She raised hers a little higher. “And to this evening. Whatever it may bring.” She drank and the bubbles tickled her nose. Her quick swallow was followed with a laugh. “Oh! That is fun. It tastes…how I feel.” She took another long sip. “I might have another of those.”
He laughed and took her hand. “We should find you something to eat. Too much champagne and the night will end before you wish it to.”
Across the great hall, music swelled as the orchestra began. Couples filled the floor, each more elaborately costumed than the next. The longing to join in was too great to be denied. And for once, it didn’t have to be. “I can eat later,” she said. “Right now, I want to dance.”
And dance they did. So long, she forgot that she was not a free woman. In Dominic’s arms, her bonds fell away. He treated her like a queen, doting on her the whole evening. Anything she wanted to do, they did, whether it was watching the magic show or simply escaping for a moment of quiet on one of the secluded terraces overlooking the Grand Canal.
There, with the night sky wrapping the city in a blanket of stars and the gentle lapping of the water below them, she again remembered what awaited her. Her deep sigh must have betrayed her, because Dominic leaned in behind her, his hands beside hers on the balcony, his broad chest pressed to her back. He nuzzled his mouth near her ear. “What is it, tesora? Are you not enjoying yourself?”
“Yes, I am. I just remembered that this night will end.” She glanced at the horizon. “And in only a few hours.” She turned to face him, her hands coming up to his shoulders. “You have given me so many wonderful new memories, I could almost accept my lot if death awaits.”
“Almost?” Behind his mask, his eyes filled with confusion. “What else can I do for you, amore mio? Name it and it will be so.”
She smiled, his sweet words mingling with the champagne she’d been sipping all night. Courage swelled in her chest, filling her with a lightness born of pure joy. She took his face in her hands, his mask cold from his skin, and kissed him. “I want to be alone with you. Do you understand? Alone the way a man and woman who love each other are.” She smiled at her boldness, but she was past caring what she said or how she acted so long as it did nothing to derail her plan. Her skills in the art of love might be limited, but that wouldn’t stop her from taking this last step with him.
Desire swept the confusion from his eyes. “Cara mia, what you ask is not allowed, is it?”
“No,” she whispered. “Which makes the breaking of it that much sweeter.”
“Are you sure?” He breathed the words out like a plea. Or a prayer.
“Never more so.” The truth of the words surprised her. She did want him and not just because he was helping her.
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her, then took her hand. “Come.” Without pretense, he led her through the crowd and back down to the gondolas, commanding one immediately to return them to his palazzo.
Several times on the ride back, his gaze left her to scan a passing boat or examine someone on the street, but it was never for more than a moment and then he was hers again, whispering things in Italian that spun her head and body to the point of near madness.
Once they disembarked, he swept her into his arms and raced them through the lingering crowds. They were back in his palazzo before she knew it. After a brief word to the servants that they were not to be disturbed, he carried her to the bedroom and deposited her gently on the bed.
She reached for her mask, but he held up his hand. “Let me, bellissima. I want to savor every moment.” He untied his mask first and tossed it away, then removed hers, kissing her cheekbones and the bridge of her nose. “Since I first saw you, I dreamed of this. Now that you are finally in my arms, I will not let you go. No matter what happens.”
A shout from downstairs stilled them both. Then the doors burst open and three black-masked figures stormed in, brandishing swords. One pointed at Dominic. “Take your hands off the comarré. She belongs to Lord Arnaud.”
“Caedo,” Dominic snarled, reaching for a wall-mounted short sword. “Get out of my house before I turn you all to ash.”
One of the men grabbed Marissa and hauled her off the bed. “We plan on leaving. But you’re both coming with us. You have a lot to answer for.”
Dominic swung, slicing through the shirt of the intruder closest to him, but the second sprayed Dominic in the face with something. His eyes rolled back in his head; then he collapsed to the ground.
Marissa screamed. “What are you doing?”
The intruder turned toward her while the third restrained her. He aimed the small canister toward her and sprayed her with it as well. “Exactly what I was paid to.”
A cloud of sweet mist covered her face. She held her breath, but it was too late. She’d already inhaled. A second later, everything went black.
Chapter Eleven
Dominic awoke with claws scratching at the inside of his skull and the taste of pine coating his tongue. “Marissa,” he mumbled. When there was no response, he opened his eyes. They were not in Venice anymore.
At least they were upright. Marissa sat on the couch beside him, slumped against the arm. The well-appointed room’s beauty was marred by Arnaud sitting across from them.
“It’s about time you woke.”
Dominic cleared his throat. “You had us drugged.”
Arnaud nodded to an older comarré. “Wake her up. I’m tired of waiting.”
The older woman snapped a small white tube, then waved it under Marissa’s nose. She came to with a start. “What…where are we…oh.” She blew out a breath. “The Primoris Domus.” She eyed the woman who’d woken her. “Rennata.”
“What have you done, woman?” Rennata slanted her gaze at Dominic, her words an angry hiss. “Lord Arnaud says you were taken in flagrante delicto.”
“Worse than that,” Arnaud added. “I believe he’s fed from her. And all the while doing nothing to fulfill the task I’d given him.”
“How do you know?” Dominic asked. “Were you watching us?”
“Yes. I almost lost you when you went to Venice, but my comarré is easy to track.”
Marissa lifted her head. “How?”
With a snort, Arnaud’s gaze dropped to her hands. “Your ring. Did you think I would give you a gift for no reason? I am no fool. I actually expected you to run.”
Rennata tsked. “I do apologize, Lord Arnaud.”
Arnaud stood. “It’s not your concern, Madame Rennata. From you, all I expect is that this comarré is dealt with. I did not pay good money for her blood rights only to have my authority disregarded. She is—”
Rennata spun. “As I told you when you arrived, Lord Arnaud, I am sorry for your troubles, but you signed a contract agreeing not to return her. If she has caused you a problem, deal with it as you see fit.”
Silver gleamed in his eyes. “I do not believe you will care for my solution.”
Marissa struggled to her feet. “You would give me over to his whims, Rennata? Do you know what he wanted done with me? To have my blood—”
Arnaud flashed to her side and backhanded her. “From now on, you will not speak unless you are spoken to. Is that understood?”
Rage propelled Dominic forward. He caught Arnaud by the waist and took him to the ground, rearing back to strike him. “Touch her again and I’ll kill you myself.”
Marissa gasped.
“Enough!” The shush of metal punctuated Rennata’s command. A long ornate sword glimmered in the space between Dominic and Arnaud. This close, Dominic could feel the weapon was hot with holy magic. “This is my house,” she continued. “If you want to kill each other, do so on your own property. I do not wish to breathe ash for the next week.”
Neither vampire moved for a moment. Then slowly, Dominic retreated. He struggled not to show the residual effects of whatever he’d been drugged with, but his head swam and he knew his leap across the room had taxed his strength. He held his hands up in surrender for Rennata’s
sake. “As you wish.”
Arnaud jumped to his feet and brushed himself off, his eyes never leaving Dominic. “You’ve made a fatal mistake, Falconetti.”
“No,” Marissa said. “You have, Arnaud. Because one way or another, I’m done with you.”
Arnaud looked past Dominic and laughed. “I own you, comarré.”
Dominic turned to see her. Even after their abduction, with her hair wild about her face and her eyes like shards of blue ice, she looked like a goddess. Like Bellona come to life.
“You don’t own me, vampire, just my blood rights. And I’m about to change that.” With hard purpose, she glared at Rennata. “In front of you and Lord Falconetti as my witnesses, I claim libertas.”
Dominic wished he could go to her and tell her how proud she made him, but any show of emotion between them would serve no purpose at this point. He stayed quiet but hoped she saw the pride in his eyes.
Rennata’s face blanked, then twisted into contempt. “You cannot be serious.”
Marissa straightened. “I am.” Her voice was eerily quiet. “How soon can the challenge take place?”
“Challenge? Libertas?” Arnaud pushed past Dominic to stand beside Rennata. “What is this bloody nonsense?”
Rennata raised her brows and pursed her lips, her look coolly appraising. “Marissa has claimed libertas. It is every comarré’s right, although I’ve never known one to do it.” She glanced at Marissa before turning back to Arnaud. “It means that she believes she has the right to her freedom.”
“Like hell she does—”
Rennata held her hand up. “This is all detailed in the contract every vampire signs upon purchase of a comarré’s blood rights. Not that any of you bother to read the fine print.”
Dominic snorted. He hadn’t. But then the thing was nearly three hundred pages long and he’d merely inherited his copy.
When Arnaud stayed silent, Rennata continued. “The challenge of libertas is that the comarré and her patron must battle each other. If the comarré wins, she also wins her freedom.”
Arnaud grinned like he’d just heard something funny. Dominic sneered and wished for a short blade to run him through then and there. Arnaud crossed his arms. “And if I win?”
“You may have your choice of a new comarré.”
He practically beamed, which did nothing for Dominic’s disposition. “Then by all means, let us do battle and see who comes out the victor. Tomorrow at sundown?” He shook his head at Dominic. “That should coincide nicely with Lord Zephrim’s arrival.”
“You called the Dominus of the House of St. Germain?” Not that it mattered. Too much had been set in motion already.
“Yes,” Arnaud hissed. “I thought he should decide what to do with you.”
Rennata glared at him. “There is a little more you should know.”
Arnaud waved his hand and strode toward the door as though he’d just been invited to a picnic. “I’m sure it’s all fine.”
“It’s a battle to the death,” Rennata called after him.
He paused, then slowly turned around, eyes sparkling metallic, smile unchanged. He tipped his head and stared directly at Marissa. “Even better.”
Chapter Twelve
For the third time, Marissa closed her eyes and tried to meditate, but failed. Twilight’s purple gloaming cast her suite at the Primoris Domus in long shadows. The moment she’d been working toward had arrived. She would face Arnaud, win her freedom, and begin the second part of her plan to give that same gift to her daughter.
She’d just hoped to see Dominic alone one last time.
A knock on her door brought her to her feet with a sense of hope, but then she exhaled. It wasn’t him. It couldn’t be. Vampires weren’t allowed in this part of the Primoris Domus. Which meant…
She opened the door. “Rennata.”
The elder comarré pushed in, then shut the door behind her. “I cannot say enough times what a foolish, selfish thing you’ve done.”
“Apparently.” Holy mother, the woman was insufferable. Marissa pointed to the bags next to the door. “I’m packed and ready. When will the car be here?”
“It’s here now.” Rennata shook her head. “Do the right thing. Forget your training, ignore your instincts, and let him kill you. Protect us. Serve the greater good.”
Marissa’s jaw ached from clenching it so hard. “Twice I have given up children I wasn’t allowed to know, and now you want me to play the sacrificial lamb to protect this way of life?” She took a step closer. “We’ve all been raised to believe that someday we’re going to be called upon to rise up and destroy our host.” She poked a finger at Rennata. “How do you know that day isn’t today?”
Rennata shoved Marissa’s hand away. “Because you are a tiny cog in a very large machine, and that machine wasn’t built to save you. Or your remaining child.” She sniffed. “You should have stayed in the breeding program. At least you were good at that. Instead, you’re throwing your life away. Pointless,” she muttered.
Marissa picked up her bags and hefted the larger one over her shoulder. Too bad the sacre inside couldn’t come to the fight with her. She’d make short work of Arnaud if she could use her sword. “The only thing pointless is this conversation.” She shoved past Rennata, walked into the hall, then stopped and took one last look at the rooms she’d never see again.
Rennata scowled. “Having second thoughts?”
“Yes.” Marissa laughed with nervous energy, knowing it would only upset Rennata further. “About exactly how I plan to kill him.” With that, she turned and made her way through the estate’s vast corridors. One by one, doors opened and the comarré in residence stepped out of their rooms. Most stared at her as if she were a leper, but a few nodded as if they understood. As if they hoped they could be as brave.
As if they wished she could fight for them.
It buoyed her and when she finally stepped out the front door, her fear was gone, replaced by the calm of acceptance. What was to be would be.
A passenger door on the waiting limo swung open and Dominic got out. “Cara mia.” His smile broke with concern as he rushed to her side. Something unspoken danced in his eyes. “How are you?”
“I’m well.” She nodded and smiled back, hoping to reassure him. “And ready. Did you sleep?”
“No, but I used the time for good purposes. I have a plane waiting for us when this is over.” He took her bags and handed them off to the driver, who deposited them in the trunk; then Dominic ushered her into the car. “There is something I must tell you.”
“Me first.” She put her hand on his arm, her smile never faltering. “If it doesn’t go well today—”
“Do not say such things.”
She squeezed his arm and let her smile fade. “Listen to me. This is important. If things don’t go well, take me with you. I don’t want to be buried here. I want to be somewhere free.”
He swallowed but nodded. “Si, I understand. And I promise you, I will.”
“Thank you.” She stuck her arm out. “You should give me the serum now.”
His face fell. “Cara mia, that is what I wanted to tell you. The vial is gone, along with a few others I kept for personal use. All I can guess is that while we were incapacitated, Arnaud had my things searched. Anything that looked interesting, he took.”
Her calm ebbed away. “So I am to face Arnaud with only what the holy mother has provided me with.” She nodded. “Very well. Perhaps that is how it should be.”
He took her hands. “You can still do this.”
“I have to. I have no choice.” She slid back in the seat until the cool leather pressed against the thin silk of her tunic and reminded her that she was not going into the fight completely unarmed. She reached behind to her waistband. “I do have this.” She pulled out the slim wooden dagger given to all Primoris Domus comarré.
Dominic recoiled. “Holy magic. Just like Rennata’s sword.”
She nodded. “All comarré weapons are hot
. Our sacres are quenched in holy water and this”—she hefted the narrow blade in one hand—“this is Golgotha steel.”
“I know what it is.” He kept his distance from it. “The things I could do with a sliver of the True Cross.” He laughed nervously. “I do not wish to touch it, though.”
“Neither will Arnaud, but he won’t have a choice when it’s buried in his chest.” She tucked the blade under the front of her tunic and into the tight camisole she wore before settling back in her seat. Dominic reached over and took her hand. She let him, accepting the comfort and the support with a thankful heart. Even if he was a vampire, he was a good man and on her side. Better to go through this with him than alone. Just his belief in her made her stronger. For that, she would be forever grateful to him.
She closed her eyes as the car wound through the streets of Corvinestri, taking them to Arnaud’s home. A thousand thoughts whirled through her mind, most of them trying to anticipate the fight.
Dominic’s hand tightened over hers. “Marissa, we’re here.”
The car slowed and she opened her eyes. Arnaud’s estate was a sprawl of weathered stone and climbing ivy. The house might have been enchanting had it belonged to someone else, but knowing who occupied its walls gave it a menacing air instead.
With a deep breath, she climbed out of the car.
The next few minutes passed in a rush. Arnaud’s servants pulled her away from Dominic and shuttled her to a small anteroom. She was scanned for metal and patted down, but with her flowing tunic, there was no chance of the Golgotha steel being detected in her snug camisole. “I assume you’re treating Lord Arnaud the same way?”
“Yes,” Rennata answered from behind her. “He’s being checked for weapons as well. You should be grateful he agreed to that much.”
“Yes, it’s such a boon.” Marissa turned. She hadn’t heard the woman come in. “And if he secrets one in anyway?”
“He probably will. You should be prepared for that.”
I am, Marissa thought, but Rennata didn’t need to know that.
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