Last Blood hoc-5

by Kristen Painter

  “Si.” Dominic pulled out a small glass vial from his jacket and held it out to Creek. “This will protect you.”

  “Thanks.” He took the vial, turning it so the cloudy liquid inside sloshed. He twisted the top off. “There’s something else.”

  “Si?”

  “I need a second for the fight. Someone to take care of things if the outcome doesn’t go my way.” Creek put the vial to his lips and drank. Tasted like chalk. “I wouldn’t ask this of you, but I was hoping Mortalis might do it.”

  The fae nodded, but Dominic spoke. “It will be handled. Neither of us is leaving until this is over.”

  “I didn’t think you were going to stay.”

  Dominic smiled. “And leave my new investment alone? Not yet I think.”

  Creek tossed the vial toward the kitchen sink. It shattered against the stainless steel. Dominic wanted to see if his investment was going to live or not. Understandable. “What if she makes eye contact with you?”

  “Mortalis and I have taken the necessary precautions.”

  Creek pointed to the sleeping loft. “Regardless, you might want to watch from up there.” He pulled his phone out and checked the time. “She’ll be here soon.”

  A knock rang out from the door.

  “Or now.” As Dominic and Mortalis headed upstairs, Creek went to let Annika in. “Right on time.”

  “This isn’t something to be late for.” She came in, phone in hand. She tapped the screen as he secured the shop again. It lit up with a document. She held it out to him. “I need you to read this and press your thumb to the signature box when you’re done.”

  He took the phone. “What is it?”

  “Your termination agreement.”

  He scrolled through it. Page after page flew by. “Give me the bullet points.”

  “You agree to hold harmless the Kubai Mata in any past, present, and future events. You agree to deny all knowledge of them and their operations, as they will of you. Furthermore, you understand that any and all subsidies provided to you by the KM will cease to exist the moment you sign off.”

  “Una’s scholarship?”

  “As discussed, it terminates at the end of her current semester.”

  “But not before.”

  “Not before.” She nodded at the phone. “It’s all in there.”

  At least that would buy him a few months to scrounge up the plastic to pay that bill. “What about the brands on my back?”

  She scowled. “We’re not the comarré, Creek. I’m not going to cut them out of you if that’s what you’re asking.”

  Yeah, actually, it was. Good to know. He lifted the phone. “Anything else in here I need to know about?”

  “The KM has the right to call on you in the future, but you also have the right to refuse. If you agree, you’ll be paid on a case-per-case basis.”

  “I’m never going to say yes.”

  “I know.” She smiled. “I also know you should never say never.” She tipped her head back like she was looking up. “Either one is a good choice for a second.”

  He pressed his thumb to the screen. A second later, the phone buzzed, and then the one in his pocket did the same. He handed Annika’s phone back to her as he pulled his out. A copy of the document was in his mail.

  She pointed at the device. “You can keep your halm and crossbow as parting mementos, but I’m going to need that back.”

  He held up the phone. “Then how am I going to keep a copy of that agreement?”

  “Send me a copy,” Dominic called down. “I’ll make sure he gets it.”

  Annika nodded and began typing in the e-mail address Dominic gave her. Creek set his phone on the cable spool. The rumble of an old, gas-burning engine died outside and a car door slammed. The sounds of the neighborhood. He glanced around the machine shop. Yes, it was a dump, but it had been home for a few months. Now he was without a place to live and stuck with a new job that had the potential to be just as bad as his old one. Maybe this hadn’t been the right decision.

  The shop door squealed on its track and a familiar face peeked through the gap.

  Creek’s gut knotted. “What are you doing here?”

  Mawmaw’s thick, black-rimmed glasses made her eyes seem bigger than they really were. “Is that any way to greet your grandmother?”

  “Now’s not really a good time.”

  She squeezed in through the narrow opening, tugging her overstuffed purse along behind her. “Don’t say things that make you look ridiculous. Now’s the perfect time.” She shifted her gaze to Annika, then shot a quick look at Dominic and Mortalis. “I see all the players are here.”

  “Players?” Creek’s level of confusion jumped up a notch. “What do you mean?”

  “What I mean is that you’re not going through this without family to support you.” She plopped her purse on the coffee table and took a seat. “Now.” Her eyes narrowed on Annika like she was trying to defeat the sector chief herself. “Let’s get on with it, shall we? I ain’t getting any younger.”

  Mal stepped through the portal to find Damian waiting. The smell of his blood roused the voices, but only slightly. After time in the Garden, they seemed subdued. Almost awed by the experience. Perhaps it had been the realization that he could have ended his existence—and theirs—with the Tree of Life’s fruit.

  The comar’s hackles went up at the sight of Chrysabelle in Mal’s arms. “What happened? What’s wrong?” His gaze dropped to the little girl holding on to Mal’s pant leg. “Who is that?”

  “Quiet,” Mal said. “She’s sleeping.” Chrysabelle sighed deeply. “She’s exhausted.” He tipped his head toward Lilith. “And this is Lilith.”

  His brows shot up, disbelief rounding his eyes. “Lilith? As in the big, bad vampire everyone was worried about?”

  “Yes. Long story, but first I need to get your sister in bed so she can rest.” Lilith crowded Mal’s leg.

  Damian backed away.

  “She’s not a vampire anymore, Damian. She’s a child again. An innocent.” Chrysabelle stirred, so he dropped his voice as much as he could without losing the urgency. “All the ancient evil that twisted her up is gone.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “Positive. Now move.”

  Hesitantly, Damian opened the bathroom door and stepped to the side. “Get Chrysabelle in bed. I’ll take care of the portal.”

  Without another word, Mal carried Chrysabelle into the next room, Lilith toddling along at his side. He led her to a chair. “You sit here.”

  She shook her head, reaching for him. “No. You stay.”

  “I’m not going anywhere, I promise. I’ll be right back, okay?”

  Halfway to a full-on pout, Lilith threw herself into the chair. Then she crossed her arms and stared at him angrily. He sighed. He remembered that look from Sophia.

  Shaking his head, he eased Chrysabelle onto the bed, then started undoing the elaborate leather gear she wore. The outfit was the last thing he’d expected her to wear, but she looked like a warrior goddess in it. Maybe that was the point. And now they both knew she really was a warrior. At least the daughter of one.

  Half angel. He shook his head again.

  Velimai walked in as he unbuckled the last strap. She stopped dead in her tracks and pointed to Lilith, mouth open in wonder.

  “Explanation to come, but first I need something for Chrysabelle to sleep in.”

  Velimai nodded, eyes still on Lilith. She went to the dresser and came back with a slip of white silk that seemed more like something he should be taking off Chrysabelle than putting on her. The fabric snagged on Velimai’s rough skin as she handed it over. When he took it, her hands started moving.

  He grimaced. “You know I don’t understand signing.”

  Velimai crooked her fingers and held them up to her mouth like fangs, then made an hourglass shape in the air and gave him a questioning look.

  “Tatiana?” He loosened Chrysabelle’s top.

  She nodded. />
  “Contained. Permanently.” He tugged the sheet over Chrysabelle before slipping the leather free. As soon as they were off, her belly swelled beneath the covers.

  His mouth opened and he stared. “How… she didn’t look pregnant at all in the Garden.”

  Velimai signed something else.

  Mal growled. “Damn it, fae, go get your tablet.”

  Rolling her eyes, Velimai left, her hands moving the whole time.

  “Everything okay?” Damian came out of the bathroom, drying his hands on a towel.

  “Other than that I can’t read fae sign language, yes.” He glanced at the bathroom. “Portal gone?”

  “Completely.” A quick look at Lilith and he tossed the towel over his shoulder. “What was it like?”

  “Beautiful.” And informative, but Damian would never be privy to the information Chrysabelle had received.

  “I’m sure it was, but I meant killing—”

  “She’s not exactly dead but she is contained. I’ll explain soon.” Mal adjusted the covers over Chrysabelle as he canted his head toward Lilith. Her crossed arms hung limp near her waist and her chin bobbed toward her chest. “I guess I need a bed for that one too.”

  “There’s a guest room a few doors down. I can put her in there and then meet you downstairs.”

  “Good.” Mal turned off the bedside lamp. “Then we’ll talk there.”

  Damian scooped Lilith up and took her to the other room. Mal met Velimai on his way down the steps and brought her to the kitchen with him. He grabbed a bottle of whiskey off the bar on the way in. Velimai found glasses as Damian joined them at the table.

  Mal filled the glasses, but Velimai ignored hers to scrawl on her tablet. The child is Lilith?

  “Yes, that’s her. She ate fruit from the Tree of Life and it killed off her vampire side, leaving her mortal one intact. She survived it because she was born both vampire and human, never sired. She’s a hundred percent human now. And the only family she has left is here in Paradise City. That’s why we brought her back.”

  Velimai nodded. Tatiana?

  “She also ate fruit from the Tree and it also killed off her vampire side, but because her human side was already dead, she had no choice but to remain in the Garden if she wanted to live. There’s no death in the Garden. But if she leaves it, steps just one foot beyond its borders, she dies.” Somewhere down deep, the beast shifted uncomfortably at the reminder.

  Velimai’s brows rose as she got up from the table, her lips pursing in a satisfied way. She leaned against the counter, taking slow sips of her whiskey.

  “It’s done then.” Damian held his by the rim, turning it, but not drinking. He stared into the amber liquid as if he expected it to do something.

  “Yes. Finally.” Mal tossed his back. The burn felt good. Reminded him that he was back on solid ground. He tipped his glass toward Damian. “Only works if you drink it.”

  Damian kept his hand on the glass, shifting his eyes to look at Mal. “Now that Tatiana’s taken care of, what are your intentions with my sister?”

  Mal almost smiled, but didn’t. “You mean am I going to make an honorable woman out of her?” Drain her.

  “Yes.” Damian wasn’t amused.

  Mal refilled his glass. “Absolutely. And I think she agreed while we were in the Garden, but she passed out before I could confirm it. I can’t force her to marry me.”

  Damian sat back. “So you’ve asked her?”

  “Several times.”

  “And she’s said?”

  “No. Not now. I need to think about it.” He downed the shot, mollified that the truth had sucked the anger out of Damian. “All her usual avoidance techniques.”

  “You want me to talk to her?”

  “Depends.” Mal stared at the comar.

  “On what?”

  “On what your advice to her would be.” Mal let a hint of silver into his eyes. “I know you can’t be thrilled about her relationship with me. What I am and what she is are two very different things and that’s got to make you a little crazy. Especially after what my ex-wife put you through.”

  Damian stared back, a thousand painful memories filtering through his eyes. He stayed silent long enough to make Mal uncomfortable. “You love Chrysabelle.”

  “I do. And she loves me back.”

  The comar shrugged. “She’s as free to do what she wants as I am. If she’s happy, who am I to stand in her way?” He picked his glass up and sipped.

  “Very forward thinking of you.” Mal lifted his glass in toast. “I appreciate that.”

  Damian set his drink down. “So do you want me to talk to her or not?”

  “Sure. But it won’t do any good.”

  “It might. I am her brother.” The comar smirked. “And about to be brother-in-law to a vampire and uncle to a half-vampire child. Holy mother, I never saw any of this coming.”

  Velimai snorted.

  Mal looked at the fae. “Don’t laugh, wysper. That means you and I are going to be like family, too.”

  She widened her eyes and made the sign of the cross, cringing in mock horror.

  Mal shook his head. “My kid is going to be seriously screwed up living in this house with you people.”

  Damian laughed. “There’s only one way to solve that.”

  “What’s that?” Mal asked.

  Damian raised a brow, his eyes slanting toward Velimai. “Move in.”

  Chapter Forty-six

  Mawmaw, I appreciate it, but you really can’t be here.” Creek scraped a hand over his head. “How did you even know anything was going on?”

  His grandmother flicked her gaze onto Annika. “Your sector chief invited me.”

  Creek spun to face her. “You had no right.”

  She shrugged. “I wasn’t sure you’d have a second.”

  He clenched his hands. Fighting a woman seemed a little more doable right now. “I was starting to feel unsure about my decision to leave the KM.” She’d done this on purpose and he knew that, but it didn’t make her actions any easier to take. “Not anymore. Let’s do this.”

  “As you wish.” She smiled, infuriating him further. Damn, she was good. He’d always been on her side, and hadn’t ever really seen this aspect of her, but she hadn’t gotten to be sector chief by winning the KM lottery. She unzipped her jacket and threw it on the floor, revealing a set of biceps that would make most teenage boys weep with jealousy.

  He pulled his shirt off. Behind him, Mawmaw inhaled sharply, reminding him she’d never seen the brands the KM had burned into his back.

  They began to circle each other, her smile never faltering. “You really mean to do this, don’t you?”

  “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.”

  Her hand lifted toward the button that raised the shades blocking her stone gaze. Before she reached it, he twisted into a roundhouse. His foot connected with her shoulder, knocking her sideways. She bent back, catching herself with one hand and pushing upright.

  Instead of retaliating, she straightened, put her palms together in front of her chest, and bowed to him. Then she looked up toward the sleeping loft. “That’s enough. I’m satisfied.” She held her hand out to Creek. “It was a pleasure working with you. I hope you find what you’re looking for.”

  Uncertainty settled over him. He stared at her. “What the hell are you talking about? What happened to fighting my way out? Was this some kind of test? What?”

  She snagged her jacket off the floor and put it on. “A small test. To make sure you were serious about leaving. That you wouldn’t back down.” She looked past him at his grandmother before continuing. “I also wanted to make sure those scales got used up.” She lifted her face to the loft. “I assume you used all of them in whatever potion you made to protect him?”

  Dominic didn’t answer.

  Creek held his hands out. “So the whole fight was just a setup?”

  “No, the fight was real.” She turned to leave.

  None of th
is was making any sense. “But you stopped it.”

  “Because your bond price has been paid.” She yanked the door open. “You have twenty-four hours to vacate the premises. Enjoy your new life.” Without a glance back, she slipped out and was gone.

  Creek turned to face his grandmother. Dominic and Mortalis were coming down the steps. “One of you want to tell me what the hell just happened here?”

  The three of them ignored him as if he wasn’t even there.

  Dominic nodded in deference to Creek’s grandmother. “I trust this settles things between us.”

  “Settles what things?” Creek asked. Nothing but crickets.

  She stood and held out her hand. “It does.”

  The vampire lifted Mawmaw’s hand and kissed the back of it. “As always, a pleasure.”

  Frustration pushed Creek. He grabbed his crossbow off the kitchen counter and aimed it at Dominic. “Somebody start explaining or it’s going to get dusty in here.”

  “Thomas Creek,” Mawmaw snapped. “Put that down this instant.”

  “Not until I get an explanation.”

  She raised her eyes to Dominic. He nodded, then lifted a hand. “Por favore, there is no need for the weapon.” He stiffened, as if bracing for Creek’s next move. “I paid your bond price.”

  Creek held the crossbow where it was. “I didn’t ask you to do that.”

  “No.” Dominic lifted his chin. “Your grandmother did.”

  Creek let the crossbow drop. “Why would you do that, Mawmaw? I will never be able to work that off.” She’d doomed him to the same life he’d just left. Always owing, never able to get free.

  “There is nothing to work off,” Dominic corrected. “The debt was owed to your grandmother. She simply asked me to do this with the funds instead.”

  Creek stared at his grandmother and slowly shook his head. “You’d better start from the beginning.”

  Still yawning, Chrysabelle padded through the hall toward the sound of sniffling that had woken her. She found Lilith sitting up in bed, sucking her thumb, cheeks wet with tears. Chrysabelle sat on the bed next to her and took hold of the little girl’s free hand. “What’s wrong, pumpkin?”

  “Mama,” she sobbed. “I want mama. Wanna go home.”