Out for Blood (34 page)

“This dress was made for my mother, wasn’t it?” Even the gold embroidery on the sash mimicked the curves and swirls of signum. “It’s amazing. Did she ever wear this?”

It
was
custom made and it’s stunning on you
, Velimai signed.
No, she never wore it
.

“Why not?” Chrysabelle twirled. The skirt flared softly. It would hide the daggers perfectly.

Because she changed her mind about marrying Dominic.

“This was her wedding dress?” Chrysabelle went still. The skirt swished to a stop. She let the significance of the words settle over her as she nodded slowly. “Then it’s the perfect dress to wear to kill Tatiana.”

“Syler’s outdone himself, don’t you think?” Tatiana cupped the Casablanca lily to her nose and inhaled.

“I do.” Octavian relaxed in an overstuffed chair before a crackling electric fire and sipped from a crystal goblet of blood, fresh from the suite’s well-stocked chiller. Lilith played with a doll at his feet. Over and over she bit the doll’s neck and laughed.

The suite of rooms Lord Syler had prepared for them was exceptional. Most definitely the best he had. The apartment also adjoined the quarters reserved for Daciana. The staff that they’d brought with them, just Kosmina, Oana, and Daci’s dressing maid, scurried about unpacking, putting things away, steaming their party clothes and setting their personal things around. Oana was making up the crib Syler had provided and preparing to put Lilith down for a nap. Poor child hadn’t slept at all on the plane.

“I’ll be back in a bit. Keep an eye on Lilith?”

Octavian nodded. “With pleasure.”

Tatiana walked through the suite to Daciana’s side. “Settling in?”

Daci turned from directing her maid and smiled. “I was just coming to see you. Lovely rooms, don’t you agree?”

“I do. Care to walk down to inspect the comar’s quarters with me? I’d like to make sure he’s properly secured. I will not abide any stupidity on his part. Not here.”

Daci clapped her hands. “I’d love to. You know, it’s so good of you to share him with me the way you have been. Now that I’m Elder, I’ve decided it’s time to get my own. Maybe while we’re here in
achtice.”

Tatiana nodded. “I can’t think of a better souvenir.”

They laughed as they made their way toward the comar’s space. Alone in the hall, Tatiana hooked her arm in Daci’s and pulled her closer. With a quiet voice, she said, “There are eyes and ears everywhere. We must be vigilant.”

Daci’s pale brows lifted. “You think someone would make another attempt on Lilith after what happened with Svetla?”

“No. I fear now that they will come after you or Octavian in an effort to weaken what we have created. I just need you to be vigilant at all times.”

With a sincere nod, Daci answered, “Absolutely.”

“That’s all I ask.” Tatiana hesitated as the hall forked. A servant came toward them from the left. “You there. Which way to the rooms where the comarré are being kept?”

“Back that way, my lady.” He pointed in the direction from which he’d come. “You’ll come to a set of locked double doors. The guard will let you through.”

The servant passed and Tatiana and Daci exchanged a look.

“Locked doors and a guard?” Tatiana laughed softly. “Syler really isn’t taking any chances, is he? I think it’s safe to say Damian won’t have an opportunity to misbehave.” She tipped her head at Daci. “Were you serious about buying your own comar?”

“Completely.”

“How about a trip to the Primoris Domus right now?”

Silver brightened Daci’s eyes. “I’d love that.”

“Wonderful. Let’s find Syler and have him arrange it this instant.” Tatiana stifled the laugh building inside her. How perfect. Acquiring a comar for Daci would give Tatiana an alternate blood supply should something
unfortunate
befall Damian here in
achtice.

Chapter Thirty-One

A
s Doc zipped up his jeans, Fi floated through the bedroom wall of the penthouse. He jumped back. “Holy hell, you scared the devil out of me.”

She materialized, dropped to the floor, and crossed her arms. “Somehow I doubt that.” She looked around the room like it was the first time she’d seen it. Something told him that wasn’t the case.

He’d thought finding Fi would be the hard part of getting her ready for the fight with Heaven, but apparently he was wrong. Seemed his ability to predict her actions was getting less accurate every day. “I’m sure you’re here because you know Heaven isn’t.”

She shrugged, still not making eye contact. “Yeah, I know. I saw her get into that big limo downstairs. Must be a shoe sale somewhere.” She frowned at the bed and finally glanced at him. “I need to tell you something.”

“I already know what it is.” He sat on the bed and picked his words carefully. Doing something to send Fi running again would be a bad thing.

She shoved a bunch of Heaven’s stuff to one side of the dressing table and plopped down on it. “I kinda figured. I was hoping to tell you myself.”

“Council filled me in as soon as I got here.”

Her face screwed up into a question. “The council told you I was sorry about what I said to you at Chrysabelle’s?”

“No, they—”

“Because I am really sorry.” She hopped off the dressing table. “You know I have a little temper sometimes and this whole thing with Heaven is making me crazy.” She walked to the windows and stared out. “Doesn’t change the way I feel about you sleeping with her.” She turned back to him. “I can’t get past that. I just can’t.”

“I’m not sleeping with her.”

“I mean to get her pregnant.”

“That why you got her to challenge you to a fight?”

Fi rubbed her nose, then scratched a spot on her head. “Yes.” She sighed. “It was a stupid thing to do.”

He nodded. “At last, something we both agree on.”

“Well, what was I supposed to do? Let her have you?”

“Dammit, Fi, she’s not going to—” He stopped, forced himself to lower his voice. “She’s never going to have me, baby.”

Fi looked away, her eyes suddenly big and liquid. “She’s going to kill me, isn’t she?”

“No.” He stood up. “Hell no.” He went over and grabbed her hand. “Let’s go.”

“Where?”

“You’ll see.” He pulled her along into the living room. “Isaiah!”

The butler hurried out from the kitchen. “Yes, Maddoc?”

“Get Omur and Barasa to the arena, then tell security no one else is allowed in.”

“Yes, sir.” Isaiah went for the phone as Doc punched the elevator button.

He was too hyped to care if Isaiah called him sir or not. They only had a few hours to give Fi some kind of fighting chance. The doors opened and he guided Fi in, then hit nine.

As the doors closed, she asked again, “Where are we going?”

“To turn you into a fighting machine.”

She frowned. “Are you making a joke? Because now is not the time.”

“No joke.” The elevator slowed to a stop and the doors opened. Security hadn’t arrived yet. Good. He held his hand out. “This is where all sanctioned challenge battles take place. The arena.”

They stepped out and walked toward the double doors, each side guarded by a towering Bast statue. As they passed, Doc brushed his fingers over the chest of one statue, then touched his heart. Fi needed all the help she could get.

He pushed a door open and let Fi in ahead of him.

“This place is huge,” she whispered. The cavernous space swallowed her words.

“It’s meant to hold two prides.” He took her hand, gentler this time, and held it as they made their way to the center of the arena.

She kicked her feet through the layer of sand on the floor. “Hey, it’s like a giant cat box.” She laughed nervously.

“Sand makes the blood easier to clean up.”

“Oh,” she answered. In the great oval space, surrounded by rows and rows of stadium seating, she looked very small to Doc. She pulled her hand out of his and wrapped her arms around her body. “I can’t do this.”

Voices rang out from behind them. “Maddoc, we’re here.”

Fi spun. “Who are they?”

From behind her, Doc clasped his hands on her shoulders. She was trembling. “My council members. They’ve offered to train you.”

She tilted her head to look at him. “Really?” She glanced at the approaching shifters and smiled a little. “Guess I’m not the only one who thinks Heaven’s the wrong woman for you.”

Omur stuck his hand out in greeting. “So you’re Fiona.”

She shook his hand. “Yep.”

Barasa offered his next. “You’re a brave woman to fight Heaven.”

“I don’t know about brave. Stupid maybe.” She frowned at Doc. “Love does that to you.”

Both men smiled. Omur nodded. “Love is a good reason to fight.”

“But now you need to know how,” Barasa said. “We’re going to help you as best we can.”

“How does this”—Fi waved her hands over the arena floor—“work exactly? Are there rules?”

Omur nodded. “Very few, but yes. Once a match begins, the first one out of the ring before the other opponent is beaten loses. In the case of a… a…” He trailed off and looked at Doc.

Doc’s jaw tightened. “This isn’t a death match. It’s a mercy match.”

“Are you sure Heaven knows that?” Fi asked.

“She knows.” Doc motioned toward Barasa. “Time’s wasting.”

“Wait.” Fi put her hand up. “Doc, can I talk to you alone for a minute?”

“Sure.” He shot a look at Omur and Barasa, but they were already headed for the door. “Back in five.”

They nodded as they left. He looked at Fi. “What’s up, baby?”

“What Omur said about the first person to step out of the ring. I was thinking…” She bit her lip and flickered a little. “I might have a plan.”

“Tell me.”

“If I can get her close to me—”

He scowled. “I don’t like this already.”

“But if I go ghost at the right time…”

He nodded. “I see where you going.” He studied the arena. “You’ll have to be positioned just right.”

“I can do that.”

“You’ll only get one shot.”

“That’s the part that worries me.”

“Then you still need to train.”

“Agreed.”

He whistled loud and long.

Barasa stuck his head through the door. “You ready for us?”

Doc clapped his hands. “Let’s give her everything we’ve got.”

For the next few hours, Doc, Omur, and Barasa showed her every trick they could think of, patiently correcting Fi until she got each move right. She was a good student. Not surprising since that’s what she’d been when Mal had sunk his fangs into her.

Panting and dripping with sweat, Fi held her hand up. “One more round and I think I’m done. I won’t have anything left for tonight.”

“Enough, then. I’m proud of you. You did great,” Doc said. He didn’t want her worn out for what was to come.

Omur nodded. “You did very well.” He turned to Doc. “Where is she going to stay until—”

Shouting from outside the arena interrupted him. “What do you mean no one’s allowed in? I’m not no one, you stupid
bunda
.”

Doc rolled his eyes. “Heaven.” Like the rest of them couldn’t tell. “I’ll deal with her.” He kissed Fi, tasting salt on her upper lip. “One of you take Fi out the back and let her stay at your place until it’s time.”