He leaned in. “If you can’t take a fringe down, how do you think you’ll be able to handle Arnaud with his age and abilities?”
“I have a reason to kill Arnaud.” That she would have no issue with.
“You have a reason to kill Nero, too. If you don’t, I won’t go through with this.”
She needed Dominic. Going up against Arnaud in libertas would undoubtedly leave her broken even if she did win. Without Dominic’s resources, what would she do? Where would she go, and how would she get there? She’d be banished from the Primoris Domus. Being turned out onto the streets of Corvinestri without the protection of her house would be a death sentence.
Dominic was her best, if not only, hope. She glanced at Nero. In all her training days, she’d never faced an opponent that large. All it really meant was that he’d make a louder noise when he hit the ground.
Dominic gently gripped her arm. “Listen to me. What you feel for Arnaud? The way you loathe him? Channel that toward Nero. There is power in emotion. Harness it, and he cannot beat you. Let it control you and you’ll be lost.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.” She looked back at Nero. There was no point in hiding her abilities from Dominic. Not at this stage in the game.
“I won’t let him kill you.” He cupped her cheek. “And if 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 a second long look at Nero, then lifted her chin and faced Dominic. Compassion shone in his eyes like a promise. “Bring me a weapon.”
Chapter Nine
Dominic waited until Marissa and Nero had taken ten paces back from the center of the boccie ball court. He hated to destroy the carefully cultivated sod there, but there was every chance he’d be leaving this estate in a few weeks and never looking back. Unblemished grass wouldn’t matter then.
He raised his hand, pride and fear warring in his chest. Marissa had chosen a long sword, a weapon he’d tried to dissuade her from, but she’d held firm. It was a smart choice, even if she didn’t know how to use it. A blade of that length would give her a little protection against Nero’s reach. He, on the other hand, had laughed and refused any kind of weapon, raising his cleaver-sized hands instead.
“There are no rules to this fight. Nero, to win, you must simply incapacitate Marissa. She needn’t be harmed. A cry of mercy on her 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.
“That doesn’t seem fair,” Marissa argued. She gave Nero a stare that would have been more at home on the face of a weathered soldier. “After all, I intend to kill him.”
Nero growled at her statement. Of course, this was news to him. Dominic wished Marissa hadn’t shared that bit. By doing so, she’d lost any advantage it had given her.
Dominic raised his hand. “Prego?”
Nero hunkered down, arms hanging loosely at his sides. “Prego,” he snarled.
Marissa’s posture changed very little, other than the subtle turning out of her front foot; then she, too, answered, “Ready.”
Dominic dropped his hand. “Begin.”
He watched it unfold as though time had slowed, but he knew it was only his heightened sight that made it possible to catch each detail of the action.
Marissa leaped, tucking her body into a ball as she went over Nero’s lunging form. She landed on his back, flattening him. He roared, but by the time he’d pushed to all fours, she spun around and planted her feet on his shoulder blades. The sword, already held high, came swishing down. A hard glint of silver preceded a brilliant, wet flash of red.
Followed by a cloud of ash.
Dominic’s mouth fell open.
She strode toward him, tiny whirls of gray spinning out behind her steps. She held the sword hilt out. He took it, still speechless.
She smiled. “How’s your faith in me now?”
“That wasn’t even a fight.”
“Did you want me to draw it out? You said kill him; you didn’t say make a show of it.”
He narrowed his eyes, too amazed to let her sauciness affect him. Much. Mamma mia, she was a curious creature. One he was coming to desire more than was prudent. Perhaps that explained the pride he felt in what she’d just done. “How do you know how to do this?”
“Never underestimate a comarré.” She brushed her hands off. “If you don’t mind, I think I’ll take a bath before dinner.”
“How much of that was the Bellona and how much of that was you?”
She smiled. “Your eyes are so silver right now I can see myself reflected 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.
“Buona fortuna.” Laughing softly, she leaned up, kissed his cheek, then walked out of the recreation hall.
Good luck might not be enough. He stared at the smattering of ash that had once been Nero. “What have I created?” He sank down into a chair. Maybe nothing. His serum may have made her faster and stronger, but it hadn’t taught her how to move or wield a sword.
Three things became very clear to him. One was that Marissa was a woman of many secrets. Two was that he was very glad he was not Arnaud. And three was that his desire for her showed no signs of diminishing.
He didn’t see her again until mealtime. When she entered the dining room in a simple flowing gown of white silk, her long blond hair pulled back and woven through with a few thin braids, it was difficult to accept that this was the same woman who’d dispatched Nero so effortlessly. He lost himself in her glow and the sugary perfume that surrounded her. “Bella. You look beautiful.”
Her smile was hesitant. “Does that mean my sword skills haven’t changed the way you feel about me?”
He laughed. “No, your skills have definitely changed the way I feel about you. All for the good, I promise. And I will be very careful not to upset you.”
She reached up to touch his face the way she’d done earlier. Her hands were so warm he pressed his cheek farther into her palm as she spoke. “You are the most interesting vampire I’ve ever met. Why are you so different from your brethren? You make me think dangerous thoughts about the future.”
“A future together would be dangerous, would it not?” The joy in her eyes died at his words and her hand slipped from his face, but he caught it and held it to his cheek. “To me, that makes it all the more interesting. I understand why so many of my kind call upon me to end their boredom. Life grows commonplace.” He turned and kissed her palm. “With you, life would never be commonplace.”
“So, you’re still willing to proceed?”
“With all my being.” He stared deeply into her eyes. “I feel like you have rescued me. For many years now, I have been a slave to the responsibilities of the nobility. My need to serve them and please them outweighed my true passion—the quest to discover new things, to expand my abilities, to conquer new difficulties. I no longer feel that way anymore. I feel…free.”
She shook her head, the smile still on her red lips. “Am I your new difficulty?”
He laughed and pulled out a chair for her. “Is that so terrible?”
“I’ve been called worse. And will be again after I ask Arnaud for libertas.”
Dominic rang the crystal bell beside his wineglass. A servant entered and put a rare steak and a steaming baked potato before Marissa. “Is that what you like to eat? I guess it’s what they prepare for Catarina. I must pay more attention.”
She dug into the steak. “The better a comarré eats, the better their blood tastes.” She took a bite and chewed.
“Speaking of comarré, what will become of Catarina if—when—we leave?”
Marissa swallowed and tipped her head. “The easiest thing would be for you to grant her freedom.” She took a sip of water. “Then sh
e can live at the Secundis Domus and do whatever she likes. There she can choose whether to make herself available for another patron.”
“Very good. That is what I’ll do. I can have a message sent to the Secundis Domus tomorrow.”
“Not so fast. We’ll need her with us when we get to Arnaud’s.”
“Why? I’d prefer not to involve her in this.”
“In order for my request for libertas to be binding, it must be witnessed by another vampire—you—and another comarré—her. Otherwise, Arnaud can ignore the claim and we’ll be back where we started.”
“You think Catarina will do this for you?”
“In exchange for her freedom?” Marissa smiled. “I don’t think it will be an issue.” She went back to her food.
“After this is over and we are free to leave—or forced to leave, which might be more likely, as I am sure I will be made anathema—where would you like to go?”
She added butter to her potato. The pale yellow melted into the snowy white flesh as she thought. “Somewhere…fresh. A place where we can start over without prejudice. Maybe somewhere warm. I’m tired of Romanian winters. Do you have any ideas?”
He sat back and tapped his fingers on the table. “I will find somewhere perfect. Somewhere exactly as you wish.”
She ate a little more, both of them in silence until he broke it once again. “Are you afraid?”
Her face went solemn with thought as she swallowed. Then she nodded. “Yes. Everything changes the moment I utter that word. Everything.”
He nodded. “I’m glad you said that. I would be worried if you weren’t.” He twisted his wineglass, causing small ripples in the Brunello. “Few good things in life come easy.”
She set her fork down. “Are you afraid?”
“I am a noble vampire with more strength and power than most men ever dream of.” His eyes stayed on the wine. “Even my bones fear what is about to happen.”
“Then why do it? What do you have to gain?” Even as the words left her mouth, fear dulled her eyes.
He looked up and smiled, trying to reassure himself as much as her. “I have lived this life a very long time. It has been good to me. But Arnaud is about to change all that. I will either become his slave or suffer the consequences of refusing him.” He looked deeper into her eyes. “What do I have to gain by helping you? Freedom from Arnaud and a new life. A life with something this one has long been lacking—companionship.” He relaxed as the fear in her eyes faded. “We will go through this together.”
“To a point.”
His smile disappeared. “What do you mean?”
“I will tell Arnaud you had nothing to do with this. That I refused to allow you to touch me or alter my blood in any way despite your efforts. Then, if he kills me, you can go back to your life without incident.”
Chapter Ten
Marissa had spent the last three weeks very simply. Training to fight Arnaud and spending time with Dominic. He sat with her while she ate, went for walks with her in his garden, listened to her hopes and fears, entertained her with stories from his youth and made her realize that her feelings for him had become something much greater than just a plan. Love had taken hold of her heart, and denying it was no longer possible.
But love was not on her mind at the moment. Now, bent over, sword in one hand, fists on her thighs, Marissa took a moment to let her breathing even out. “Well, that made a difference. How much did you give him?” These past weeks, she’d dispatched a handful of fringe vampires, but this last one had been more of an effort.
Dominic came to her side, concern marring his handsome face. “A full vial of the Bellona.”
“How much did you give me?”
“Half.” The furrow between his brows narrowed. “I will give you the full vial as well before you face Arnaud.” He checked his pocket watch. “Almost four minutes.”
She straightened and lifted her braid to cool her damp neck. “The fight with Arnaud won’t go much longer.” She smiled, trying to ease the alarm in his eyes. “Because I’m ready for him.”
Dominic tucked his watch away and nodded unconvincingly. “I hope you are right. I cannot help my worry.”
“Don’t. Not one of these fringe has laid a hand on me. I’m not saying the fight ahead will be easy, but with this practice and your serum, I feel very confident.” Her smile deepened and reached out to him, taking his hand. In these past weeks, he’d fed from her numerous times and the bond between them was now almost a tangible thing. But more than that, the unthinkable had happened. She’d come to genuinely care for him. To miss him during the daylight hours when he slept and her mind wandered to unhappy outcomes. “I don’t like it when you worry.”
His mouth bent in a half smile. “How can I not? The prospect of an eternity without you, bella mia, is not something I care to contemplate. Not after this wonderful time we have shared. I want more of that. Much more.”
“So do I.” And that was the truth, so help her. She let him pull her in close, protesting only slightly. “I need a shower.”
He ignored her words to kiss her wrist, his fangs grazing her skin, his eyes shutting briefly. “Our time comes to a close.” Still clasping her hand, he pressed her palm to where his heart had once beaten. “You’re sure you feel confident?”
“Very.” Or at least as much as she could feel when her next meeting with Arnaud could be her last. In more ways than one. “I could fight him tomorrow.”
“Three days from now is time enough.” Dominic nodded. “But I am glad you feel this way. And…I would like to propose we take a break from the training.”
“And do what?”
His eyes crackled silver. “Get to know one another more than we already have. We are anticipating a very long future in each other’s company.” The silver died a bit. “Or perhaps not.” He squeezed her hand. “Either way, I know better ways to spend these nights before we return to Corvinestri.”
She tipped her head back. A shiver of anticipation ran through her already-flush body. She was no innocent virgin. If she was going to die at Arnaud’s hands, she would prefer one memory that was purely her own, untouched by comarré law. If that’s what Dominic was suggesting, she would gladly agree. “Such as?”
“Wine and song, revelry, and the chance to be whoever we desire.” He stroked a fingertip over the signum on her cheek and whispered, “Carnevale di Venezi,” like he tasted sunlight on his tongue. “We shall go and lose ourselves in the crowd and forget, at least for these few last days, what awaits.”
He stepped away and held out his hand to her. “What say you, cara mia? Shall we dance in the streets of Venice and take our pleasure where we find it?”
The idea of walking among mortals, hidden by masks that would allow them to go unnoticed and unfeared caused her head to spin. Embolden by the ephemeral ticking of fate’s clock, she reached for his hand. “I say we go. I say we live like we have no tomorrow.”
Because she knew very well they might not.
* * *
Waves of masked revelers flowed through Venice, turning the streets into a sea of iridescent silk and shimmering satin. “It’s unbelievable,” Marissa whispered as their gondola passed beneath a bridge and turned toward the Grand Canal. Lights from other gondolas dotted the waterway, bobbing up and down on the gentle swells. “I can see why you keep a home here. It’s perfect.”
Beside her, Dominic nodded, but his gaze picked through the crowd peering over the bridge. “It’s only perfect because we are here together.”
She smiled and leaned into him a little more. Thanks to his wide web of influence, they were also perfectly outfitted. A favor owed turned into matching costumes and masks, both elaborate designs in white and gold. They looked like a grand lord and lady from centuries past. Her hair was tucked into a tall white wig, while long, white curls covered Dominic’s dark locks. Pearls and crystals decorated the gold masks that hid everything but their mouths.
Dominic had insisted on that, re
fusing, he said, to be kept from kissing her. His bold words had made her blush; she was thankful that she’d have the mask to hide behind all evening. “When are you going to tell me where we’re going?”
He tipped his head toward a grand palazzo ahead of them. “Now. We’ve arrived. The ball will already be under way.”
She studied the gorgeous coral mansion ahead of them on the Grand Canal. Colored smoke curled up from large gold pots outside the entrance. “A ball? What house is that?”
“The Palazzo Pisani Moretta. And the ball is the Il Ballo del Doge. The most famous ball in Venice.” He smiled. “Impossible to get tickets for.”
She laughed. “But somehow you managed two.”
“Of course.” He nodded as the gondola pulled up to the steps, looking once behind them and scanning the other gondolas.
Masked footmen helped her out, and as soon as Dominic was beside her, he took her hand and led her forward. At the door, he showed a gold coin, and after its inspection, they were granted entrance.
Inside was another world.
Fire-eaters, jugglers, and musicians greeted them as they strolled through the house. Acrobats hung from the ceiling in the main ballroom, twisting and spinning on yards of red and purple silk, while others dangled from enormous metal hoops dressed as exotic birds. There were so many things to look at, she felt a little dizzy. “Wow.”
Dominic laughed and snagged two glasses of champagne from a passing server. He held one out to her.
“No, thank you, I can’t. At least not until…things are settled.”
“Ah, yes. The comarré laws prohibit alcohol, don’t they?” He smiled sadly. “It’s unfortunate you won’t taste this, considering…” He moved to set both glasses down on a side table.
“Wait.” A thousand alarms went off in her head, all telling her what she was about to do was wrong. Let the blasted alarms ring. She might die in a few days. A sip of champagne was not going to change that. “Give me the glass.”
With a new smile, he handed her a flute, then lifted his and clinked it against hers. “To us, cara mia, and whatever future lies ahead.”
Forbidden Blood: A House of Comarré Novella Page 5