Blood Rights

by Painter, Kristen

  ‘Training fringe.’ He shook his head. ‘What a waste.’

  ‘Except that it obviously works.’ All nobles, including her, kept a contingent of trained fringe guards. She eyed him, wondering if the flight had affected his brain. Since gaining her new power, she’d felt a distance between her and Mikkel. She grimaced. ‘The Americas’ abundance of fringe is just one more reason not to live here.’ Fringe vampires weren’t worth notice, except when they stood in the way of what she wanted. Then they made excellent practice for hand to hand.

  The smell of brimstone wafted in with a gust of rain-tinged air. She inhaled the familiar scent. ‘Finally.’

  The Nothos stalked in, a limp kine under each corded arm. It dropped them at her feet with a slight bow. The female kine whimpered as she hit the concrete.

  ‘Well done.’ The kine were deliciously young but not children. That was a line she would never, ever cross. She spoke to the Nothos while watching the pair slowly rouse. ‘You are to find a female remnant named Nyssa. She works as a black market errand girl. Half shadeux, half wysper, believed to be mute, but use the iron mesh earplugs anyway. I can’t afford to lose another of you.’

  The Nothos stayed still.

  ‘Do you need iron shackles?’

  ‘No, mistress.’ It patted a pair of the rusty bracelets hooked to its belt.

  She glared at it. ‘Then go.’

  The Nothos nodded and leaped into the now pouring rain, its strange loping gait carrying it swiftly into the last bit of remaining darkness. Tatiana envied the creature’s indifference to sunlight. Hard to believe the only thing separating their kind from hers was a bit of human DNA. The walking horrors didn’t deserve such a boon any more than they deserved their invisibility to human eyes. One more thing breaking the covenant would remove.

  The male kine groaned. His eyes flicked open and he reached for his head. ‘What happened?’ His hand came away red and sticky.

  The sweet perfume of hot blood brought her fangs down hard. Tatiana bent toward the male kine until the silver of her eyes reflected in his. Could there be a kine somewhere worthy of sacrificing to the ring? One pure enough to activate the ring’s power? Doubtful. Kine were weak. Far from pure. Good for one thing and one thing only. The male trembled at her closeness, and his fear sent liquid pleasure spilling down her spine like the finest silk.

  ‘Where are we?’ he asked. ‘Who are you?’

  She smiled broadly. ‘You’re in hell. And I’m the devil.’

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Twenty minutes later and a world away, Doc rolled the sedan down an alley that reminded Chrysabelle of the one where she’d stabbed Mal. Despite the rain, two large, hairy men flanked a rusted metal door long ago stenciled with Seven. At the sedan’s approach, both straightened. One flicked a cigarette to the ground and exhaled a thin curl of smoke.

  ‘What’s Seven?’

  Doc glanced into the rearview mirror. ‘Dominic’s club. As in seven deadly sins.’

  ‘This is where Dominic lives?’ Based on the way the vampire dressed, she’d imagined something more in keeping with her aunt’s estate, not the slums.

  Doc shifted the sedan into park. ‘Yes, this is his club and his home. There are more levels than you’d guess.’

  Beside her, Mal rolled his head from shoulder to shoulder like a man loosening for a fight. ‘Take your shirt off.’

  ‘What? Why?’

  He kept his eyes on the two guarding the door. ‘Put the sword on beneath it. With the shirt’s length and your hair over the handle, it won’t be as noticeable.’

  She raised her brows but did as he said. That he wanted her to keep the sword he’d been adamant she leave in the trunk minutes before spoke volumes. He expected trouble. That made two of them.

  Doc checked his watch. ‘Dawn can’t be more than forty-five minutes out.’

  ‘We won’t be that long.’ Mal looked at her, his eyes silver, his fangs kissing his bottom lip, his human face long discarded. ‘You ready?’

  ‘Yes.’ She stared at his fangs longer than she should have. Already the blood was building in her again, weakening her flesh. Being in such close contact was ruining her cycle.

  ‘Follow my lead.’

  She nodded. She’d do what seemed right, whether it was his lead or not, but she wasn’t going to tell him that.

  ‘Be careful,’ Fi said, scooting closer to Doc. ‘Both of you.’

  Putting his arm around her, Doc lifted his head to look at them in the rearview mirror. ‘Watch out for the twins.’

  ‘Will do.’ Mal opened the door and slid out. He waited in the rain for Chrysabelle, then shut the door and rapped lightly on the hood. Doc pulled the sedan farther down the alley into the shadows.

  Immediately, the scent of the two men by the door hit her. She blinked water out of her eyes. ‘Varcolai,’ she whispered, knowing full well Mal had probably made them already.

  ‘Wolf,’ he whispered back, confirming they both knew what they were dealing with. ‘Stay behind me.’

  Bristling slightly, she hung back at his right shoulder. Did he still think she couldn’t take care of herself? Granted she didn’t have much human-world experience, but judging by the two varcolai guarding the club door, this wasn’t exactly the human world.

  The shorter guard jerked his chin at her, glinting light off the platinum hoop in his ear. ‘No weapons. No exceptions.’

  Mal put his arm out and held Chrysabelle in place, his hand coming across her body to rest on her hip. ‘We have no weapons.’ His voice had a mesmerizing quality that danced over her skin. ‘There is nothing unusual about us. When you let us in, you’ll forget you’ve seen us.’

  The guards stared blankly, nodding as though the movement took thought.

  She shivered as the rain penetrated her shirt. Holy mother. Mal had just glamoured the guards. Impossible. Vampire powers didn’t work on varcolai.

  One guard opened the door, then stepped aside. Mal snaked his arm behind her and pushed her forward. The moment they were through the wards and the door shut, she spun to face him.

  ‘How did you do that?’

  ‘Do what?’

  She resisted the urge to slap him. ‘You know what I mean.’

  He shrugged. ‘It’s just something I can do.’

  ‘How?’

  ‘Don’t worry about it.’

  Fine, he wanted to act like it was nothing, she’d let him. But not yet. ‘Doc know you can do that?’

  ‘He knows.’ He pushed past her and toward a red-lit corridor. She grabbed his arm. ‘You ever do that to him?’

  He pulled her close, a move she recognized as an attempt to scare her into acquiescing. He could try all he wanted, but she’d begun to figure him out. ‘You have more questions? Because if you do, we’ll leave. Dawn’s coming. Your aunt can handle that, wherever she is. I can’t.’

  Not breathing him in was impossible this close. She turned her face away. ‘No more questions.’ For now. She let go of his arm and he caught her wrist, keeping her in place.

  ‘This is not a safe place. Stay close. Understood?’

  ‘Yes, patronus.’

  His mouth bent slightly at her condescending tone, but then he was off through the corridor and she was hurrying to catch up. Several yards down the hall they came to a set of double doors, steel like the exterior one and in no better shape.

  ‘This place is a dump.’

  He snorted and knocked three times. A peephole in the door opened. The faint rumble of music drifted out. If someone inspected them, she couldn’t see. The peephole closed.

  The door was unbolted and swung wide. A heavily armed fringe vamp greeted them with a curious gaze and a respectful bow. ‘Enjoy yourselves.’

  Mal’s arm settled around her waist. She opened her mouth to protest, but he shook his head slightly, his eyes full of warning. With her pressed to his side, they made their way through a set of heavy velvet drapes.

  Everything changed.

  T
he room unfurled into a sultan’s harem. Luscious fabrics covered the walls, tufted floor pillows surrounded low tables of burnished wood, all glistening beneath elaborate crystal chandeliers. A heavy, seductive rhythm thumped loud enough to prevent eavesdropping. Several varieties of othernaturals danced on top of platforms throughout the space and the sweet copper scent of blood drowsed the air like opium. Vampires – all fringe – mingled with various types of fae, some varcolai, and an assortment of beautiful human men and women dressed in white with blond hair and ruby lips and …

  Glints of swirling gold.

  ‘This is new,’ Mal muttered.

  Her heart thudded with realization. Her hand shot for her sacre, but Mal caught it before she reached the weapon’s handle, interlaced his fingers with hers, and drew her in as though they were embracing. ‘Relax,’ he whispered in her ear.

  She struggled against his cold grip, working her fingers loose. ‘Those are comarré. Serving fringe. They’ve got to be here against their will.’

  ‘Shh … ’ He shook his head. ‘Look closer.’

  ‘I need to help—’

  ‘Look,’ he whispered again, this time cupping her cheek and gently turning her head.

  She stared, heart beating with the need to rescue her brothers and sisters. Being tied to nobility was bad enough, but fringe? After a long minute, her heart slowed. The signum weren’t quite right. Some of the red lips were smudged. Dark roots shadowed pale locks. She relaxed her hand, splaying it against his chest to steady herself. ‘They’re counterfeit.’

  She’d never seen such a thing. Never imagined it. Still pressed to him, she stared harder, picking out the subtle ways they were different. ‘Do they glow?’

  ‘No. Not like you.’ His mouth was above her ear now, causing his voice to reverberate through her hair. His mouth moved against her scalp as though he wanted to say something else, but he kept silent.

  ‘Fake comarré.’ She spat the word. Seeing the impostors doused her with a cold splash of indignation. Being comarré was not something to play at. It wasn’t a game. Wasn’t a costume that could be taken on and off at will. Had Mal felt this way that first night at the club, surrounded by humans pretending to be his bloodsucking brothers?

  ‘Not fake exactly, but not real either. They’re a sort of fringe, like the masters they serve.’ He inhaled and the movement of air lifted a shiver from her. ‘They don’t have your perfume, your glow … your … ’ He swallowed, a purely reflexive action. ‘They’re nothing like you.’

  She should pull out of his embrace. ‘I don’t like it.’

  ‘I don’t either, but this is not our world.’ He made no move to release her. ‘You’re not going to hurt anyone, are you?’

  Our world. How staggering three letters could be. ‘Not at the moment, no.’

  ‘Then I’m going to let you go, but you’ve got to stay close to me. I doubt they’ve seen a genuine comarré before.’ Still, he held her tight. ‘If they think I’m your patron, they’ll leave you alone.’

  ‘You are my patron.’ Where they touched, his body had warmed to the same temperature as hers. She wondered if the heat was a boon or a bother.

  ‘You know what I mean.’ He sighed, ruffling her hair with the exhale. ‘One of these vamps thinks you’re available and we’re all going to be breathing ashes.’

  ‘Understood.’

  With a reluctant slowness, his hands loosened and his arm returned to her waist. ‘Let’s find Dominic.’

  The main room had seven arched doorways, each labeled with one of the seven deadly sins. Vanity had glistening gold-mirrored curtains covering the entrance, Envy had gilded chain mail, Sloth had nothing. Wrath’s doors were riveted steel and guarded by an armed shadeux fae, which was kind of like igniting both ends of a stick of dynamite – completely unnecessary and bound to result in someone getting hurt.

  Mal directed them toward Lust. Beyond the heavy suede curtain, a red glass bar curved against the far wall. Vampires lay on embroidered chaises while the fake comarré flitted around them. Chrysabelle’s gut soured at the sight.

  As she and Mal approached the bar, a woman came toward them, every inch of visible skin hennaed in delicate fae runes. Her sheer silks were trimmed in gold like a storybook genie’s, but her pointed ears and overlarge eyes gave away her true lineage.

  Haerbinger fae.

  Chrysabelle’s gut went from sour to ice-cold. The fae extended her hands palms up, the chains connecting the rings on her middle fingers to her wrist bracelets swaying. Why wasn’t she wearing gloves?

  ‘Surely this must be a special occasion for the noble Malkolm to grace us. Or have you decided to return to the Pits?’

  ‘Satima.’ Mal gave the fae a curt nod. His hold on Chrysabelle tightened. What were the Pits? He’d flinched just the tiniest bit at that question. ‘Where’s Dominic?’

  Satima laughed, a lovely tinkling sound offset by the sharp teeth glistening behind her wine-stained lips. ‘Still the same charmer, I see.’ She turned her voluminous chocolate eyes on Chrysabelle and leaned in. ‘Hello there, pretty one. I don’t think I’ve met you before.’

  Without thinking, Chrysabelle took a step behind Mal and grabbed hold of his leather coat. Haerbinger fae drank blood. Something he obviously knew too, as he moved to shield her further.

  ‘Satima.’ Mal’s warning echoed like distant thunder, rippling through Chrysabelle where she clung to him.

  ‘Now, now,’ Satima said. ‘There’s nothing wrong with a little sharing among old friends.’

  Mal’s body completely blocked Chrysabelle’s view of the haerbinger. She leaned closer, putting her head down. His hands fisted. ‘I don’t share, and we’ve never been friends.’

  Chrysabelle twisted against him, putting them back to back for better defensive position. Instantly, his body tensed like he’d been shocked. One hand reached back and pushed her away enough to separate them.

  ‘Hmph,’ she snorted. He hadn’t had a problem with touching her earlier. Beneath her shirt, she adjusted the sacre’s strap where it dug into her should— She stopped, realizing she’d rested the blade against him. Had he actually felt its heat through the leather sheath and the fabric of their clothes? Was that possible? But then she’d never known a vampire who could charm varcolai. Mal was one surprise after another.

  Satima laughed again. ‘You’re wise to hide your pet in here. Come out, pretty one. I won’t bite unless asked. Or your patron gives his blessing.’

  Chrysabelle stayed where she was.

  ‘Which I won’t,’ Mal assured her. ‘Now get Dominic before I start looking for him myself.’

  ‘Dominic’s not here,’ Satima said.

  ‘He’s here,’ Mal countered. ‘Get him. Now.’

  Chrysabelle’s fists itched to teach the haerbinger a lesson about what a real comarré could do. Unfortunately, hitting the fae wouldn’t dissipate the attention they were already attracting. She snuck a glance around Mal. Satima sauntered away. That didn’t keep heads from turning to watch them or conversations from quieting in an attempt to hear what was going on. A few of the fringe vamps eyed her with more than curiosity.

  Especially the one stalking toward her.

  She tugged at Mal’s coat. ‘We have more company.’ Large company, with fangs showing, flames shaved into his close-cropped hair, and tiny gold hoops glinting at each earlobe.

  The fringe vamp stopped in front of her, appraising her like she imagined one might a racehorse. Or a steak dinner. He held out his hand. ‘Come with me.’

  ‘Like hell she will.’ Mal turned, his words a twisted snarl. ‘She’s mine, Ronan.’

  She ignored the subtle charge of his claiming her. Little point in reveling in a pretense. ‘You know this fringe?’

  Ronan dropped his hand and hooked a thumb in the waistband of his leather pants. An unwanted thrill rippled through her. Curse her fickle blood. No, curse Mal. Until he pierced her skin and truly became her patron, she’d waver every time a new set of fan
gs showed themselves.

  ‘Yeah, he knows me.’ Ronan leaned in and smiled. His fangs weren’t as long as Mal’s. The fire inside her cooled a bit. ‘Which is why he’s not going to fight me over you. Not to mention I’m head of security here now.’ He grabbed her bicep and hauled her forward.

  Mal grabbed her other arm and yanked back.

  ‘Hey!’ She jerked her arm from Ronan’s grasp, falling hard into Mal. The sacre made contact again and he sucked in sharply. She moved away quickly but still stayed close. Maybe she should unsheathe the weapon and dissect this fringe’s C1 and C2 vertebrae. Holy mother, she wanted to hit something. The need to lash out coiled in her muscles.

  Mal held her hand. Possessively. Like she was his property. Which, technically, she was. ‘I don’t care what you’re the head of. Touch her again and I’ll kill you.’

  Ronan laughed. ‘You mean you’ll try. Don’t forget who came out of the Pits a victor, old man.’ He reached for Chrysabelle a second time.

  ‘Things have changed since those days, whelp.’ Mal’s fist slammed Ronan’s head back, dropping him before the fringe made contact. Mal curved his arm around her, gently moving her behind him as Ronan shot to his feet.

  Her sense of relief didn’t last long.

  Fingers lifted a section of her hair. ‘Pretty.’

  She spun and came face to face with a male version of Satima. Sweet sunlight. Another haerbinger. At least he couldn’t make skin contact thanks to the flesh-colored leather covering his hands. Henna runes decorated his arms but turned into a swirling phoenix design on his bare chest.

  ‘Don’t get any ideas, haerbinger.’ Her fingers itched for her wrist blades.

  Mal glanced over his shoulder. ‘Pasha only drinks from Satima.’

  Chrysabelle studied the new fae. A subtle glow that had nothing to do with the club’s lighting system emanated from his eyes. ‘Are you … ?’

  ‘Gemini?’ Pasha smiled, his teeth as sharp and white as a wolverine’s. ‘Yes, I am.’

  Chrysabelle shuddered, ignoring the scuffling going on behind her. Paradise City just got better and better. ‘That makes Satima your twin.’ No wonder he only drank from her.