Flesh and Blood

A few minutes later, Katsumi wiped the corners of her mouth with her knuckle, not that there was anything to wipe away. She had always been one of the most fastidious feeders he’d known. She bobbed her head at him. ‘Thank you. I do feel better.’

‘You may go, grazie.’ Dominic dismissed the comar and poured Katsumi a cup of tea. ‘You’ll be your old self in no time.’

She accepted the tea but didn’t drink. ‘That’s part of what I’d like to talk to you about.’

He raised a brow. ‘Go on.’

She set the cup and saucer down gently, head bent, chest pulled in like a guilty dog before its master. Her words were quiet, although the hoarseness had begun to diminish. ‘I don’t want to be the old me anymore. I’m tired of being fringe. I couldn’t protect myself against that woman because she was noble. She was stronger, more powerful … ’ She sighed deeply, her fingers interlacing tightly. ‘I want you to resire me. I want navitas.’

He’d wondered when she’d make this request. He’d been waiting for it, actually. Humans wanted to be vampires, fringe wanted to be noble, and nobles wanted the power of the ancients. No one was ever satisfied with what they had. He studied her plaintive face, longing bright in her eyes. ‘This is not an easy thing you ask of me.’

‘I know, but—’

‘No, you can’t know.’ He held his hand up. ‘And just because I am noble doesn’t mean I am skilled in this ritual. I have never performed navitas, never seen it performed, but I know it is not without risk. You could die. Succumb to madness.’ Like Tatiana. He swirled the wine in his glass. ‘I must think on it.’

‘I know the risks. I don’t care. I want to change my life.’

‘You want revenge and the power to carry it out.’

‘No, Dominic, I swear that’s not it.’ She shifted, leaning forward. ‘I am not the gentlest of fringe. I know that. I am difficult to get along with. Overly ambitious. Conniving. I cheat. I lie.’

A more perfect opportunity he could not imagine. ‘And steal?’ Her gaze dropped to her lap. ‘I can guess what this is about. Yes, and steal. But I’m done with that. I want to turn over a new leaf. Put this life behind me and rise above my past. Become a better creature.’ Her eyes lifted to his. ‘A companion more worthy of you.’

But Dominic was not so easily swayed. ‘You sent Leo to Chrysabelle’s, didn’t you?’

Her fingers worried the fabric of her gown. ‘Yes.’ Her voice went low and soft. Almost repentant. ‘I am truly sorry, my lord.’

That honorific rarely crossed her lips. Might she genuinely desire change? ‘What was the point of stealing blood from her? And where is Leo?’ That fringe would definitely die. An example had to be made.

‘I don’t know where Leo is. As for the blood … ’ She sighed. ‘Malkolm has had comarré blood these last few weeks. He is much stronger than before. I needed the blood for Ronan, to ensure he would be strong enough to face Malkolm in the fight I had planned.’

‘Something else I would not have allowed.’ One offense after the other. He began to calculate a punishment that would suit.

‘Which is why I didn’t tell you. I knew you would have refused me. Again, my apologies.’

‘And what of Ronan? Mortalis tells me he’s been gone since the night of that fight.’

She sighed. ‘After the fight, I took Ronan to my apartment, did what I could for his injuries, then came back here. He was gone when I returned. I don’t know what’s become of him.’

‘Why was this fight between them so important?’

Again, she stared at her fingers. ‘The fight quadrupled the club’s take that night. I wanted to prove to you I could run this club.’ She hesitated. ‘I also stood to make a large sum for myself.’

He’d seen the books. The receipts from that night had been astronomical. ‘Are your accounts so dismal? I pay you well.’

‘You do.’ She shrugged. ‘But I am greedy. I like nice things. I wanted to live more like you do and less like … like a fringe.’

‘There is no automatic wealth that comes with nobility. Look at Malkolm. There are homeless in this city who live better.’ He’d paid to have her windows helioglazed. Sent Solomon to ward her apartment against intruders. But of course she wanted more. And didn’t care about the cost. ‘Ambition is one thing. Greed quite another.’

She stared at her hands, her mouth tightening then softening. ‘Forgive me.’

‘Did it occur to you that either Malkolm or Ronan could have lost their lives?’

‘Yes, and they knew it, too, but their past made the fight too hard to pass up.’ She stared into the fire. ‘Ronan was eager for it. Malkolm not so much.’

He rapped his fingers on the arm of the chair, contemplating all she’d told him. To say he was angry with her behavior was putting it lightly. ‘You forged my words. Stole from someone I consider as close as famiglia. Violated my trust – what little there was of that to begin with. Caused grave injury to someone I now consider a friend and almost killed another of my employees. One might say it would be well within my rights to mete out whatever punishment I deem fit.’

She nodded. ‘It would be. And I will abide by whatever you decide.’ She raised her hand, splaying her fingers. ‘I would gladly give you my other pinkie if you deemed it necessary.’