A screaming wall of pain jerked Chrysabelle out of a deep, dreamless sleep. She woke up gasping for air, belly-down on her bed, arms and legs tangled in sweat-damp sheets. The trip to the signumist came back to her in a hard rush of memory and throbbing, fiery pain.
A hand touched her shoulder and she yelped, shrinking away from it. The move shot fresh heat through her back. The new signum there burned like brands.
The hand disappeared. Mal’s silver eyes came into focus, his face somehow suddenly inches from hers. “It’s okay. You’re home. Stay still and rest.”
She stared into his eyes, the cool of her pillow a comfort. She lifted her hand and touched his cheek. “Home?”
He nodded. “Do you want anything? Velimai is here.”
The wysper appeared behind him, peering over his shoulder with concern-filled eyes. If I can do anything, she signed, just tell me.
“No,” Chrysabelle whispered. The pain made her eyes water. “How long… home?”
“A quarter hour, maybe a few minutes more,” Mal answered. “But you’ve been asleep since we got into the car.”
“The city? Samhain… the covenant…” The effort of words drained her.
“Don’t worry about any of that. Just rest and recover. Try to go back to sleep.”
She tried to shake her head but only succeeded in turning it farther into the pillow. “I need to…” Even breathing made her body ache. “The Aurelian.”
“Soon enough,” Mal said. He patted a small red pouch on the nightstand. “For when you’re ready, but for now, you need to sleep and heal.”
She closed her eyes, meaning to say something else about how she couldn’t wait, didn’t want to wait, needed to find her brother, but the depths of sleep consumed her, pulling her blissfully under once again.
Octavian paced the sitting area of the master bedroom. “Word will spread now. Every house will know of Lilith’s existence as surely as they know you are Dominus.”
Tatiana tore herself away from listening to Lilith’s soft coos as she fed from the wet nurse in the next room. The nursery wasn’t completed, but Tatiana wanted Lilith close, so she’d set up the wet nurse in her dressing room. “You seem worried.” She sprawled back against the nest of pillows on the bed. “Don’t be. The Castus made it clear to the other Dominus that I and my family are to be protected at all costs. None would dare cross us knowing how firmly the ancient ones are on our side. One look at Lilith and they will see where his favor lies.”
“That’s what worries me,” Octavian said. “There will be jealousy unlike anything the families have ever seen.”
She smiled, his concern touching. “Sweetheart, don’t you think I’ve given this much thought?” She slid off the bed and came to his side, taking his hand. “This is exactly the position I—we—want to be in. The other houses must align with us or they will be of little consequence in the new age.”
He smiled back at her. “You’re so sure of yourself, so confident.” He feathered kisses across her forehead. “So fearless.” His lips brushed hers and she welcomed him in, flattery one of her greatest aphrodisiacs. “I am so proud to be at your side.” Hands splayed on her hips, he pulled her closer. “I cannot wait to see you at that ball. You will leave the men bitter with want and the women wondering how you are everything they are not.”
She tipped her head back as his mouth trailed kisses down her neck. “If you’re trying to get me into bed, it’s working.”
He laughed against her skin, his fangs grazing the curve of her shoulder. “I adore you, Tatiana. Do you know that?”
“You’ve made that delightfully clear.” She nipped at his chin, drunk on affection and the rare air of happiness. “I feel the same way about you.”
His expression grew more serious, but the silver in his eyes didn’t fade. “That you could feel that way toward me when I was little more than your servant a short while ago…” He turned away from her.
“Don’t,” she whispered, clinging to him. “The past is just that. We’ll talk of it no more.”
Head bent, his gaze came at her sideways. “Tell me of the future, then. Tell me of your plans.” The curve of his mouth broadened into a grin. “I love hearing you talk about your ideas and desires for the vampire nation.”
She flew to the door and locked it, then was back at his side, tugging him toward the bed. She could almost understand how Daciana had married Laurent. With a man like Octavian, such a commitment didn’t seem so hard to accept. Maybe they should marry. For Lilith’s sake. And to show the rest of the families just how strong their bond was. Her legs hit the side of the bed. “I want to take over the world.”
He tumbled down on top of her, shoving the pillows out of the way. His fingers worked the buttons of her silk blouse. His mouth followed them down. “How will you do it?”
“I will start with… Oh, that’s the spot.” A shiver of pleasure trilled down her spine and joined with the places his hands caressed. “I will… I…”
“Will I be at your side?” He breathed the words over her bare flesh, raising an army of goose bumps across her thighs, exposed by the skirt he’d shoved up to her hips.
“Yes,” she whispered. “Always.” Because she was almost sure she loved him.
His tongue raked across her stomach. “I am afraid,” he said softly.
The chill returned, but for a whole new reason. She struggled to her elbows and stared down at him. “Afraid of what?”
He rested his head on her taut belly. “That I love you far more than is wise.” His thumb drew a small, delicious circle near her navel. “You will be the queen of the vampire nation. Then you will find another and break my heart.”
She laughed softly so as not to wound him further. “You worry for nothing. You’ll see.” She lay back down and threaded her fingers into his hair, guiding him back to where he’d been when he’d stopped. “At the ball, you’ll see.” She would announce their union. That would stun the families, wouldn’t it? She did love to make a scene.
Soft kisses teased her flesh. “Until the ball, then.”
She could have sworn she felt him smile against her skin.
Doc stomped the brakes and brought the car to a stop behind Creek’s motorcycle. Keeping up with the KM had been an effort. Mal’s beater sedan wasn’t exactly as limber as the bike, and dodging some of the things currently roaming Paradise City’s streets was no small feat.
Creek waited for them on the sidewalk as they got out, but the second the first door opened, he was off down the street toward the cop cars they’d followed here. The cops jumped out, guns drawn as Doc, Mortalis, and Fi, still in her ghost form, hustled to catch up to Creek. “A woman called in, said she heard the sounds of a struggle out her window, looked out and saw a blond girl with gold marks on her being dragged into this alley.”
He cocked his crossbow. “You three stay here, let me suss it out.”
“You sure you don’t want more help than those two cops?” Doc asked.
“They’ve been briefed. One cop is varcolai.”
Doc nodded and took a better look at the cop, recognizing him as a member of the pride. “Shout if you need us.”
Creek ducked into the alley. Doc inhaled, testing the air for scents. Blood. In spades. And the faint hint of vampire. But between the two was the familiar musky scent of feline shifter. Had to be the cop. Suddenly, a deep guttural snarl broke through the other sounds of the city.
“Doc.” Urgency laced Creek’s voice like a poison. “Now.”
With Fi at his side, Doc spun around the corner, unprepared for the scene before him. A large feline varcolai in half-form crouched over the torn body of one of Dominic’s comarré. If she wasn’t dead, she would be in another heartbeat or two. Blood dripped from his clawed fingers and pooled beneath the girl like a morbid blanket, unfurling slowly toward the street. The varcolai stood, stepping back carefully to avoid the puddle.
The cops had their guns raised, but they were out of their league. “Guns aren’t going to do much good,” Doc said.
“Copy that. Besides, we need to take him in alive,” Creek answered. His crossbow stayed up on his shoulder. “You know this cat?”
“Maybe. Definitely leopard, but it’s a little dark to really make out—”
One of the cops flipped on a handheld spotlight, bringing the killer into clear view. The varcolai cop muttered a curse.
Doc swore, too. “What the hell?” He stepped forward, a little past Creek and enough to block the KM’s shot. “Sinjin?”
The man snarled again, showing a small chip in his left fang and confirming Doc’s identification. How could he forget the varcolai who’d cast him out of the pride?
Sinjin shook his head as if telling Doc not to say another word. Doc snorted in derision and took another step forward. “You think I’m going to stand by and let you murder these girls? Like hell.”
With a quick shake, Sinjin shed all signs of his leopard half and took on his full human form. “Siding with the mortals, Maddoc?” He shook his head. “Don’t you see what’s happening? The vampires grow stronger every day. We have to seize whatever opportunity we can, and tonight we’re seizing a big one.”
“There’s no we, Sinjin. You kicked me out of the pride years ago, remember?” Heat coursed through Doc’s bones. “And I don’t consider killing humans an opportunity.”
“I didn’t kill this girl. I found her here. The victim of a vampire.”
“Her blood is on your hands, and I bet when the police search you, they’ll find the container of vampire ashes you’ve been planting beneath their nails.”
Sinjin’s mouth bent in a cruel sneer. “You’re weak. You always have been.” His eyes reflected the cop’s light with a green-gold glow Doc knew must be shining in his eyes, too. The heat in his body got more intense. “That’s why I’m the pride leader.”
“I never wanted that job, no matter how much you thought I did. Time to give yourself up. This game is over.” And time for Doc to calm down.
Hands fisted at his side, Sinjin stretched his neck and growled the low, threatening call that meant one thing. Challenge.
This wasn’t the time or place to answer that call. Not with the fire in his system just begging for a way out. Doc turned and walked back toward Creek. “Cops have any tranquilizer darts? That’s what I’d use—”
Creek’s mouth opened but Fi’s yell hit Doc’s ears first. “Behind you,” she wailed.
Doc twisted in time to catch Sinjin’s charge full in the chest. It took him to the pavement hard enough to knock the breath out of him and dent the asphalt. He was vaguely aware of Fi telling Creek to shoot and Creek saying he couldn’t get a clean shot.
Sinjin raised his hand, claws out. Doc rolled as the hand came down, throwing Sinjin off. Doc flipped to his feet and caught Sinjin as he did the same, then shoved him back into the alley wall. The sounds of bones and bricks cracking filled the air.
“I’m going to kill you like I should have done instead of kicking you out,” Sinjin snarled.
Doc ducked a punch, then threw one of his own, planting his fist in Sinjin’s gut. “I doubt that.”
Sinjin backhanded him. Doc tasted blood, staggered a step. Sinjin came after him, latching on and taking him to the ground again. “When I’m done with you,” Sinjin whispered, “I’m going to end that freak girlfriend of yours, too.”
Doc’s vision went blue. Flame blue. With a roar like a house on fire, he exploded into burning rage. Flickering blue light washed the alley. Sinjin’s eyes rounded and he tried to let go of Doc, but it was too late. All Doc knew was that keeping Fi safe meant taking Sinjin out. The fire consumed Sinjin, swallowing him in a flood of searing flame. He howled in pain and anger, finally stumbling free to bat at himself. He collapsed a moment later, a charred version of the powerful varcolai he’d been just a few short minutes ago.
Doc’s chest heaved as the fire dancing over him snuffed out. An odd silence took over the alley. He turned slowly as he realized that his secret was not a secret anymore.
Mortalis had stayed at the mouth of the alley, one arm wrapped around Fi’s shoulders. Doc had no idea how the fae was keeping her from freaking out, but he was grateful. Creek shook his head. “You said you were okay.”
He shrugged, too spent to give energy to excuses. “I lied.”
The varcolai cop stepped forward. Doc couldn’t recall the pride member’s name. Fear and disbelief etched lines around his eyes. Eyes that held the same green-gold glow Doc’s did. He pointed a finger at Doc. “The pride leader challenged you and you killed him.”
Doc shook his head. Hell no, this was not the right time for that business. “It means nothing. What I did was done in self-defense. Let it go.”
The cop jutted his chin forward. “Can’t. Pride law. Makes you the new pride leader.”
Double hell to the no. “I decline. Find someone else.”
Fi finally broke away from Mortalis and ran to Doc’s side, her hands all over him, checking him for injuries. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
The cop brought his gun up and aimed it at Fi. “Miss, you need to keep your hands to yourself and step away from the pride leader.”
She slanted her eyes at him. “Look, five-oh, I don’t know who you think you are or who you think my fiancé is, but I’ll put my hands on him anytime I want to.”
“Yeah,” Doc said. “It’s cool. She’s with me.”
The cop shook his head and kept the gun raised. “Your wife’s going to have something to say about that.”
Fi and Doc turned at the same time. “Wife?” they said in unison. Doc held his hands up. “Look, I know pride law says the new pride leader takes all spoils, but Sinjin wasn’t married.”
“Yes, he was,” the cop answered. “As of two months ago. And as of five minutes ago, so are you.”