?”
“She’staking a little time off, going back to the Secundis Domus for acouple of weeks. She needs to grieve for her first patron; thenshe’ll come back to you. And probably be better for it.”She held her hands up like she knew he’d protest. “It’sperfectly within her privileges as a comarré. If you’dobtained her through proper channels, you’d know that.”
Shelifted her wrist a little higher. “Please, take
