Kosmina cleared her throat. “Is there anything I can do for you, my lady?”

“Yes,” Tatiana purred, never taking her eyes off Mal. “Take Lord Bourreau to the guest suite. The one in the north wing.” She slipped her hand from his, only to trail her fingers down his arm. “I own a comarré. I’ll send her in to feed you.”

That was news to Mal. “Why do you own a comarré?”

The mirth left her face and her eyes silvered. “She belonged to my late consort. And since he won’t be needing her anymore…” She smiled again but it was noticeably forced. “Consider her my gift to you.”

“You know I can’t drink from the vein.” Unless it was Chrysabelle’s. He had no intention of trying that feat on anyone else. Just the idea of drinking another’s comarré’s blood felt like cheating, especially after being with her on the plane. All for the cause, he reminded himself.

She shrugged. “Bleed her, then.” She waved her hand as she walked back to her study. “Be back here in one hour. We have much to discuss.” She snapped her fingers. “Kosmina, our guest.”

“Yes, my lady.” But Kosmina answered to a closed door. She curtsied toward Mal. “If you would just follow me, Lord Bourreau. Shall I take your bag, sir?”

He wanted to say no, that it was ridiculous for a woman to carry his bag, but that wasn’t the proper response. He tossed his bag in her direction, inwardly cringing at his actions.

She caught it, but just barely. “Very good, sir.”

He followed her to his quarters, noting they were only two halls away from Tatiana’s. He would have liked more space between them.

Kosmina opened the door and went in, dropping his bag on the bed. “Shall I unpack you, sir?”

“No.” The room was everything he’d expected it to be. Completely overdone and stuffed with priceless antiques and art. Tatiana must have wept with joy when she’d been able to move in here.

The servant didn’t leave. “H-Have you known Lady Tatiana long?”

Interesting. And brave. He studied the fresco on the ceiling. Blue sky, white clouds, darting swallows. Vampires loved to remind themselves of what they’d lost, didn’t they? “Since she was human.”

Kosmina’s eyes went wide. “Are you Malkolm Bourreau? But that means you’re…”

He turned to face her. “That’s right. I’m Tatiana’s husband.”

Chapter Thirty-one

Chrysabelle hoped Mal was having better luck than she was. Rennata may have allowed the comarré here to let her in, but she had yet to show. So far, she’d kept Chrysabelle waiting for almost half an hour. Maybe she wasn’t coming out at all. Maybe this was some strange new punishment. Chrysabelle got off the couch and walked toward the passageways that led back into the heart of the Primorus Domus. Could she still access those halls or did becoming disavowed change that?

“Thinking about visiting your old cell?”

She turned at the voice. “There you are, Rennata. I was beginning to think you weren’t coming.”

“I shouldn’t have.” Rennata stared at her with more hauteur than Chrysabelle thought possible in one woman. “I had to see for my own eyes that you dared come back here. Your sense of what’s appropriate astounds me.”

“Get off your high horse, Rennata. A bigger problem exists than me being in your precious house. An actual threat. A vampire greater than any other that has ever been created has arisen out of the ranks of the ancients. The kind of vampire that makes other nobles fear for their existence.” She paused to let the information sink in. “The time has come for the comarré to rise up and join forces against this new vampire.”

Rennata was quiet for several seconds, and then her face cracked into laughter. “Oh, give me a moment to catch my breath.” She wiped at her eyes. “You do live such a drama-filled life, Chrysabelle. How do you manage to always be in the center of so much excitement?”

Chrysabelle strode forward and grabbed her by the shoulders. “This isn’t a joke, you foolish old woman. You know Tatiana’s vampire baby, Lilith? I’m sure you’ve heard of her. The ancients decided to feed her their blood and in doing so, turned her into a full-grown monster.”

Rennata batted her away. “Take your hands off me. If that was true, why wouldn’t I know about it? We know about Lilith of course, but she’s a baby.”

“If the ancients don’t want it known, why would you?” Chrysabelle’s insides felt like fire. All her life she’d been trained for the moment of uprising, knowing it would come, just not knowing when. Now Rennata was acting like the threat of Lilith was no threat at all. “What must be done to alert the rest of the comarré?”

Rennata narrowed her eyes. “Nothing. Because we’re not going to alert the rest of the comarré. You’re going to leave and be thankful you’re getting out of here without a scratch on you.” She lifted her chin. “Remember that, because it won’t happen again.”

“No, it won’t, because I’d kill you first this time.” Chrysabelle leaned in. “Try me. I killed a fae a few days ago just for being in love with me.”

Rennata jerked back. “You’ve lost your mind.”

Chrysabelle turned and started toward the right-hand corridor. A cluster of comarrés stood there watching, but scattered like mice at her approach. “Maybe. I’ll let the Aurelian decide.”