Tatiana had no idea how long she’d sat holding the baby. She’d checked and found it to be a little girl. After that, memories of Sofia and Malkolm had swept her into the past. She reached a hand to her cheek. Her fingers came away wet. She wiped the tears away. “A baby.”

He came in and shut the doors behind him. “I see that. Where did you get it?”

“The Castus. He wants me to raise it—her—for him.”

“Why on earth would the ancient ones want a child?”

Tatiana smoothed the blanket away from the little one’s face. “She’s half vampire.” And all mine.

“A vampire child.” He said the words with awe and wonder as he sank to his knees before her. “How is that possible?”

She shook her head. “No idea. But here she is.” Tatiana lifted her head. “We’re her family now. You and me and Daci, provided she returns from New Florida. We have to protect this child, train her, take care of her. Do you know how many would like to get their hands on her?” She held the child tighter. “Nothing bad can happen to her. Nothing.”

He nodded. “Of course. You know I’m here for you, to help with whatever you need. For you and Daci both. And the baby.”

She stroked a finger down the baby’s peach-skin cheek. “Do you know she has a heartbeat? She’s half-human, half-vampire. There’s no telling what power she might have. What abilities she might wield.”

“Or what she might eat.” Octavian stared thoughtfully. “Blood? Milk?”

“I have no idea. Can you get a wet nurse from among the kine?” Speaking of blood… “Where’s the comarré we brought back?”

“I put her in the cell we held Daciana in. She seems genuinely happy to be back among the nobility, but I’m not taking any chances.”

“Good. Send Kosmina to get some blood from her for the child and then see about that wet nurse, would you?”

“With pleasure.” He leaned forward and kissed her. “You look radiant with that child in your arms. Motherhood suits you.”

She smiled, staring down into the perfect little face staring back at her. “It always did.” But this time, no one would take her child away from her. Not the comarré whore. Not her fool ex-husband. Just like the lioness protected her cubs, so, too, would Tatiana rip to shreds anyone foolish enough to attempt to separate this little one from her. Killing Chrysabelle and Malkolm would be a perfect way to announce that.

She lifted her locket to her lips, kissed it, then kissed the baby’s head. Fate had given her a second chance.

“What’s her name?” Octavian asked.

“There is so much about her I don’t know, but one thing is for certain. She is a very special child. A new race of vampires has been born in her.” Tatiana nodded as the name came to her. “I will call her Lilith.”

Chapter Thirty-one

Chrysabelle gave Mortalis the address of the first name on Loudreux’s list.

He stared at her hard. “Read that again, please.”

She did, repeating what she’d just said a little slower than the first time. “Don’t you know where it is?”

Jaw locked, his mouth bent unpleasantly. He broke eye contact before speaking. “I know where it is.” With a soft curse and a mutter of “Unbelievable,” he moved the car back into the street.

She shrugged it off. Mortalis’s attitude since they’d arrived in New Orleans hadn’t been one that invited questions. Beside her; Mal dayslept, his seat cranked back, his head lolled toward her; but otherwise he was stone-still. Despite the extra blood she’d provided him, the combination of a messed-up sleep schedule and using such a concentrated force of persuasion had wiped him out. Whoever she approached to take over as guardian, she would have to convince them to do so without Mal’s help.

Hopefully, whoever it was had a price. Most people did, didn’t they? And hopefully she could meet that price. Getting the ring back and finding her brother was worth emptying her mother’s bank accounts if necessary. Not only did Chrysabelle feel certain her mother would understand, but also that it was exactly what Maris would want her to do. The words in her journal had been pretty clear on that, so clear that Chrysabelle swore she could hear her mother’s voice urging her on. Not that she needed it. Just knowing she had a brother out there somewhere drove her.

Chrysabelle reached out to touch Mal’s hand, then stopped, not wanting to disturb him. When this was over, when she’d gotten the ring and gone back to the Aurelian and found out who her brother was, she would be able to stop caring about who she’d been and focus on who she wanted to be. A woman unencumbered by rules and restraints. A woman capable of being in a relationship. She liked Creek, but her feelings for Mal were more than just female curiosity. He was a good man. She smiled. A good vampire? Whatever he was, whatever this thing was between them, it deserved a chance.

Together, maybe they could work on lessening his curse by getting some of those voices out of his head. The Aurelian had said one good deed would erase one of his names. That meant years of effort, but they had the time. Especially if he kept kissing her like that. A comarré with a powerful patron could live indefinitely. She shivered with wicked pleasure. Already she felt stronger from the last kiss.

The car slowed. She looked up from studying Mal’s chiseled face. “We’re here?”

“Yes.” Mortalis parked the SUV.